Not perfect,
just looking for the
best lesson I can
come up with today.

I am a big believer in using visual models and manipulatives, asking students challenging questions that highlight concepts, and encouraging students to think independently.  I think a lot about the different aspects of being a learner, and try to keep an open mind in searching for what is most effective for my students. 

I also believe practice and automaticity are not bad words.  We have established a number of false dichotomies in math education.  I am curious about the interplay between understanding and memory.  Problem solving in real time is a lot like playing jazz: they require both conceptual understanding and automatic recall.  Analysis, discussion, exploration, repetition, direct instruction … each of these techniques has its place… we should experiment and share about when each one is the most effective, and how they can interact.