Strengths-Based Teaching and Learning in Mathematics:
Five Teaching Turnarounds
An Interactive, Applicable, Online Book Study
All educators and students bring a variety of strengths to the mathematics classroom. In an environment hyper-focused on “what’s missing”, we may overlook opportunities to recognize the strengths that are right in front of us. Often these strengths are obvious, but sometimes they must be pinpointed by a skilled observer.
Through this guided book study, you will discover your own teaching strengths and explore ways to identify the learning strengths of your students as you engage in a wide array of actionable classroom strategies. These instructional tools will help you harness your own teaching superpowers and celebrate the brilliance within each and every student!

AUDIENCE: Teachers, Instructional Specialists, Administrators
The content examples within the text come from K-6 mathematics, however, the ideas presented are relevant to all grades. This would be a great school-wide professional learning opportunity.
The book study is paced so that you can have the time to engage in discussions and activities that allow you to reflect on your current practices and classroom environments. Through these activities you will:
- Define your own teaching strengths
- Discover and leverage the mathematical strengths of students
- Design instruction from a strengths-based approach
- Help students to recognize their own strengths
- Promote strengths-based thinking within your school community
Guided reading assignments and discussions will allow participants to reflect on the big ideas presented by the authors, develop actionable steps, prepare to implement their plans in their school environment, and receive feedback on their learning and implementation.
Live Discussion sessions will be hosted via Zoom video conferencing throughout the course. There are four discussions required for completion of the course. All discussion sessions will be held on Monday evenings, 6:00 – 7:30 pm (central).
Required Discussion Sessions
September 13, 2021 at 6:00 pm (CST)
Live Kickoff Event
September 27, 2021 at 6:00 pm (CST)
Live Discussion Session around Teaching Turnarounds 1 & 2
October 11, 2021 at 6:00 pm (CST)
Live Discussion Session around Teaching Turnaround 3
October 25, 2021 at 6:00 pm (CST)
Live Discussion Session around Teaching Turnarounds 4 & 5
Registration Deadline: August 26, 2021
Course Begins: September 1, 2021
Course Ends: October 31, 2021
This guided book study will include both synchronous and asynchronous activities and discussions. An overview of the course is outlined below.
September 1- September 13, 2021
Introduction and Pre-reading Assignment
September 13, 2021 at 6:00 pm (CST)
Live Kickoff Event
September 14 – September 27, 2021
Exploring Teaching Turnaround 1: Identify Your Teaching Strengths
Exploring Teaching Turnaround 2: Discover and Leverage Your Students’ Mathematical Strengths
September 27, 2021 at 6:00 pm (CST)
Live Discussion Session around Teaching Turnarounds 1 & 2
September 28 – October 11, 2021
Exploring Teaching Turnaround 3: Design Instruction from a Strengths-Based Perspective
October 11, 2021 at 6:00 pm (CST)
Live Discussion Session around Teaching Turnaround 3
October 12 – October 25, 2021
Exploring Teaching Turnaround 4: Help Students Develop their Points of Power
Exploring Teaching Turnaround 5: Promote Strengths in the School Community
October 25, 2021 at 6:00 pm (CST)
Live Discussion Session around Teaching Turnarounds 4 & 5
October 26 – October 31, 2021
Course Conclusion and Wrap-Up
Shannon Priest
Doctoral Student in Elementary Education
The University of Mississippi
sepriest@go.olemiss.edu
Dr. Julie James
Assistant Director of Professional Learning
Center for Mathematics and Science Education
The University of Mississippi
jjames1@olemiss.edu
Dr. Alice Steimle
Associate Director
Center for Mathematics and Science Education
The University of Mississippi
asteimle@olemiss.edu
Completion of all required content will earn participants:
2.0 CEUs,
15 SEMIs, or
1 OSL.
This book study will be relevant to teachers, administrators, and support staff alike. While the classroom examples and strategies presented in the book are framed around the K-6 mathematics classroom, the ideas and concepts are relevant to all grade-levels.
This would be a great school-wide professional learning opportunity.
CEU/SEMI/OSL PROCESSING
Credits are processed electronically by the North Mississippi Education Consortium. Please allow 3-4 weeks for processing. Participants will be notified via email from NMEC once credits are available for download.
Registration Fee (includes CEUs):
- $175 – Course & Book
- $150 – Course Only
Payments can be made via:
- Personal Check,
- Money Order,
- School Purchase Order, or
- Credit/Debit Card*.
*A $5.00 processing fee (per registrant) will be added to all credit/debit card payments.
Registration is closed.