Mary K. Lemoine, an educator at Schools of the Sacred Heart, Grand Coteau, within the Diocese of Lafayette (LA), has been named the Open Up Resources 6–8 Math Teacher of the Month for February. 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.
Lemoine’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.
Curriculum Coordinator, Charlotte LeHaye, nominated Lemoine for how she has embraced the Open Up Resources 6–8 Math curriculum and high-quality math instruction. LeHaye shared that, “Mary K. spends countless hours preparing for her math classes and challenging her students to grapple with and make sense of mathematics.”
In addition, Mrs. Lemoine embodies the mindset around deep thinking and learning that makes this curriculum so powerful. LeHaye explained, “She sets high expectations for herself as a professional and her students, as independent, capable thinkers.”
Lemoine says that there have been many great success stories in her implementation. “It has made mathematicians out of students who began the year not liking math. Their willingness to struggle with a problem and make sense of it, and their willingness to work together and on their own to figure it out, is beautiful to watch,” she shared.
“If you stick to it, you will create young mathematicians with the drive and determination to solve any problem.”
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.
