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OptimizED for Learning

Rated 4.91 out of 5, based on 576 reviews
176 Followers
Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
About the store
My experience is reflected in my mission. To create the best materials for optimizing teaching and learning. After years of working with poorly formatted content, created by corporations, I found myself settling for whatever come closest but either the quality or content was lacking in some capacity. Using over a decade of teaching experience I began creating what has now become OptimizED. The creations started with guided notes that were visually appealing and easy to follow, quickly summarizing the main ideas. Using real-world feedback from students and my own experiences with implementation, I would continuously edit and rework until everything was just right. Likewise, I began formulating activities that addressed specifically what needed to be taught, in a fun exploratory way. Then, I tackled the homework side of the equation. I created concise differentiated assignments with plenty of space to show work. These questions were directly correlated with the tests I created, to show evidence of mastery. I even invented a new feedback system for quick grading, combined with a student self-reflection component, using a standards-based approach. After years of reworking and editing all of this content, I decided to share my creations. It has become my mission to give teachers something that students positively respond to, created by someone in the profession. In essence, materials that will optimize a teacher's impact on student learning.
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Preview of Dot Plots and Data Distribution Notes

Dot Plots and Data Distribution Notes

A visually appealing and interactive way to teach about dot plots, line plots and the distribution of data. Both reading and creating dot/line plots is addressed on the first page of the notes. The entire second page is dedicated to describing the shape of the data. From bell curves to skewed left or right, dot plots are used to describe statistical elements of data sets. Actis Standard notes are a great way to teach students how to take notes in an easy to follow fill-in-the-blank format. Comp
Preview of Powers and Exponents Notes

Powers and Exponents Notes

A visually appealing and interactive way to teach about powers and exponents. These notes are a great resource for students and teachers! It is a great way to get kids to learn how to take notes without the need to write long cumbersome sentences. In essence, the notes are designed to address essential information and make it visually appealing. There are interactive components and mini-investigations built in. Your students will actually enjoy filling in the notes! The answer key is provided.
Preview of Long Division Notes (Standard Algorithm)

Long Division Notes (Standard Algorithm)

Finally, a visually appealing and interactive way to teach long division! A connection is made to students' prior understanding of division to help make sense of the standard algorithm and how it works. More importantly, the reason WHY it works is explored. The correlation with the long arm method is addressed as well. The notes conclude with an explanation of how to turn remainders into fractions, to achieve mixed number solutions. In the end, these notes really helped my students visualize and
Preview of Decimal Operations Test

Decimal Operations Test

NEW for 2017: Revised grading rubric! A cleaner look that's more user intuitive, while still providing powerful feedback to students. This 20 question test covers all operations with decimals (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and includes division of whole numbers using the standard algorithm. The best test you will find anywhere to assess how well your students understand the four operations with decimals. Here's why: 1. All multiple choice: Quick and easy to grade! Yet evid
Preview of GCF and LCM Notes

GCF and LCM Notes

A visually appealing and interactive way to teach about Greatest Common Factor and Least Common Multiple. The notes concisely demonstrate both the traditional listing method and the use of prime factorization with Venn diagrams. Actis Standard notes are a great way to teach students how to take notes in an easy to follow fill-in-the-blank format. Complex vocabulary and concepts are simplified and made attainable for all students. In essence, the notes are designed to address essential informat
Preview of Fraction Operations Test

Fraction Operations Test

NEW for 2017: Revised grading rubric! A cleaner look that's more user intuitive, while still providing powerful feedback to students. This 18 question test covers all operations with fractions and mixed numbers (addition, subtraction, multiplication & division). It is the best test you will find anywhere to assess how well your students understand the four operations with fractions. Here's why: 1. All multiple choice: Quick and easy to grade! Yet evidence of correct work must be shown to recei
Preview of 6th Grade Assessment

6th Grade Assessment

This is a comprehensive assessment that covers ALL of the Common Core objectives for 6th grade math. You will not find a better test to give your 6th grade math students. I have been constantly reworking and tweaking this assessment for the past several years and have piloted it with hundreds of actual sixth grade students. The result of this work is an assessment that is unmatched in quality, accuracy and ability to provide feedback. It can even be used for advanced 5th grade students or strug
Preview of Ratios & Rates Review

Ratios & Rates Review

Review the main components of ratios and rates. The 12 question review begins with naming ratios and determining equivalent rations. It then progresses to finding units rates to solve real-world problems. It concludes with using equivalent fractions and tables to solve rates problems. There is room to show work right on the sheet! Here's how Actis Standard review sheets differ from anything else you will find: 1. Not overwhelming for students and user-intuitive. 2. Each question addresses a di
Preview of Order of Operations Notes

Order of Operations Notes

A visually appealing and interactive way to teach the order of operations. From the classic acronym of PEMDAS to the specifics of using parenthesis and brackets, these interactive notes help student see how to effectively communicate their thinking using a funneling method of showing work. Your students will be solving seemingly complex expressions in no time! Actis Standard notes are a great way to teach students how to take notes in an easy to follow fill-in-the-blank format. Complex vocabula
Preview of Find Missing Percents and Totals Notes

Find Missing Percents and Totals Notes

A visually appealing and interactive way to teach how to find the missing percent or missing total in a math problem. Calculating the percent of a number can be fairly straight forward, but finding a missing percent (e.g. what percent of 40 is 6?) or a missing total (e.g. 30% of what number is 45?) can be challenging. These notes explore how to solve such problems with ease, WITHOUT the need for algebra. In essence, the notes explain how to set up and solve such problems using proportions. The u
Preview of 6th Grade Math - Full Year Curriculum Bundle

