This post explores how to select or adapt number stories that invite sense-making, honor students’ experiences, and align with instructional goals.

When students come across questions like “How many more does Jordan have than Emma?”, the comparison relationship often confuses them. This blog talks about how the Compare structure helps them see the relationship between the values.

The Parts Equal Total structure isn’t a shortcut for solving; it’s a way to understand what’s happening in the story. This blog explores how PET supports comprehension from the earliest grades through more complex problems.

A reflection on how Pam Seda’s work validates my mission to bring equity, comprehension, and deep thinking into math classrooms.

Most kids don’t struggle with math because they can’t do the calculations—it’s because they don’t fully understand how numbers work together. SoE changes that by helping students see the bigger picture: how numbers break apart, how equality actually works, and why units matter.

Are your students struggling with the PET structure? Use manipulatives and visual representations to gradually build their confidence and understanding.