Secondary Mathematics
April 2024
April 2024
Happy Spring!
Growth is happening all around us; outside and within our classrooms. As we gear up for STAAR, AP, and other Testing, look for the fruits of your labor in your students' academic growth. Your hard work and dedication directly contribute to your student's success.
TEA has released new information about SB 2124 (Middle school advanced math), see info in the Spill the TEA! section below.
Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) has a new website, check it out here.
TEA SBOE Bulletin with more information.
April 1-5 is National Assistant Principals Week
3 - ChildHelp Nation Day of Hope (National Child Abuse Prevention)
4 - School Librarian Day
6 - Love our Children Day (National Child Abuse Prevention)
15 - Tax Day
24 - Administrative Professionals Day
ESTAR/MSTAR
April 15 - May 17, 2024 Universal Screener Window
April 22 - May 24, 2024 Diagnostic Assessment Window
The end of the year assessment window for Elementary School Students in Texas: Algebra Ready (ESTAR) and Middle-School Students in Texas: Algebra Ready (MSTAR) Universal Screener opens in January. Data from the mid-year assessment window informs teachers and MTSS teams of student progress and supports them in making decisions about student academic interventions. The data also provides campus leaders with data on Tier 1 instruction or on any algebra related mathematic initiatives on which the campus or district has embarked.
To learn more about the ESTAR and MSTAR Assessments, visit https://www.texasgateway.org/resource/estarmstar. For questions regarding accounts and general assistance, email mathtx@esc13.net.
TEKS Resource System has New Advanced 6th & 7th Grade Math Documents
- In TEKS Resource System, Choose 6th or 7th Grade, then Search.
- Go to the Resource Folder
- Look for 2024-2025 DRAFT - Mathematics Grade # Advanced
Documents including 6 and 9 Week planning documents are available, along with 7th Grade TEK distribution.
The new digital SAT® and the future of standardized testing
The Digital SAT (DSAT) is rolling out across the United States in the spring of 2024. The test is one hour shorter (down from three hours), has shorter reading passages and uses digital tools, like a highlighter, a graphing calculator and a bookmark to go back to skipped questions. Now is the time to ensure your school community is fully aware of the changes the College Board is making.
College Board Digital SAT Information
The Butterfly Method. Keep Change Flip and Keep Flip. Change.
There’s no doubt you’ve seen or heard these mathematics learning tricks and several others. What message do we send to our students when we present mathematics as a series of tricks? Do we send the message that mathematics is understandable, or do we send the message that mathematics is so difficult that they need to resort to tricks to get the correct answers?
NCTM's President, Kevin Dykema's message about teaching tricks in mathematics.
6 Levers for Unlocking Learning Acceleration for Multilingual Learners
As federal dollars wind down, how can schools and districts strategically and sustainably center the unique needs of MLs? This free TNTP report covers 6 Levers of Learning Acceleration that can drive positive, lasting outcomes for Multilingual Learners Nationwide.
Dyscalculia
Dyscalculia is a learning disorder that affects a person's ability to understand number-based information and math. (Cleveland Clinic Article)
Dyscalculia is a type of neurodivergence: A difference in brain development or function.
It is classified as a Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) in education.
SLDs include dyscalculia (math), dyslexia (reading), dysgraphia (writing), and dyspraxia (movement).
Dyscalculia lasts a lifetime; adults have the same math experience as students.
About 5 million K-12 students in the United States have dyscalculia.
(Dyscalculia Training & Research Institute)
Podcast: What in the world is dyscalculia? by Dr. Honora Wall, Ed.D.
Spill the TEA!
SB 2124 - Middle School Advanced Mathematics Programs Update
TEA held a Math meeting on Friday, March 29th. These slides were presented. The meeting was recorded, but as of today (April 3rd) it has not been posted to the TEA YouTube page. An abundance of information was shared, including parent communication samples and how to identify students in the 60th percentile (Top 40 percentile) - please see photos below.
