iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Join us on November 5 at 8pm Central/9pm Eastern for an #ElemMathChat led by @tilefarmer.bsky.social Alex will lead us in a conversation about Creativity in Math and Mathy Games. See you then!

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Thank you for joining us tonight! It’s been a pleasure to be in community with each of you. I can’t wait until next month! #ElemMathChat Again, I'm happy to stay until you've all had enough! #ElemMathChat is a highlight of each month. When I can't attend, I have an extreme sense of FOMO!

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

A5: I love Zero is the Leaves on the Tree by @betsyfranco.bsky.social Passages like,“Zero is…the footprints on the beach when the waves come in and in and in” pair with beautiful illustrations - by Shino Arihara - so children can SEE 0. Masterful! #ElemMathChat

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Q5: What children’s books do you use to teach number sense? #ElemMathChat

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Q4: What manipulatives or other math tools do you use to teach number sense? #ElemMathChat

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

A3: Math Is FigureOutAble!™ inspires students to develop number sense in ways that build on what kids know. @pwharris.bsky.social , @kimmontague.bsky.social ,& others created a video library of problem strings being used in real classrooms. Their website: www.mathisfigureoutable.com/ps #ElemMathChat

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

A3: If you haven’t experienced Splat!, you haven’t had enough fun in your life! @stevewyborney.bsky.social has a plethora of resources for educators at his website: stevewyborney.com #ElemMathChat

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

A3: @fawnnguyen.substack.com has an amazing page dedicated to visual patterns. These images will keep kids thinking, debating, and reflecting in ways you probably didn’t think were possible! Find a catalogue of images she and her colleagues have created here: visualpatterns.org #ElemMathChat

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

A3: Another one of my favorites is Number Talk Images. @kristenacosta.bsky.social has a wealth of resources on her page: tedd.org/choral-count... And @berkeleyeverett.bsky.social has a wonderful library of tasks and images that you can find here: berkeleyeverett.com/images/numbe... #ElemMathChat

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

A3: I love Choral Counting & Counting Collections by Megan Franke, Elham Kazemi, and @angelaturrou.bsky.social #ElemMathChat Find their book here: www.betterworldbooks.com/product/deta... Find more resources and see videos of Choral Counting in classrooms by clicking here: tedd.org/choral-count...

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Some of you have already started answering this one! Q3: What are your favorite number sense activities? Bonus points for links to, or pictures of, the activities! #ElemMathChat

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Q2: How do you inspire students to think about numbers? #ElemMathChat

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

A1: Many of the resources I use describe how number sense is many things - which makes it hard to define. This is one definition I was able to find. #ElemMathChat

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Our first question for the evening is... Q1: What is number sense and why is it important? #ElemMathChat

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I’m Ryan Flessner. I’m a professor at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN. #ElemMathChat

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Hi Everyone. My name is Ryan Flessner, and I’ll be leading tonight’s #ElemMathChat. I’m so excited you’re here!

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

A4: Here are just a few of my favorites. #ElemMathChat

Seven books: Millions of Snowflakes, A Million Fish…More or Less, One Grain of Tice, Sadako, Again, Essie?, Round is a Mooncake, One Leaf Rides the Wind.

Three books: Counting on Catherine, The Librarian who Measured the Earth, and Counting the Stars.

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Hi #ElemMathChat! I’m Ryan, a professor at Butler University. Picking just one book to share is incredibly difficult, but the one that immediately comes this mind is Boot & Shoe by Marla Frazee.

The cover of the book Boot & Shoe by Marla Frazee.

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Just received notification that I was accepted to speak at @nctm.org’s Annual Meeting in Denver. No, that’s not me in the photo! “Making Early Childhood Numeracy Count” on Thursday, October 29 from 2:45-4pm in the Colorado Convention Center - Bluebird Ball 3F Who else is going?!

A flyer that reads “I’m presenting! NCTM 2026 Annual Meeting & Exposition Denver, CO” On the flyer is a man with a beard who appears to be giving a speech.

