MATH ROCKS!
Issue 5 - January 2023
Featured Article
Is there anything more fun than walking into a class and hearing students working together, sharing ideas, and solving problems?
Mathematical discourse is a powerful tool that allows teachers and students to share their thinking, develop mathematical understanding, and become collaborative mathematicians. It is emphasized in both the Standards for Mathematical Practice and in the Effective Teaching Practices In addition, researchers confirm that complex knowledge and skills are learned through interaction with others (Resnick, Asterhan, and Clarke 2015; Vygotsky 1978).
So, if your new year’s resolution includes providing more mathematical conversations, the following article from NCTM may give you some inspiration.
Cameo Lutz won the Edyth May Sliffe Award!
Congratulations to Cameo and her students - we are proud of your accomplishments!
Find out more information about the AMC program for your high school here.
Calculators on the RISE end of year assessment
The Stock Market Game!
Give the gift of financial literacy to your students!
The Stock Market Game levels the playing field for youth of all backgrounds to gain essential financial knowledge and skills, such as saving and investing for their future education, business venture, or retirement.
Level the playing field for your students by registering for The Stock Market Game this Spring semester!
- Students in grades 7-12 learn financial concepts hands-on through an online investment portfolio simulation.
- No prior knowledge in economics of finance is needed! Educators are provided with curriculum, training, and support throughout the school year.
- The Stock Market Game can be incorporated in 30 mins or less per week in your classroom, as a club, or enrichment activity.
All aspects of the program are free!
Problem from Make Math Moments
"Do I have to show my work?"
EVERYDAY, right?
How can we help our students not only just show their work, but show their thinking using strategies and models?
Many of your students will want to do the minimal amount of work to meet the objectives of the lesson goal which is why they don't want to share their thinking.
But often times students don't know how to showcase their complex and unique thinking strategies.
We can best help showcase their thinking by giving a "model with legs" and flexible strategies they can use alongside that model.
For example, when students solve the proportional reasoning problem above without being introduced a flexible model they often try to figure out what rule, strategy, and procedure to use and get tripped up on how to show that on paper.
It's when we teachers showcase how to use strategies along a model like a double number line(image below) that students will become more flexible.
If we use models and flexible strategies repeatedly with our students then they will in-turn start to demonstrate those same strategies using those models.
Showcasing models with your students is a skill you can learn. You can learn more here in this video.
The problem based lessons we create at Make Math Moments always come with a teacher guide that shows you how to use the models and strategies so you can model them with your students. You can find this unit rate problem here.
Soon your students won't ask "do I need to show my work?"
They'll just draw their thinking naturally.
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