CMC Math Conference
October 2017
Jo Boaler
Some highlights:
When the brain activates for math, it highlights five parts
- Two of those parts are visual, so the importance of conceptualizing visually in math is very important
- If you haven't checked out her mindful mathematics resources at youcubed.org or The Week of Inspirational Math, they are both wonderful.
The origins of youcubed was a summer camp she led for 81 dis-advantaged youth.
- After 18 days, the students improved 50% on a standardized math test
- That's equivalent to 2.4 years of school!
When the fear centers light up, the problem solving centers shut down
- Imagine someone who is afraid of spiders, tensing up and not moving when they see a spider. The logical thing is to walk away, since humans are larger and faster than spiders.
- Students who are fearful of math are the same way. They shut down if fearful of math.
"Gifted and Talented programs need to go."
- She shared some examples of students who felt they failed because they didn't live up to the reputation of a gifted student.
- "I spent my childhood trying to prove i was smart on top of not feeling smart"
The need to actively and consistently disassociate math from speed
- ie. timed tests
- Like what 3rd grade shared from their PLC training, not calling on the first person that shoots up their hand.
- Convince Yourself, Convince a Friend, Convince a Skeptic
- "I am unimpressed if you finish quickly, because that means you're not thinking deeply."
Jo Boaler Resources
Math Pickle
Polyup
Polyup is a wonderful app that looks at math through modding, or coding. Essentially, students can easily change numbers and operations to try and reach their desired goal.
Other Resources
Math 360
Open Middle
3 Act Tasks
Blogs to Follow
Tracy Zegar was a great presenter and I picked up her book on "Becoming the Math Teacher You Wish You Had." Her website has some nice anecdotes from the book and follow up activities.
Takeaways (things we can explain later)
Number Talks
- https://svmimac.app.box.com/v/mathtalkresources
DOK questions through Robert Kaplinsky
http://www.insidemathematics.org/
- 3 Steps To Increase A Math Problem’s DOK Level
- Depth of Knowledge Matrix – Elementary Math
- Depth of Knowledge Matrix – Secondary Math
- Depth of Knowledge Matrix – Elementary and Secondary Math