Sara's Coaching Corner
Hosp Elementary 1-12-2016
TEMI, MSTAR, and ESTAR
MSTAR is a 5th grade assessment. The coordinators want us to know that they do not look at this information. However, it is good data for the teacher to have.
TEMI can be given in Kinder at the beginning of the year as a screener. However, after that, only our low students should be given the TEMI. You could possibly use it for students that are being brought to SST or as a data collection tool.
What are representations?
What do teachers mean when we ask students to show their work? Are we asking them to show the numeric computations and steps they took in reaching a solution to a division problem? Are we looking for the right steps in solving an equation? Are we asking them to somehow put on paper the processes and thinking they went through as they developed a solution to a multistep problem? What does it truly mean to ask students to represent their mathematical thinking, and how can we support, model for, and encourage students to put on paper their interpretations of the mathematical models that helped them make those crucial connections between the concrete and the abstract?
Representing their solutions is one of the means by which students can communicate to others their mathematical thinking and at the same time clarify in their own mind what meaning lies in the mathematics. While manipulatives provide students with an opportunity to model the mathematics at hand, they are just that: models. It is up to the teacher to help students make the connections between the models and the mathematics. Only by making that connection will students truly understand and internalize the math. Once that connection has been made, students can represent their thinking in words, pictures or symbols, and diagrams and apply their knowledge to more complex problem-solving situations. Representations take many forms: an algorithm that represents a problem situation, a graph that represents data collected in the classroom, an array that shows a multiplication process, or a diagram that illustrates area or perimeter. Numbers, pictures, diagrams, equations, graphs, and models are all forms of mathematical representations. While in the past, standard representations were simply taught to students, teachers are now recognizing the power of alternative representations as tools through which students can explore and enhance their mathematical thinking.
The ways in which mathematical ideas are represented is fundamental to how people can understand and use those ideas. ~National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
5th grade math professional learning
We are looking forward to our 5th grade PL via Google Hangout (including special program teachers and administrators). Below is a list of some housekeeping items:
1. Workshop Registration: All participants will need to register on Workshop by the 14th at https://sweduphoria.friscoisd.org/wshop/default.aspx.
2. Google Form: All registered participants will receive credit for the course once they complete a couple reflection questions. The form will be sent to participants through workshop email the day of the PD (that is why it's important they are registered).
3. Google Hangout: The PD will be conducted through the tool Google Hangout. One teacher will be the spokesperson for the team when we are interacting. Feel free to pull up on the projector. Kayla will help with setting-up the team with Google Hangout before the PD date. Anyone participating in the PD needs to be together in one room since we have a limit on the number of computers that you can use Google Hangout at one time.
4. Representation Handout: Please read the Representation handout (see above) to read before the professional learning. (5th grade, I'm putting a copy in your box.)
Talk Read Talk Write
ELAR
ELAR Professional Learning
- Kindergarten - April 1, 2016
- First Grade - March 25, 2016
- Second Grade - March 18, 2016
- Third Grade - February 26, 2016
- Fourth Grade - February 19, 2016
- Fifth Grade - February 12, 2016
We will celebrate the successes teachers have had with implementing the ELAR cluster pre-assessments and the utilization of that data in developing common formative assessments. Teachers will need to bring (1) an example of how they have used the ELAR cluster pre-assessments to create CFAs and (2) a technology device. Please assist and support teachers as needed.
ELAR Updates
- Reading cluster 6 will be loaded for 3-5 on January 22 and for K-2 in February.
- Reading and Writing simulations are now loaded at the print shop.
Stephanie Harvey Blog
Writing Goals
One of the great ideas we saw this time was a way for students to show their current writing goals. This is a great idea for us and our students!