TEA has published a proposed rule on the new middle school advanced mathematics programs required by Senate Bill 2124. The proposal outlines the requirements related to automatic enrollment of certain middle school students into an advanced mathematics program designed to prepare students to enroll in Algebra 1 in Grade 8.
**If a student takes Algebra 1 in middle school, they are still required to take a math assessment in high school. See this citation for more information: Texas Administrative Code §101.3011(a)(2)
If you have questions about Middle School Advanced Mathematics Program, please complete this form.
Texas Performance Reporting System (TPRS) Advanced Math Pathways
TEA has a new Advanced Math Pathways and Postsecondary Outcomes Visualization Report in the Texas Performance Reporting System (TPRS)
For the Campus/District Report, Start at this TPRS Link
- Enter your desired District Information (For me, campus was not available yet.)
- When the Report Appears, Click on STAAR at the Top right (In the Blue Bar)
- Scroll Down to Advanced Math Pathways
The Advanced Math Pathways report identifies students who were enrolled in an advanced middle school mathematics program, marked by the completion of the STAAR Algebra I End-of-Course (EOC) assessment before the end of eighth grade. These students demonstrated proficiency in grade 5 mathematics, as evidenced by "Meets" or "Masters" performance ratings on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) Grade 5 Math Assessment. The report details participation rates in the Grade 8 Algebra I EOC across various student groups. It serves as a tool to aid in the development and implementation of Senate Bill (SB) 2124, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, which establishes requirements related to the automatic enrollment of certain middle school students into an advanced mathematics program.
The Postsecondary Outcomes Visualization report monitors and assesses the trajectories of students following their graduation from high school or the completion of their postsecondary education. The data visualization comprises two datasets:
- Graduation Class (2008-2020)
- Outcomes for 1 to 6 years after graduation
The visualization encompasses all graduates, including those who are economically disadvantaged and those who are not. This report can be used to inform decisions regarding future programs and diverse research initiatives.
For the Overall State Report on the Advanced Math Pathways, click here.
2026-27 Student Assessment Testing Calendar
A draft version of the 2026–2027 Student Assessment Testing Calendar has been posted on the Test Administration Resources webpage of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) website.
TEA is accepting public comments on the draft version of the 2026–2027 Student Assessment Testing Calendar. Public comments on the draft calendar should be sent to Test.Calendar@tea.texas.gov by Friday, April 12, 2024.
TEA Texas Assessment Research Portal
The New TEA Research Portal contains data for all Texas students who participated in statewide test administrations.
Within the Research Portal you can:
- Select unlimited organizations-state, region, district, campus.
- Search by each summative assessment program.
- Produce a variety of reports for each test administration.
- Select multiple subjects, grades, courses, or domains.
- Customize your report - filter disaggregate, transpose.
- Download your report into PDF or CSV format.
STAAR Calculator Information
Testing Calculator Policy, these functions must be disabled:
- geometry functions;
- graphing implicit equations and inequalities;
- graphing inequalities (calculator or application automatically interprets the inequality symbol);
- polynomial root finders
- simultaneous equation solvers
- functions that automatically calculate mean absolute deviation.
This must be utilized on the Algebra 1 EOC test in May 2024.
**Students CAN utilize BOTH the online calculator and a handheld calculator.**
Texas Instruments Resources for STAAR
For How -To Directions: Choose Handheld or Teacher Software options
How-To video from TI: Using the teacher software to Press-to-Test
Nominations OPEN for 2024 Student Heroes Award
The Student Heroes Award highlights Texas public school students participating in impactful volunteer service in their communities. Since the award's inception, nearly 120 Texas public school students with a heart for service have been named Student Heroes. Fifteen students - one per State Board district - receive the award each year, with contributions ranging from initiating inclusive programs for seniors and students with disabilities to facilitating fundraisers for kids receiving medical treatment.
