Sheila Orr (she/her)
@drsheilaorr.bsky.social
Mathematics Teacher Educator, Assistant Professor, Lifelong Spartan, Knowles Senior Fellow
Big Announcement Coming Soon ⏳
ProgressED Pathways@progressedpathways.bsky.social · 3mo agoSometimes it takes someone else believing in you before you believe in yourself. We're grateful for the people who encouraged us to think bigger. Now we hope to do the same for the educators we work alongside. More of this story soon. 💛 #EduSky #TeacherLeadership #PBL
Pretty excited about what is coming from my collaboration with @carleemadis.bsky.social and @msdimaria.bsky.social
ProgressED Pathways@progressedpathways.bsky.social · 3mo agoA little end-of-year reflection, a little summer dreaming, and a lot of writing behind the scenes ☀️ We’ve been working on something and can’t wait to share more soon. Stay tuned!
I am so excited to have this piece out in the world. It started as a course paper about a framework that spoke to us as educators and has expanded to understand what it means to be a Rida in mathematics classrooms. jume-ojs-tamu.tdl.org/jume/article...
Take a listen as @carleemadis.bsky.social , @drsheilaorr.bsky.social and I share about the work we’ve been up to with @progressedpathways.bsky.social ! #edusky #PBLchat #projectbasedlearning #mtbos #STEMed #iteachmath
Joel Amidon@amidonplanet.bsky.social · 10mo agoListen to E136 of Amidon Planet as we learn to teach better with the @progressedpathways.bsky.social Team—Sarah DiMaria, Carlee Madis, and Sheila Orr. Listen wherever you get podcasts or head to buff.ly/dapxiY9 for the audio and show notes.
So grateful for these folks and the community we are building
ProgressED Pathways@progressedpathways.bsky.social · 11mo agoFeeling grateful this week for: 🧮 Educators who strive for richer, deeper math learning experiences. 🤝 Collaborators who challenge us to keep refining and articulating our work. 💛 Family and friends who remind us this work matters. #MathEducation #STEM #Gratitude #PBL
“PBL doesn’t work in math.” Heard that one? 👀 The truth: PBL can deepen rigor and reasoning — when it’s designed for real mathematical thinking. Let’s stop asking if it works, and start asking: What math is worth doing — and how can PBL help us get there? #PBLinMath #MathEd #Edusky
As Toni Morrison said, "the very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work." But she also reminded us never to lose our capacity to be shocked. Part of my conversation on @ayman.msnbc.com earlier today.
This week we learned with Dr. Alyssa Hadley Dunn about Teaching on Days After — holding care + community at the center. We also explored how different assessments create space for students to show what they know in ways that honor their voices 💛 #TeachingTuesday #TeachingOnDaysAfter
Life has really been life-ing this last week…..but I committed to it so I am still going to post my #teachingtuesday post (just a day late 🤷🏻♀️)
Thinking back on a class that reminded me why I teach math: 💭 Every student can do rigorous math. 💭 Every student belongs at the math table. When students feel capable and included, everything changes. What belief guides your classroom? 👇 #MathForAll #BelongingInMath #MathEd #EduSky #mtbos
If there is no crime, they will implicate there was crime. If there is no violence, they will create violence. They will traumatize our children, our grandparents, they will traumatize everyone in order to create a fascist spectacle.
Puff the Magic Hater@mskellymhayes.bsky.social · last yr.This explains a lot. For a moment, I wondered why they'd do something as ridiculous as drop agents on the roof of the apartment building from helicopters, but of course, they did it for this footage. The same reason they were marching in formation downtown and snatched a family in Millennium Park.
Check out this free resource that came out of work with teachers to help reframe deficit language during PD sessions
ProgressED Pathways@progressedpathways.bsky.social · last yr.Our language shapes what we believe is possible. Let’s make sure it reflects the strengths students bring. We’ve put together a reflection tool for shifting from deficit-based to asset-based language in classrooms. 📥 Download it free here: subscribepage.io/DcYU0x #PBL #TeacherTalk #Equity
Teaching Tuesday: This week my class compared practice standards across disciplines and then built Practice Pathways for our own units. The best part? Seeing how across math, science, ELA, and social studies, practices drive coherence. #TeachingTuesday #PracticePathways #TeacherEducation
Speaking of voices under attack…can we be just as loud about Black journalists and comedians who are silenced, even by our so-called liberal outlets. • Joy Reid • Don Lemon • Melissa Harris-Perry • Tiffany Cross • Jemele Hill • Marc Lamont Hill • Karen Attiah • Amber Ruffin
Excited to be part of sharing some of this amazing work in Atlanta #NCTM25
ProgressED Pathways@progressedpathways.bsky.social · last yr.Our team is headed to #NCTM25 in Atlanta with FIVE sessions! We’re excited to share, learn, and connect with the math ed community. 📚✨ 📍 Oct 15–18
This week’s class was asynchronous, which gave my students time to dig into disciplinary practices. The big shift: seeing standards not as checklists, but as doorways into the ways to be a doer of the discipline outside of schools. #TeachingTuesday #DoersOfTheDiscipline #TeacherEducation
NEW: I tracked three dozen teachers, professors and other school staff who've been forced from their job or stepped away due to their comments on Charlie Kirk and his killing Republican lawmakers are increasingly getting involved, pushing for firings www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Teachers' punishment for social media posts on Charlie Kirk's death prompts free speech debate
More than three dozen professors, teachers and school staffers have left or been removed over allegations they made disparaging or mocking comments about Charlie Kirk.
