#INspirEDmath
October 2019, Volume 14
Content or Process, Which Comes First?
Video - A Real Eye Opener
Problem of the Month
Secondary Problem of the Month
Four friends each have a different piece of gossip. They are all in separate locations, and can communicate only via their phones.
1. What is the smallest number of text messages that they need to send between each other to guarantee that everyone knows all the gossip? (In other words, what’s the most efficient texting strategy to make sure each person has every piece of gossip? A text message goes from one person to one person, i.e. if you send one message to two recipients that would count as two messages.)
2. What is the smallest number of phone calls they need to make between each other to guarantee that everyone knows all the gossip? In a phone call between two friends, each friend can share what they know with the other.
The group now has eight friends. Again, each has a different piece of gossip.
3. What’s the smallest number of text messages that they need to send between each other to guarantee that all eight know all the gossip?
4. What’s the smallest number of phone calls that they need to make between each other to guarantee that all eight know all the gossip?
5. Can you generalize this for n friends? What is quite surprising about the results?
Click here for the solutions and more Can You Solve It? puzzles by Alex Bellos. New ones are posted bi-weekly!
Elementary Problem of the Month
This problem is asking students to make sense of the information rather than provide a numerical "answer." These problems ask students for much deeper thinking than typical word problems.
Find more like this here!
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.
Engaging in Sense-making and Perseverence
Productive math students take time to make sense of a problem. They orient themselves, notice things, generate ideas about what is important and needed to proceed, plan out their solution path, and consider the reasonableness of their solutions. Teachers can support and encourage this type of student behavior by:
- Involving students in rich problem based tasks that encourage them to persevere in order to reach a solution.
- Providing opportunities for students to solve problems that have multiple solutions.
- Encouraging students to represent their thinking while problem solving.
Three Ways to Launch a Lesson
Finding a good lesson is not the final step in instructional planning. Consider new ways to engage students with three lesson launches by Desmos teacher faculty, Christopher Danielson, and Lead Instructional Designer for Desmos, Michael Fenton.
- Show an image and ask students, "What is the first question that comes to your mind".
- Honor all questions by recording and speculating.
- Turn the class's attention to the appropriate question to investigate.
Launch #2 - Notice and Wonder
- Show an image and ask students what they notice and then what they wonder.
- Honor all contributions by recording and speculating. (This launch allows students to bring their lived experiences into what they notice and wonder.)
- Turn class's attention in direction of appropriate question to investigate.
Launch #3 - Tell a Story
- Show an image and invite students to invent and tell a story about it. (This launch provides a window into the world of each student’s community, culture, and lived experiences.)
Click here for more details on each launch in the context of the Desmos activity Charge! where students use linear modeling to predict how long it will take for a smartphone to reach full charge and interpreting the parameters of their equation in context.
Resources to Support Sensemaking
Slow Reveal Graphs
An instructional routine that promotes sensemaking about data. This highly engaging routine uses scaffolded visuals and discourse to help students make sense of data. As more and more of the graph is revealed, students refine their interpretation and construct meaning, often in surprising ways. This routine increases access for students without sacrificing rigor or engagement.
Deep Algebra
that stretch advanced learners out of their comfort zones! The projects enhance students' abilities to think independently, flexibly, and with deep understanding.
Inside Mathematics
Opportunities for the Field
Mathapalooza - An Extraordinary Event!
Increasing engagement in the K-12 math classroom through FREE full-day math-specific professional development and YOU are invited!
Indiana Department of Education’s (IDOE) math specialists from the Office of School Improvement are organizing another professional development series to continue our support of a vision for ambitious instruction in the K-12 math classroom! Participants will explore and develop rich tasks that support the Eight Mathematics Teaching Practices as outlined in NCTM’s publication Principles to Action (2014). In this interactive and engaging full day session, participants will discover how to open up traditionally closed problems to promote student discourse, provide opportunities for productive struggle, and to support students in risk-taking and sense-making. Guided implementation and opportunities for collaboration will be embedded throughout the day. Classroom teachers and coaches are the target audience, although the support of building level administrators is highly encouraged!
Details:
Five PGPs will be given for educators who attend the full day professional development.
Educators should bring a laptop or other device.
Each site will have the following schedule, with minor variations in time, dependent upon location: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. with a one-hour lunch on your own.
Space is limited to 150 educators (75 secondary and 75 elementary) at each location so sign up quickly to reserve your seat!
Analytical Algebra II Fall Learning & 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
- Analyze assessments
- Discuss resources/strategies
- Continue to build out community
Click on one of the dates below for registration!
October 29 - Warsaw, IN
November 6 - Indianapolis, IN
Seeking K-12 Science Educators
TechPoint Foundation Youth K-8 STEM Teacher Grants
COMING SOON!
Any good ideas for math topics you'd like to tweet about? Let us know! @MrsBruning @RobinLConti
Who To Follow On Twitter
@SteveWyborney
@robertkaplinsky
@buildmathminds
Supporting Our Early Learners
Math Educator Spotlight - Ashley Grimes
As an elementary student, I always loved math! My grandfather loved to tell me story problems and watch me work them out quickly without a pencil and paper. I had a "different" way of math thinking and struggled to comply to show work when my teachers had requested I do so. You name the problem, and I could quickly solve it mentally! I knew in third grade I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. Throughout high school, I participated in the cadet teaching program and I quickly began to spend all of my free time with first graders!
Life quickly led me in a different direction as I worked full time during my undergraduate degree and was forced to pursue my Bachelor's in Business at Indiana University East in 2010. I finished my degree and immediately searched for a program to pursue a teaching license. I completed the Transition to Teaching program in 2013 at IUPUI. The next summer I completed my Master's in Urban Elementary Education. I reside in Greenfield with my husband, two daughters, and three dogs.
I spent 6 years teaching second grade at the same school I completed my student teaching placements. This year, I moved to third grade and have the privilege of looping with some of my second graders. The rewards are abundant! It is an amazing feeling to see the look on their faces when they "get" a math concept or have devised a new way to solve a problem. Students have realized the value of multiple math strategies and are excited to use multiplication to solve problems we face throughout our days together! While many students love the excitement of online math programs, my students often choose to work on math centers [Marilyn Burns] if given a choice. There is no reward greater than influencing the minds of young people!
Math 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