What’s a core challenge for success in algebra? Often, it’s not the symbols—it’s underdeveloped number sense and a lack of opportunities to reason with mathematics.
When students understand how numbers relate to one another, they can make sense of how variables relate—and algebra becomes accessible to all.
In this two-day interactive workshop, we explore how number sense—understanding relationships, composing and decomposing quantities, and reasoning flexibly—creates a powerful and natural pathway into and through algebra. When students build strong number sense alongside visual and conceptual approaches, the connections come alive.
Led by Cathy Williams and the youcubed team, this workshop is grounded in decades of research, synthesis, and classroom practice, as well as ongoing youcubed research on how students develop number sense.
Across the two days, participants will:
- Engage in rich, hands-on tasks that connect arithmetic thinking to algebraic generalizations
- Explore how patterns, properties, and visual models support students in making sense of algebra
- Examine student thinking and learn how to build on it through purposeful instructional moves
- Experience how visual strategies and multiple representations deepen understanding and access
- Learn research-based approaches that support confidence, flexibility, and reasoning across grades 6–12
- Explore the role of language in algebra and number sense, including strategies to support multilingual learners in joint sense-making (explaining, justifying, generalizing) their mathematical ideas
- Use these strategies flexibly in both core instruction and algebra intervention settings to support students at different stages of understanding
We will also focus on a key insight: many students struggle in algebra not because of ability, but because of gaps in number sense. Through classroom examples and discussion, we’ll explore how to reduce reliance on memorized rules and instead support meaningful engagement, reasoning, and generalization.
Participants will leave with:
- Classroom-ready strategies and tasks
- A deeper understanding of how algebra and number sense develop together
- Practical approaches to support diverse learners and increase student confidence
- Instructional routines that make algebra more accessible, meaningful, and powerful
- Strategies to support language development and mathematical discourse, enabling multilingual learners to fully engage in algebraic thinking
Come ready to play with numbers, think visually, and experience algebra in new ways.
Let’s get the algebra party started!
The workshop begins at 9:00 am each day and ends at 3:00 pm each day.
Participants will receive a digital credential verifying 10 Professional Development Hours (1 CEU).
* PLEASE NOTE THAT JO BOALER IS NOT A PRESENTER AT THIS WORKSHOP