The SBOE encourages students, administrators, and community members to nominate any Texas public school students who exemplify the core value of selfless service. To be eligible for nomination, service projects performed by nominees must be voluntary and not associated with any curriculum requirement, school service project, or pre-existing community program. Winners will receive a plaque and a medal from their district's SBOE member during awards presentation held at their school.
Nominations will close on May 4th. For more information, click here.
Free Virtual Training for Bilingual & ESL exams
As part of the effort to increase the number of certified bilingual educators in the state of Texas, the TEA Emergent Bilingual Support Division will host free virtual training opportunities to prepare educators for the Bilingual Supplemental 164 and ESL Supplemental 154 exams.
Instructional Materials Review and Approval, IMRA Mathematics K-12
TEA provides support and coordination for the review, adoption, and distribution of state-adopted instructional materials and provides Texas educators with direct access to select materials.
A growing body of research points to the positive impact high-quality instructional materials can have on student learning. TEA defines high-quality materials as those that ensure full coverage of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), align with research-based instructional strategies in each subject area, support all learners, and include:
- Progress monitoring through embedded, aligned assessments
- Implementation Support
- All teacher- and student- facing resources needed for instruction.
Following the review of instructional materials, the State Board of Education (SBOE) will vote in November 2024 to add materials to a list of approved instructional materials. Any instructional materials added to that list will be eligible for the new funding entitlements outlines in HB 1605. For school systems, this means access to an additional $540 million in instructional materials formula funding, on top of the funds already allocated via the Instructional Materials & Technology Allotment (IMTA),
This Spring and Summer (2024), IMRA will start reviewing curriculum materials. If you are interested in becoming a reviewer, please see this document. Benefits of becoming a reviewer are:
- CPE Credit Certificate
- Competitive compensation paid in stipend amounts as follows:
- $750 stipend upon attending required training and completing all related tasks.
- $3,250 - $5,250 stipend upon successfully completing the review process for a set of instructional materials.
- $1,000 additional stipend upon accepting and successfully fulfilling a Lead Reviewer role.
Who can serve as an IMRA Reviewer?
- A public school teacher, current, former, or retied, with at least five years of classroom experience.
- Has at least a master's degree or at least five years of professional experience in the subject area.
- Is a professor at an accredited institution of higher education in Texas.
For more information about current (and free) Instructional Materials, click here.
For more information about House Bill 1605 and the IMRA process, click here.
TEA's Mathematics FAQ's
Free Tools for Math Teachers
University of Waterloo (Canada)
The Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing offers free digital resources/lessons for:
- 7th and 8th Grade Mathematics
- 9th, 10th, and 11th mathematics
- Grade 12 Advanced Functions & Pre-Calculus
- Grade 12 Calculus and Vectors
- Problem Solving and Mathematical Discovery
- Computer Science
Calculus FUNdamentals
Roy Blacksher, Founder of Middle School School Calculus Association has an online resource "Making Tough Math Fun" that offers ideas for teaching Calculus in a FUN way! On his website Roller Coaster Calculus, he says every middle school student needs to know what a derivative is and provides his "Basics of Calculus".
Utah Guidelines for Co-Teaching Handbook
This handbook is great for core-content and special education teachers and covers topics such as:
- Parallel Teaching
- Station Teaching
- Teaming
- Alternative Teaching
- One Teach, One Observe
- One Teach, One Assist
SHSU Bearkat STEM Summer Camp
Bearkat STEM Summer Camp offered June 10-14, 2024. This is a residential camp with two tracks offered, either Automation and Robotics or Construction and Safety.
The camp is made possible through the Governor's Summer Merit Program which is administered by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), and students who are interested can apply for consideration. If the student’s application is accepted, the camp will be free.
Camp Information: Attached is a camp flyer with a QR code to apply. Students can also apply from our camp website.
Camp Website: https://www.shsu.edu/academics/engineering-technology/summer-camps/index
Webinar: We will be offering a webinar on April 3rd at 3:30 p.m. Central Time if parents want to join to learn more information and ask questions. The webinar link is posted to our website and requires registration.
