Edina Martinovic, a 6th and 7th-grade teacher at Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies in District 65 (IL), has been named the Open Up Resources 6–8 Math Teacher of the Month for December. Martinovic 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.

Martinovic’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. 

Instructional Coach, Jennifer Jones, nominated Martinovic for the incredible work she had done engaging students during virtual learning. Jones shared that, “Ms. Martinovic brings out the best in her students while capitalizing on the engagement structures built into the curriculum. Students in her class find themselves welcome to engage in learning via multiple access points.”

In addition, Ms. Martinovic has personalized learning with the curriculum during this time. Jones explained, “She has allowed students to grow individually by relying on data, student work samples, and their discussion of math concepts so that students can co-construct knowledge together.”

Martinovic says she enjoys using the visuals within the curriculum to engage students. “My students find that the visuals help make the curriculum self-explanatory which allows them all to demonstrate their mastery of the content,” she shared.

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.