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Excited to be presenting with @myips.org teachers from @butleru.bsky.social Lab School at KINLCon this summer. Hope to see everyone there!

A lime green square advertising registration for KINLCon this summer.

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

What a fun evening it was working with @butleru.bsky.social COE students to host a family Math Night for @myips.org JWR School #43.

Butler students pose with James Whitcomb Riley School #43 staff members.

Everyone is all smiles as they play math games.

Lots of deep thinking as math games are played.

Lots of happy faces during Family Math Night!

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

So proud of @cfless.bsky.social who was chosen to speak at @nctm.org’s Leasership Summit. #rockstar

Courtney presenting for a room of district leaders from around Indiana.

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Who has students who volunteer at a conference at 7am on their day off! 🙋🏻‍♂️ Proud to have @skuchler.bsky.social @elliewells-gr.bsky.social @taylorbyrd.bsky.social @emilyg03.bsky.social @sfrancesconi05.bsky.social & @andrea-curtis.bsky.social representing the @butleru.bsky.social College of Education!

Six Butler College of Education students standing with Ryan behind large block letters that spell NCTM.

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

When the kids start #mathing without even knowing they’re mathing. How many? #howmany

A plate full of cookies and candies. The treats are arranged in a circular pattern.

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Hey, @sneffleupagus.bsky.social, look who we met! Fun to make the mutual friend connection! @mdeutschmtl.bsky.social

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Trying my best to get all the lovely people in the picture.

Three large dinner tables full of the #mtbos crew.

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

What an honor it was to present with one of my favorite math colleagues, @leslienielsen.bsky.social. Thanks to those who came to support our work, engage in discussion, and push our thinking.

Cover slide from Leslie and Ryan’s presentation, Curiosity as a Mechanism for Teacher Learning

Ryan with Leslie Nielsen after the presentation

Sample of participant strategy (Tomisha). Area model and partial products are used.

Participants in the session talk about their solutions to one of the problems posed.

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

It’s shocking how incredible the lineup is at #NCSM25. The presentations are amazing, and the people are even better! @heidisabnani.bsky.social @mollyvokey.bsky.social @lieslmcconchie.bsky.social @pamseda1.bsky.social #husbandstephen

Ryan with Heidi Sabnani and Molly Vokey.

Ryan with the dynamic duo of Dr. Pam Seda and her husband, Stephen.

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

One of the most influential mentors I’ve had is @akademic67.bsky.social. Her ideas, her depth of care, her fight, her wit, and-of course-her shoes…all unparalleled and impeccable. Everything she is and does for kids, for teachers, for education is what we should all aspire to be and do. #NCSM25

Ryan with Gloria Ladson-Billings at NCSM25 in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

All set up and ready for the first day of teaching this semester. Can’t wait to meet the new group of @butleru.bsky.social COE students! #iteachmath #edusky

The picture shows a classroom at Butler University. There are eight tables in the room. Three tables have table tents on them for students to create name plates. Five tables have provocations prepared to engage students in thinking about math. Tools at the provocation stations include foam cubes, Legos, game pieces, number cards, and a box of items for counting collections.

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Quick reminder to the #mtbos and #elemmathchat crews. Get those proposals in ASAP! Who’s joining @cfless.bsky.social and me in Indy for the @nctm.org Spring Conference in February?!

A photo of an email from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics reminding everyone that proposals are due in one week: Monday, July 14!

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Ryan Flessner @ryanflessner.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Last #BTCC25 post. What an outstanding week of learning, laughing, and loving the work I’m privileged to do! @cfless.bsky.social @moniquepollitt @peterliljedahl.bsky.social @amandaray @erinwahlercleveland @melisamccain

Peter Liljedahl and Melisa McCain chatting with Amanda Ray and Erin Wahler-Cleveland.

Ryan and Courtney pose for a selfie by beautiful Lake Washington.

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