Enjoy Thinking Texas: Rethinking Mathematics

17/06/2026|2 min read

Enjoy Thinking Texas: Rethinking Mathematics

The math classroom is shifting. Today, it’s no longer about who can memorize a formula the fastest, but who can truly understand the journey to the answer.

With this vision in mind, we recently hosted Enjoy Thinking Texas, in Dallas. It was an inspiring day dedicated entirely to meaningful math learning, strategic intervention, and the power of student thinking.

Pam Harris and our team of Innovamat experts explored how to transform math instruction from the ground up. Here are some highlights of what we shared:

Workshop: Be the Second Grader

Guided by Jackie Murawska, attendees experienced mathematics from the unique perspective of a second grader through playful, reasoning-based tasks. This workshop was a powerful reminder of how classroom environments shape learning. The classroom must prioritize sense-making and genuine student thinking over rigid, step-following procedures.

Developing Mathematical Reasoning

Pam Harris guided us through a learning progression that beautifully connected early counting strategies to advanced functional reasoning. An important highlight of the session was discussing how procedural mimicry can often hide a student’s true understanding. A student might get the right answer by following a memorized script, but true success comes from nurturing their reasoning skills over time so they can tackle any problem with confidence.

Panel Discussion: Rethinking Intervention in High-Stakes Systems

We wrapped up the day with a panel discussion: How do we introduce innovative math intervention within educational systems driven by high-stakes testing? Our presenters shared practical, real-world ideas for adapting these reasoning-based strategies to fit the current demands of classrooms and district environments. The takeaway? You don’t have to sacrifice deep conceptual understanding to meet district and state standards.

At Innovamat, we believe that math is not about memorizing procedures, but about developing a deep, joyful capacity for critical thinking and problem-solving. We organize these events for education professionals to connect, elevate their professional development, and discover actionable strategies that transform classroom instruction.