#INspirEDmath
April 2019, Volume 9
Happy Mathematics & Statistics Awareness Month!
Open Middle
April's Focus: Practice #7
- Establishing mathematics goals to focus learning
- Implement tasks that promote reasoning and problem solving
- Use and connect mathematical representations
- Facilitate meaningful discourse
- Pose purposeful questions
- Build procedural fluency from conceptual understanding
- Support productive struggle in learning mathematics
- Elicit and use evidence of student thinking
Be Less Helpful and Ask More Questions
1. Plan tomorrow's questions (hello, posing purposeful questions!)
2. Ask questions that don't have answers (engage their thinking!)
3. Rebrand your help sessions (students should come prepared to get questions to answer, not answers to their questions!)
4. Commit to question everything (student conceptual understanding needs your questions not your answers!)
A Fine Line Between Productive and Destructive Struggle
#INspirEDmath Testimonial
"When your principal asks you to go to a professional development you are rarely excited. Lesson plans, extra assignments, and worrying about how your class will behave are all major factors into why I personally don’t like to be absent.
But the #INspirEDMath Extravaganza was for math teachers only. Rarely are seminars for math teachers only! IDOE had a fabulous meeting that made me rethink almost everything I did.
I thought I was fairly adept at asking students questions to make them apply their knowledge. However, when we discussed focusing questions vs funneling questions, I realized I had work to do. Leading students to the answer is much easier for me, but less learning-based for the student. I absolutely hate wait time as well when asking questions. I just want to jump in and save students. But now I am determined to wait. I have also begun to come up with ways for students to help each other before I jump in.
IDOE gave us incredible ideas to use in the classroom on a daily basis to make math more engaging. “My Favorite NO” is a simple way to identify where students stand on a concept and how they show their work. Desmos Battles have been the best thing for my classes! Hands on activities are much easier than I had ever imagined. The Inquiry Cube is incredibly fun for the kids to discover that there is no wrong way to approach a problem.
After initially dreading going to the #INspirEDMath Extravaganza, I am now anxiously waiting for another seminar so that all the math teachers in our building can attend. This was best professional development I have been to in 11 years of teaching. I am turning my entire classroom upside down with the new, fun ways to learn! This is one seminar that will get you excited about teaching math in all new ways!"
Laura Rich
8th Grade Math Teacher
Lapel Middle School
Frankton Lapel Community Schools
Analytical Algebra II Updates and Information
Webinars
Analytical Algebra II: The What & The Why - Tuesday, April 30, 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. (ET) - In this first of two webinars we will discuss the origins and creation of the course as well as the goals of the course. Updates regarding the Commission for Higher Education (CHE) and the NCAA will be given. We will also begin to compare and contrast Analytical Algebra II with traditional Algebra II in an effort to build confidence and understanding. Register here.
Analytical Algebra II: Adapting & Gathering Resources - Thursday, May 16, 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. (ET) - In this follow up webinar, we will focus on resources, specifically, how schools can utilize and adapt their current Algebra II text with Analytical Algebra II. We will also explore utilizing the math framework as well as begin to share digital resources. Register here.
Regional Summer Learning & Collaboration
Join us for a deep dive into Analytical Algebra II. Over the course of two days, educators will receive resources and pedagogical strategies that can be used to implement the course. Educators will also be given meaningful work time to collaborate with colleagues from around the state. Click on the location to register. Additional information will follow to registered participants closer to the date.
Southern Indiana - June 4 - June 5 - Jasper, IN
Central Indiana - June 6 - June 7 - Indianapolis, IN
Northern Indiana - June 10 - June 11 - Warsaw, IN
Opportunities For The Field
ICTM Fall Conference
SAVE THE DATE! September 29 – 30
The 2019 ICTM State Conference will be held in Indianapolis at the Marriott East Hotel on September 29 and 30. Please plan to attend and watch for information about session proposals, conference and hotel registration, in upcoming newsletters. This year proposals are due April 30th and the submission system will be open March 30th. Click here for more information and to submit a proposal!
6-8 Mathematics Content Expert Work Group - Round 2
IDOE's math content specialists are looking to convene middle school educators for a second round of development on the framework. We will continue to create practical examples and provide digital resources for every standard in grade 6-8 mathematics, as well as Algebra 1. All courses are still in the developmental phase.
If you are interested and available to come to the Indiana Association of School Principals building (11025 E. 25th St, Indianapolis) Friday, April 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. please complete the following form.
K-5 Mathematics Content Expert Work Group - Round 2
IDOE's math content specialists are looking to convene elementary school educators for a second round of development on the framework. We will continue to create practical examples and provide digital resources for every standard in grade K-5 mathematics. All courses are still in the developmental phase.
If you are interested and available to come to the Indiana Association of School Principals building (11025 E. 25th St, Indianapolis) Tuesday, April 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. please complete the following form.
Educator Spotlight: Jamie Lowes
Nominated by: Amy Stevens and Lisa Leliaert
Catchphrase: "Now, let's pause for a tick..."-A phrase used by Jamie any time she is leading teachers or students through a lesson and wants her learners to stop and reflect.
Mrs. Jamie Lowes has spent all 23 years of her teaching career working with elementary students in the Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation. While most of those years were spent in upper elementary classrooms, the past 5 years she has served as an elementary Math Instructional Coach. In 2014, Jamie was selected as GCSC Teacher of the Year. From classroom to coach, Jamie’s ability to light up the room with her smile spreads the joy of math throughout the halls of any building. Her strong communication skills encourage a team approach with administrators, teachers and fellow coaches. That team approach has positively impacted student achievement as well as students’ attitudes towards math. Jamie is a model educator who focuses her work on what is best for kids through differentiation and purposeful planning. She is passionate about building relationships, strengthening student engagement and growing mindsets. Students who learn with Mrs. Lowes are reflective and truly believe that they are life-long learners who have the strategies to solve any problem that comes their way.
School Improvement Unveils Its Redesigned Website!
The Office of School Improvement has launched a redesigned website to ease identifying and accessing the resources available for districts and schools. These resources include a series of trainings to help schools and districts conduct comprehensive needs assessments and develop high-quality school improvement plans. Visitors can view recordings of these trainings online. The trainings can be downloaded to incorporate in district or school-based presentations. These resources have been developed with the needs of Comprehensive Support and Improvement and Targeted Support and Improvement schools in mind. The resources are grounded in best practices for continuous school improvement applicable for all schools.
Supports from Assessment
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
Beau Scott
Email: jscott3@doe.in.us
Website: doe.in.gov
Location: Indiana Department of Education, West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Phone: (317)-232-9142
Twitter: @NerdCoreTeacher