Bobbi Coine, a 6th-grade teacher at Chief Umtuch Middle School in Battleground Public Schools (WA), has been named the Open Up Resources 6–8 Math Teacher of the Month for February. Coine is being recognized for her outstanding work in her classroom and ongoing support of teachers across the country as a member of the Open Up Resources National Professional Learning Community.
Coine’s work with Open Up Resources 6–8 Math makes her one of the most innovative teachers in the country. The Open Up Resources 6–8 Math curriculum inspires a new way of teaching math by transforming classrooms into hives of activity focusing on discussion, questioning, debate, and the deeper conceptual learning of mathematics that follows.
Colleague Virginia Clement’s nomination of Coine was a glowing testament to the classroom climate Coine intentionally fosters through her approach to teaching. She shared, “From relationship building with the students to her delivery of rigorous academics, Ms. Coine engages kids and gives them the tools and opportunities to practice becoming active listeners, learners, and collaborators.”
Coine contributes part of her success in engaging students to her use of the Open Up Resources 6–8 Math curriculum. “The curriculum is designed in a way that provides access and equity for all students without lowering expectations,” she explained.
She was also excited to share a success story about one of her students that had always struggled with math and as a result, felt as though it was a topic she would never be good at. This year in Ms. Coine’s class has changed all of that. She shares that “the student discourse and time given to make sense of topics and build connections between lessons” has allowed her to “finally understand the concepts, gain confidence, and finally view herself as a good math student.”
Open Up Resources is a non-profit on a mission to increase equity in education by making excellent, top-rated curricula freely available to districts. You can learn more at www.openupresources.org. Learn more about our National Professional Learning Communities here.