SCALE - Scalability, Capacity, and Learning Engagement Project
The Scalability, Capacity, and Learning Engagement (SCALE) project: Get Paid to Use an Evidence-Based Intervention at Your School
The Scalability, Capacity, and Learning Engagement (SCALE) project is a five-year study of Fraction Face-Off (FFO) to determine the extent to which FFO improves fraction knowledge and math outcomes for students experiencing moderate mathematics difficulty. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education and in partnership with The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Missouri, Research in Mathematics Education (RME) is conducting randomized controlled trials in grades 4-8, using FFO as a small group math intervention.
Southern Methodist University and The University of Texas at Austin are looking for grade 4 teachers who want to improve their students’ understanding of fractions. Teachers will use an evidence-based intervention called Fraction Face-Off! The intervention consists of 36 lessons, about 30 minutes apiece, that are implemented 2–3 times a week, supporting the improvement of students’ fraction knowledge and math outcomes.
We hope to provide this research-based tool to educators and provide support to them (either in person or virtually) to use it as a Tier 2 small-group intervention. Participation requires no payment from the district, provides financial compensation to all participating teachers, and places an evidence-based intervention in the classroom to build students’ confidence and knowledge in math.
If you are interested in learning more about how Project SCALE can benefit the teachers and students on your campus, please send an email to scalefractions@smu.edu with your name, district and/or campus, and role.
Upcoming Secondary Math PD from Region 6
Texas Math Solution: Carnegie Learning Geometry & Algebra 2 PLC
If you are currently using Carnegie Learning and would like to Plan and Collaborate with other Geometry & Algebra 2 grade teachers within Region 6, please join us. This session is to plan for Quarter 1 of the 2014-25 school year; we will plan your calendar, view a model lesson and begin Module/Topic/Lesson Internalization.
Texas Math Solution: Carnegie Learning 6th & 7th Grade PLC
If you are currently using Carnegie Learning and would like to Plan and Collaborate with other 6th & 7th grade teachers within Region 6, please join us. This session is to plan for Quarter 1 of the 2014-25 school year; we will plan your calendar, view a model lesson and begin Module/Topic/Lesson Internalization.
Cohort 1:
Teachers Currently Implementing Carnegie Register for May 9th
Cohort 2:
Teachers New to Carnegie for the 2024-24 School Year Register for July 23
Texas Math Solution: Carnegie Learning 8th Grade & Algebra 1 PLC
If you are currently using Carnegie Learning and would like to Plan and Collaborate with other 8th grade & Algebra 1 teachers within Region 6, please join us. This session is to plan for Quarter 1 of the 2014-25 school year; we will plan your calendar, view a model lesson and begin Module/Topic/Lesson Internalization.
Cohort 1:
Teachers Currently Implementing Carnegie Register for May 10
Cohort 2:
Teachers New to Carnegie for the 2024-24 School Year Register for July 24
Texas Math Solution: Carnegie Learning
Topic & Lesson Internalization - This session is great for new-to Carnegie teachers those who need practical strategies for implementation.
TSIA2 Math training for Educators
This session is designed to support increased performance on the TSIA assessment by addressing the components of the exam and sharing best practices and resources.
Upcoming Events for Math Professionals
NCTM Virtual Conference
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is hosting a virtual conference April 10-13! Members and Non-Members can register for this event with prices varying. Early-Bird Registration ends March 1, 2024.
CAMT - Conference for the Advancement of Mathematics Teaching
- Registration Link
- $199 if registered by May 1, 2024 ($299 after May 1st)
- George R. Brown Convention Center
- Over 500 Sessions for teachers to choose from with nationally recognized speakers
- Preservice Teacher Registration - Preservice teachers attending Texas universities may register to attend for a discounted rate of $99. To receive this rate, a university professor of record my email: office@camtonline.og with the names and emails of preservice educators that wish to register.