Build Math Minds, Not Just Create Calculators?
Professional learning and resources that help PreK–5 educators understand how kids learn math—so you can build number sense, develop flexible thinkers, and make math meaningful.
Whether you’re looking to deepen your own understanding of math, figure out what your students need next, or find practical resources you can use in your classroom, Build Math Minds is here to help.
Great Math Teaching Starts With Understanding How Kids Learn Math
You don’t need another list of activities or another curriculum telling you what page to teach next.
You need to understand how mathematical thinking develops—so you can recognize what your students understand, identify what they may be missing, and know what to do next.
That’s What Build Math Minds is all About!
We help PreK–5 educators deepen their own understanding of mathematics and turn that knowledge into meaningful experiences that help kids see relationships, make connections, and become flexible mathematical thinkers.
Because math isn’t just something we teach.
Math is something kids catch through the experiences we provide.
Math isn’t taught, it’s caught.
What Do You Want To Help Your Students Catch?
Select a concept below…
Hi! I’m Christina Tondevold
a.k.a. The Recovering Traditionalist & Build Math Minds Facilitator
4 Quick Facts About Me
1. I have 4 wonderful children and I thank the Lord that he directed me to research that changed the way I thought about mathematics before my kids arrived in my life so that I could provide math experiences for them, instead of math flash cards.
2. I call myself a Recovering Traditionalist. I was a very traditional learner and teacher. As a learner give me an algorithm and I could solve it, but give me any mental math or story problems and I would start sweating. As a teacher I stood at the front of the room and went page-by-page in the textbook, but when my students weren’t getting it I didn’t have the knowledge to help them.
3. I belive in the power of a postitive and growth mindset (for ourselves and our kiddos). Failure is often how we learn our best lessons…yet we try too hard to not let our students fail in class. Feeding them step-by-step directions on how to solve mathematics problems is NOT truly mathematics.
4. My muther was my junior high English teacher and she wood probably have a heart attak if she ever red anything I put out…well, accept for the first book I published (she was my editor). I donut take the time to be grammatically correct and nothin’ is ever prefect {I would rather spend my time with my kids than ensure I rote a complete sentence}.
“I have struggled with math my whole life and can honestly say I do not have good number sense because I was taught the “traditional” way as a child growing up in the 80’s. I never liked math because it was hard and never made sense to me. The Number Sense 101 course aligns foundational skills I can use to help my students truly understand numbers and how to move them through Cognitively Guided Instruction to help them achieve the facts and feel success. The assessments provided for each category will truly allow me to focus in on what each student needs and what areas to work on. I am so thankful for taking this course and I have enjoyed the “a-ha” moments I have had as I have watched each module. Instead of trying to complete 6 daily workbook pages that come with my curriculum, I am now going to provide meaningful experiences for students!” – Julie Campitelli – First Grade Teacher
