FHSD Elem Math/Science News
February 2016
Upcoming Dates to Note
February 24: Fifth Grade Step 5 meeting (reps will meet at DLC 8:30-3:30)
February 12-February 29: Assessment window for SECOND GRADE TOPIC 10 PERF TASK
February 25-March 3: Assessment window for FIRST GRADE AND SECOND GRADE TOPIC 11 PERF TASK
February 29-March 4: Assessment window for KINDERGARTEN TOPIC 11 PERF TASK
March 3 - deadline to sign up for Mathematical Mindsets book study
March 28- PD day (8-12)
March 28- 1:30- First Mathematical Mindsets book study meeting (FHC library)
March 28: Registration deadline for Tri-County Science and Engineering Fair (see additional info below)
Tri-County Science Fair
Copies of the handbook should have been delivered to buildings. The handbook provides guidance and tools for students entering the fair. If you need additional copies or have more questions about the Science Fair, please contact Dave Spies at dave.spies@fhsdschools.org.
Mathematical Mindsets - book study opportunity, article, video
article: http://edsource.org/2016/stanford-professor-urges-teachers-to-rethink-math-instruction/93376
video: https://www.youcubed.org/brain-science/
If you are interested in participating in a book study about what you can do in your math classroom to help students develop a growth mindset, please contact me by March 3. Participants in the book study will receive books the following week. Meeting dates include March 28 (in the afternoon) and April 13, April 28, and May 9 in the evening as Twitter Chats.
Excerpt from “Mathematical Mindsets”: “Mathematics is a subject that allows for precise thinking, but when that precise thinking is combined with creativity, flexibility, and multiplicity of ideas, the mathematics comes alive for people. Teachers can create such mathematical excitement in classrooms, with any task, by asking students for the different ways they see and can solve tasks and by encouraging discussion of different ways of seeing problems.” (Chapter 5: Rich Mathematical Tasks –page 59)
For questions about information in this newsletter, please contact Dr. Sherri Lorton
Email: sherri.lorton@fhsdschools.org
Location: 1405 Highway D, St. Charles, MO 63304
Phone: 636-851-5328
Twitter: @sherrilorton
ARTICLE: How to Encourage Questioning
Children ask thousands of questions -- about 40,000 between ages 2 and 5, says author and innovation expert Warren Berger. Berger questions why older children stop asking as many questions and how adults -- parents and teachers -- can encourage students to ask more questions.