District presenters show coaching-driven K–8 math approach in curriculum showcase

At its March meeting the Nashua School District board heard a curriculum showcase from Math Empowered, a coaching group that worked with district teachers this school year to boost K–8 math instruction.

Carolyn Wurster of Math Empowered said the districtwide elementary rollout emphasized routines that invite student thinking — “what do you notice, what do you wonder?” — and described classroom practices such as math talks, randomized partner sorts and visual models that presenters said help students connect new ideas to prior learning. “When that new learning comes in, if we are explicitly connecting it to past learning, then those connections are going to stick longer,” Wurster said.

Chelsea Fellini, identified in the meeting as the district’s middle school math coach, said the work was supported this year with Title II funds for professional development and combined direct instruction with ongoing coaching cycles. Fellini described an implementation rhythm of initial input sessions followed by in-class coaching and follow-up sessions in November and February, with a final coaching cycle now underway. "The first coaching session, we did a lot of modeling. The second, we saw teachers trying out strategies and we could respond to sticky spots," Fellini said.

Beth Wheeler of Math Empowered said the routines broaden student participation and make learning visible to teachers: “Engagement and understanding is becoming visual and audible every single day,” she said, adding that teachers can gather real-time evidence of student thinking rather than relying solely on worksheets.

Board members asked whether the elementary and middle curricula align; administrators and presenters said the district uses Eureka Math Squared at elementary levels and Open Up at middle schools, and presenters described how their practices were adapted to bridge those curricula. Presenters also said teacher-facing materials and Math Empowered resources remain available to district staff after the coaching cycles.

Administrators and presenters cited early evidence of impact: one teacher who adopted Math Empowered practices districtwide saw gains in module assessment proficiency and a rising share of students scoring "proficient with distinction." Presenters said the program emphasizes differentiated support for teachers — from modeling a full lesson to observing short segments and debriefing — so teams can adopt practices at a pace that suits them.

The showcase closed with board members thanking the presenters; administrators said the district will continue coaching and share resources with staff. The presentation did not propose any formal board action; it was presented as an informational item and professional development update.