nbcnews.com
Mid-conversation. Mid-idea. The kind of moments where curiosity meets collaboration — and we dream about what’s possible in #STEM education. #TeacherLife #STEMTeaching #edusky
She is an amazing educator who has inspire so much of my practice! I am so honored to have her as part of my community
ProgressED Pathways@progressedpathways.bsky.social · last yr.Celebrating Monica Sircar — a brilliant science educator, curriculum designer, and thought partner. From co-developing our initial framework to shaping justice-centered science education, Monica pushes us to dream big and center what matters most. 💙 #ScienceEd #NGSS #PBL #WomenInSTEM #edusky
My teacher ed class is full of PSTs across math, science, ELA, social studies and PE. This week we explored content storylines. What I loved was hearing how each discipline engages in this work. Together we’re not just asking what the standards are, but also how and why they matter #teachingtuesday
August Sheila - I am giving detailed feedback so students realize I value learning over right answers September Sheila - why is it taking so long to give all this feedback Jokes aside it is warming my heart to read all the week 1 reflections (even if it is taking way longer than expected)
I am going to attempt to use social media to share a window into my classroom like I used to with #teach180 Since I only teach once a week now, I am going to try #TeachingTuesday ✨ Teaching Tuesday ✨ This week in class we dug into standards-based unit planning using Equity by Design as our guide.
A peek behind the scenes at our annual business meeting 📊✨ We’re reflecting, planning, & dreaming big for the year ahead. Can’t wait to keep building momentum with this community of educators & leaders! #PBL #ProgressEDPathways #BehindTheScenes
My work with @carleemadis.bsky.social and @msdimaria.bsky.social is a finalist for #SXSWEDU please help us get there by voting ❤️
ProgressED Pathways@progressedpathways.bsky.social · last yr.We’re up for #SXSWEDU 2026! Our session, Practice Pathway: Practicing What We Preach, explores how to leverage disciplinary practices. 🗳️ Voting is live—help bring this conversation to Austin! 🔗 bit.ly/PickUsSXSW Click the ❤️ to vote #edusky #STEMEd #SXSWPanelPicker
Join us for the next JRME Talk on September 9! José Gutiérrez and coauthors will discuss their forthcoming article, "Signs of Power and Dominance: Mathematics, the Logic of Elimination, and Indian Boarding Schools, 1879–1932." Free and open to all: nctm.link/85t2z
Q3: I am teaching two new to me courses and the students and I only meet face to face every other week. I have no idea how I will build meaningful community when our interactions will be so infrequent #TODOSslowchat
TODOS: Mathematics for ALL@todos-math.bsky.social · last yr.Q3: Share one challenge you anticipate this school year and how you’re planning to overcome it. Let's problem solve in community here! #edusky #mathsky #TODOSslowchat
Q2: I always do a collaborative math task. When I was in K-12, I did origami boxes and Mayan numbers (from @rickbrlw on Twitter…I think). Now I do usually do a pattern task to get future teachers thinking about how to work together and challenge what math classrooms can look like #TODOSslowchat
TODOS: Mathematics for ALL@todos-math.bsky.social · last yr.Q2: What is one activity you do with your students on the first day of math class and why is it important? #edusky #mathsky #TODOSslowchat
Friendly reminder that school administrators tend to take complaints from parents much more seriously than the same complaints from teachers. So if your kids’ school district is using PragerU stuff, please speak up.
Jennifer Ouellette@jenlucpiquant.bsky.social · last yr.The White House has a preferred alternative to PBS: PragerU, a nonprofit organization that specializes in creating right-leaning educational short videos for adults and children. . It may already be in countless classrooms. www.vox.com/today-explai...
I am so grateful for the opportunity to be in community with thoughtful educators
ProgressED Pathways@progressedpathways.bsky.social · last yr.Still reflecting on the energy of #NTAC2025. Huge thanks to the educators who joined our sessions & shared their insights. Their words stuck with us—swipe through the post to read a few! 💬 #PBL #NTAC #TeacherVoices #edusky
