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O.P.T. IN! Your Ultimate Planning Guide
âž” Exclusively for Educators and Administrators
By Dena Silver, M.Ed.
OPT IN! A Book for Educators Who Want to Make a Difference
According to research, 94% of jobs require basic math skills, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 28% growth in math-related occupations between 2020 and 2030
(www.bls.gov).
In today’s data-driven and problem-solving world, it is vital that students are prepared for college and careers by highly effective math teachers.
Join the Movement. Close the Gap. OPT IN!
The Vision
A future where the math gap no
longer exists—where every educator is confident in teaching math, every student believes they can succeed, and every classroom fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity.
OPT IN! Teacher’s Math Manual is both a personal reflection guide and practical teaching resource.
Each section encourages educators to think deeply about their own learning, strengthen foundational math understanding, and plan instruction with heart,intention, and purpose.
The Mission
The mission of OPT IN! Teacher’s Math Manual is to assist and encourage educators at every level—first-year and veteran teachers, substitutes, paraprofessionals, instructional aides, student teachers, and tutors—who teach basic math skills. The goal is to equip educators to use classroom data, research, statistics, and personal reflection to first identify and resolve their own math misconceptions, and then use that growth to strengthen instruction for every learner.
When teachers OPT IN—Observe, Prepare, Transform, Inspire, and Nurture, they step into a process of personal and professional growth that transforms the way math is taught and learned. Through this process, educators become confident, reflective, and intentional—ready to help students not only close gaps but also soar beyond them.
