Denise Nixon, a dedicated 5th-grade math teacher at Guy B. Teachey Elementary School, had the exciting opportunity to attend the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCCTM) conference in November 2024, thanks to Asheboro City Schools. At the conference, Ms. Nixon participated in a session on Building Thinking Classrooms led by a 4th-grade teacher from Stanley County. Inspired by the 14 practices outlined in the book Building Thinking Classrooms by Dr. Peter Liljedahl and Megan Giroux, the Stanley County teacher saw a 500% growth rate in her students’ mathematical understanding.
One of the core practices Ms. Nixon implemented in her classroom involves the use of Vertical Non-Permanent Surfaces (VNPS). These surfaces, such as whiteboards and wipeable posters, encourage student collaboration and active problem-solving. Wipebooks, a company specializing in reusable writing surfaces, provided a practical way for Ms. Nixon to integrate VNPS into her classroom. Since receiving her set just before winter break, she has been using them consistently—at least two to three times per week—along with daily random student groupings to enhance engagement and critical thinking skills.
Ms. Nixon’s enthusiasm for these innovative strategies has spread to others in her school. Alongside Emily Seabolt, a 2nd-grade teacher at Guy B. Teachey Elementary, she was scheduled to lead a professional development session in January, focusing on Graham Fletcher’s 3-Act Tasks and incorporating Wipebooks as a teaching tool. As an added benefit, Wipebooks offers a special opportunity for educators who lead professional development sessions. Once 20 attendees register, a free set of Wipebooks is raffled off. As a result, two additional teachers at Guy B. Teachey Elementary have won their own sets, further expanding the use of VNPS in the school.
Beyond her own classroom, Ms. Nixon continues to share her expertise and passion for effective math instruction. At the January 30th meeting of the Asheboro-Randolph Collaborative (ARC) for Math, she had the chance to introduce fellow math educators to Building Thinking Classrooms and the benefits of Wipebooks. This collaborative effort within the district ensures that innovative teaching methods are shared, benefiting students across Asheboro City Schools.
Ms. Nixon’s dedication to professional growth and instructional innovation is making a lasting impact, not only in her own classroom but throughout the district. With support from Asheboro City Schools and collaborative opportunities like ARC Math, she continues to inspire both students and fellow educators in their mathematical journeys.