#INspirEDmath
November 2019, Volume 15
Falling In Love With Math
"Rich learning is something everyone deserves!"
Problem of the Month
Secondary Problem of the Month
Would you rather...Whichever option you choose, justify your reasoning with mathematics.
For more amazing Would You Rather...? prompts, click here. Access the user-guide for great implementation suggestions!
Elementary Problem of the Month
The Indiana Process Standards for Math
1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
4. Model with mathematics.
5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
6. Attend to precision.
7. Look for and make use of structure.
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
What Does it Mean to Reason Abstractly and Quantitatively?
- Makes sense of quantities and their relationships to problems
- Decontextualizes by abstracting a given situation and representing it symbolically
- Contextualizes by probing into the situation and terms for the symbols involved
- Creates a representation of the problem
- Considers the units involved
- Attends to the meaning of quantities, not just how to compute them
- Knows and flexibly uses different properties of operations
This math practice shifts the attention away from simply picking numbers out of a problem to focusing on the quantities to which those numbers refer. Also important to note is that abstracting does not imply only the use of variables. Diagrams, numbers, manipulatives, symbols, and more can all be used to decontextualize a problem.
Decontextualizing vs Contextualizing
Contextualize - recalling and considering the referents (objects that can be used to help estimate a measurement, such as the distance from the tip of the nose to the outstretched fingers representing one yard) for the abstraction you are manipulating
Decontextualize - abstracting a problem situation and manipulating that abstract representation without attending to referents
The image below shows a great example of what it looks like to do each.
The Teacher's Role
Teachers should:
- Facilitate opportunities for students to discuss or use representations to make sense of quantities and their relationships.
- Encourage the flexible use of properties of operations, objects, and solution strategies when solving problems.
- Provide an opportunity for students to decontextualize and/or contextualize the math they are learning.
- What can I count or measure in this problem?
- What is an effective way to represent important information?
- What does the symbol/diagram/number/variable stand for?
- What does this number represent in the problem context and does it make sense?
Resources to Support Our Students in Reasoning Abstractly and Quantitatively
Tap in to Teen Minds
Math For Love
Play With Your Math
Opportunities for the Field
Fifth-Annual Indiana STEM Education Conference
The cost for the registration is $95 if you register by Friday, December 20, and $110 if you register after December 20. The conference is an opportunity for STEM teachers and STEM schools to present effective lessons, policies, partnerships, assessments, and STEM education strategies. Register here.
Spring Analytical Algebra II Learning and Collaboration
Join the secondary math specialist from IDOE for a full day of PD surrounding the new Analytical Algebra II course. Participants will:
- Participate in model lessons
- Discuss resources/strategies
- Develop activities collaboratively
- Continue to build out community
Click on one of the dates below for registration and details!
February 3 - Jasper, IN
February 11 - Warsaw, IN
February 12 - Indianapolis, IN
New Experiences for Instructors of Dual Enrollment (NExIDE) Scholarship Program
Click here for more information and access to the application!
Second Annual Indiana's Educating the Whole Child Summit
Registration can be found here. Please note that if you are having one person register a group of people for your district, they will have to submit separate registrations by leaving and re-entering registration.
Highlights from just a few of the keynote speakers:
Click here for the Handle with Care presentation
Blocks of rooms have been secured at the Marriott East for $129/night. For your planning purposes, please know each day will begin with breakfast/registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. Day one, February 19, will begin with a speaker at 9:00 a.m. and Day two, February 20, will begin at 8:30 a.m. Both days will end at 4:00 p.m.
If interested in submitting a proposal, click here.
Questions should be directed to Christy Gauss at jcgauss@indiana.edu.
Girls Who Code
Apply now with a quick, 15 minutes Clubs Application through our partnership, or learn more by joining the next live, 30-minutes webinar!
Contact Jake Koressel with questions.
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News From Assessmet
Beginning with the Winter 2019 Retest, the ISTEP+ assessment will be delivered in the same online system that is used for ILEARN and I AM. For online test sessions that allow calculator use, students may use the online Desmos graphing calculator or a handheld calculator. For paper test sessions that allow calculator use, students may use a handheld calculator.
TAs must oversee the use of the handheld calculator to ensure use only during appropriate test segments. Misuse of a calculator may result in a test invalidation for an assessment needed by a student to fulfill graduation requirements. Handheld calculators must meet the functionality requirements, as outlined in the full Calculator Policy:
https://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/assessment/calculator-policy2019-2020-final.pdfMath Educator Spotlight Nominations Needed (Click Below)
Your IDOE Mathematics Team
Robin Conti
Email: rconti@doe.in.gov
Website: doe.in.gov
Location: Indiana Department of Education
Phone: (317)-233-6098
Twitter: @RobinLConti
Emily Bruning
Email: ebruning@doe.in.gov
Website: doe.in.gov
Location: Indiana Department of Education, West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Phone: (317)-232-9142
Twitter: @MrsBruning