6th Grade Math - Full Year Curriculum Bundle

Major 2020 Updates! Perfect for virtual learning, remote learning, distance learning, eLearning, etc. This complete bundle will greatly reduce your anxiety about the uncertainties surrounding the 2020-2021 school year due to COVID-19. These materials have built in support for remote instruction and learning, unlike anything else you will find online. After a decade of development and use with thousands of students in my district, I can personally speak to the power of these materials. As une
Preview of Measures of Center Notes

Measures of Center Notes

A visually appealing and interactive way to teach statistical measures of center. Finding the mean, median and mode are addressed but the exploration goes much further that simply finding values. Understanding what the values represent is emphasized in these notes. Also identifying the best measure of center given the situation is thoroughly addressed. The concept of range and outliers is given special mention as well. Actis Standard notes are a great way to teach students how to take notes in
Preview of Add and Subtract Decimals Notes

Add and Subtract Decimals Notes

A visually appealing and interactive way to teach adding and subtracting decimals! These notes address the importance of place value and explains WHY you need to line up the decimal point and add zeros when necessary. Actis Standard notes are a great way to teach students how to take notes in an easy to follow fill-in-the-blank format. Complex vocabulary and concepts are simplified and made attainable for all students. In essence, the notes are designed to address essential information and mak
Preview of Graphing Review

Graphing Review

Cover three basic types of graphs with this 10 question review. From dot plots / line plots to histograms and box plots. This review will have your students both reading and creating all three types of graphs. In addition, the shape and distribution of these graphs will be questioned. Here's how Actis Standard review sheets differ from anything else you will find: 1. Not overwhelming for students and user-intuitive. 2. Each question addresses a different aspect of the objective. Students will
Preview of Rates and Ratios Test

Rates and Ratios Test

NEW for 2017: Revised grading rubric! A cleaner look that's more user intuitive, while still providing powerful feedback to students. This 18 question test addresses naming ratios, calculating unit rates and using equivalent rates to solve problems. It is the best test you will find anywhere to assess how well your students understand rates and ratios. Here's why: 1. All multiple choice: Quick and easy to grade! Yet evidence of correct work must be shown to receive credit. 2. Plenty of space
Preview of Equivalent Rates and Ratios Notes

Equivalent Rates and Ratios Notes

A visually appealing and interactive way to teach about equivalent rates and ratios. The notes begin by establishing ratio relationships between two quantities as equivalent and how it relates to equivalent fractions. Through the use of both fractions and tables, the equivalency of ratios is explored. The notes even address number patterns, rules and general rules to make this concept clear to your students. Actis Standard notes are a great way to teach students how to take notes in an easy to
Preview of Graphing Test

Graphing Test

This test addresses several types of graphs. Namely, dot plots / line plots, histograms, and box plots. Students are asked to read and create these three types of graphs. Likewise, the shape and distribution of the data (bell curve, skewed left or right, etc), as well as finding measures of center, is addressed on the test. Despite the large amount of content assessed this test is concise and very accurate at determining the proficiency level of your students in these topics. Here's what make
Preview of 6th Grade Assessment SLO Edition

6th Grade Assessment SLO Edition

BRAND NEW for 2016! This is a comprehensive assessment set that covers ALL of the Common Core objectives for 6th grade math. Each 30 question multiple-choice test requires work be shown as evidence of comprehension. Space is provided next to each question and the Common Core strands being assessed are clearly identified above the questions. I have been constantly reworking and tweaking this assessment for the past several years and have piloted it with hundreds of actual sixth grade students.
Preview of Multiply Decimals Notes

Multiply Decimals Notes

A visually appealing and interactive way to teach multiplying decimals! These notes address the need to multiply by powers of 10 to create simpler whole number questions to solve using the traditional algorithm for multiplication. More importantly it explains WHY the decimal point moves in the answer. Actis Standard notes are a great way to teach students how to take notes in an easy to follow fill-in-the-blank format. Complex vocabulary and concepts are simplified and made attainable for all s
Preview of Percents Test

Percents Test

NEW for 2017: Revised grading rubric! A cleaner look that's more user intuitive, while still providing powerful feedback to students. This 18 question test addresses percents. Specifically it covers converting percents to decimals and fractions, finding the percent of a number, and finding missing percents or totals. It is the best test you will find anywhere to assess how well your students truly understand percents. Here's why: 1. Quick and easy to grade! Lots of multiple choice questions as
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About the store

Experience

My experience is reflected in my mission. To create the best materials for optimizing teaching and learning. After years of working with poorly formatted content, created by corporations, I found myself settling for whatever come closest but either the quality or content was lacking in some capacity. Using over a decade of teaching experience I began creating what has now become OptimizED. The creations started with guided notes that were visually appealing and easy to follow, quickly summarizing the main ideas. Using real-world feedback from students and my own experiences with implementation, I would continuously edit and rework until everything was just right. Likewise, I began formulating activities that addressed specifically what needed to be taught, in a fun exploratory way. Then, I tackled the homework side of the equation. I created concise differentiated assignments with plenty of space to show work. These questions were directly correlated with the tests I created, to show evidence of mastery. I even invented a new feedback system for quick grading, combined with a student self-reflection component, using a standards-based approach. After years of reworking and editing all of this content, I decided to share my creations. It has become my mission to give teachers something that students positively respond to, created by someone in the profession. In essence, materials that will optimize a teacher's impact on student learning.

Teaching style

Differentiated, efficient and student-centered.

Awards & shining teacher moments

One of only two hundred educators selected nationwide as part of the Learnzillion Dream Team in 2013 to create online lessons. Consultant for companies such as McGraw Hill, Smarter Balanced, and Tang Math.

My own education history

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education Masters in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis

Additional biographical information

Quality and results come standard.