Middle School Math
March 2022
Early Release Updates
Thank you for joining us for the February Early Release Day! As a reminder, all information can be found in the folder of your Pathway. Don't forget to access the folder before our session for important documents and the presentation. All resources will be updated by February 25.
If you have suggestions, please send them to Odalis Tavares so that we can make sure to incorporate them for the next session.
We appreciate you!
We need your help!
B.E.S.T Updates
Upcoming Synchronous Course
During 2nd semester, we will be offering 6 hours of Professional Learning to each teacher. You will receive 6 hours of stipend pay and 8 hours of professional development points. There are 4 cohorts available. You can still join for Session 2, focused on the B.E.S.T Instructional Guide for Mathematics, and Session 3, focused on vertical and horiztonal alignment. Please register on myPGS for the one that fits your schedule best and we will be in touch with next steps.
Course number # 4243
Cohort 1: Saturday from 8:30 am to 10:30 am
- February 26 - Section 30864
- April 16 - Section 30865
Cohort 2: Wednesday from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
- April 13 - Section 30867
- May 3 - Section 30868
Cohort 3: Thursday from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
- March 3 - Section 30870
- April 21 - Section 30871
Cohort 4: Tuesday from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
- March 22 - Section 30873
- May 4 - Section 30874
Pasco's B.E.S.T. Tip of the Month
Please remember to check the SLN for concepts included in the Transition Document.
- 6th Grade - Unit 7
- 7th Grade - Unit 7
PD Corner - Formative Conversations from NCTM
Intervention Corner
NWEA Data and IXL
Teachers/students can create custom study plans with NWEA MAP scores on the IXL site. Personalized NWEA Map study plans allow students to goal-set and practice owning their learning success. The blog link below will walk you through it.
https://blog.ixl.com/2021/10/06/introducing-personalized-map-study-plans/
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations to those teachers using IXL as an intervention with your students. We found 46% of students making growth that was over the 50th percentile on NWEA using IXL. This means that students are not only growing but making catch-up growth that is filling gaps. Thank you for all your hard work!!
Be A Champion!
Exciting News Regarding the 2022 B.E.S.T. Mathematics Professional Learning Events
The Florida Department of Education pleased to announce the dates and site locations for the 2022 B.E.S.T. Mathematics Professional Learning Events. Participants will be able to choose to attend one of four tracks for these events: K-5, 6-8, 9-12 and Leadership. Each event will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. There is no district allocation for these events, so participants can choose which location they would like to attend.
North Region | Leon County |Chiles High School, 7200 Lawton Chiles Ln, Tallahassee, FL 32312| June 7-9, 2022
Central Region| Osceola County |Tohopekaliga High School, 3675 Boggy Creek Rd, Kissimmee, FL 34744| June 21-23, 2022
South Region | St. Lucie County |Treasure Coast High School, 1000 SW Darwin Blvd, Port St. Lucie, FL 34953| June 28-June 30, 2022
Registration will be open on March 1 and close March 31. You can use the links below for more information and to register for the B.E.S.T. Mathematics Professional Learning Events.
FDOE Webpage
https://www.fldoe.org/academics/standards/subject-areas/math-science/mathematics/
2022 B.E.S.T. Mathematics Professional Learning Events Registration
Grading Practices Opportunity
Hello awesome educators,
We would love the opportunity to hear from you about ways to strengthen our grading practices work in Pasco County Schools. We are currently planning to facilitate focus groups via zoom the last two weeks in March. These focus groups will include 6-8 participants in each and will last approximately 45-60 minutes with options to participate either before or after school.
We are seeking individuals with the following characteristics:
· See the benefits of standards-based grading practices and how it impacts student achievement
· Have implemented standards-based strategies independently and/or with PLCs
· Open to discussing concerns and strategies to strengthen standards-based grading practices
· New teachers and veteran teachers
· Teach at the middle and high school levels
If you are interested, please click on this link to provide us some initial information. Although, we are seeking as many teachers as possible to participate, it is important to note that everyone who desires to participate may not be selected. If selected, you will hear from us via email the week of March 7th. Focus groups dates and times will be shared at that time. We look forward to hearing from you!
Please contact, Melissa Caruso, at mlcaruso@pasco.k12.fl.us, if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
OLL Team
The USF Stavros Center Presents a New Free Webinar!
Film Clips for Financial Literacy: Discovery, Disney, and Decision-making
Date: Monday, March 28
Time: 6:00-7:30 P.M.
Webinar: Teams link provided upon registration
In preparation for April and Financial Literacy Month, our partners in education, USF Stavros Center, will provide this session to engage students with financial literacy activities that use film clips. These include connections to a variety of Disney film clips, with ready-to-use decision activities. In addition, we will present some activities connected to Discovery Education’s Cha-Ching Money Smart Kids series, which map some of the videos to Florida Standards. These videos include music videos to share financial literacy concepts. Using these videos and a new Disney song, we will also illustrate how to work with your students to create their own lyrics about Financial Concepts. Professional development points will be provided. Please register using this link.
Spring into Technology
We are excited to share our next technology experience with you!
Please save the date for Monday, February 28th through Friday, March 4th for an opportunity to learn how you can use Microsoft Office 365 applications for student engagement.
Each morning you will get a myPascoConnect announcement and a link to watch a quick screencast. Then scan the QR code to join our myLearning course. There will be an asyncronous course to dive a little bit deeper and learn how to use these applications for your own personal use or to up your game with integrating some fun technology into your lessons. You can earn two professional development points for learning and turning in your final work product for each application featured.
Feeling a little frustrated or eager to learn more about your Windows device? Well join us for "Tech Hours." We will have the following windows (Lol!) of time open for you to ask all of your questions, up your game with your new device, or just troubleshoot some concerns you may have.
Tech Hours:
Monday, February 28th- 3:30-4:00pm
Tuesday, March 1st- 8:30-9:00am and 3:30-4:00pm
Wednesday, March 2nd- 8:30-9:00am and 3:30-4:00pm
Thursday, March 3rd - 8:30-9:00am and 3:30-4:00pm
Friday, March 4th- 8:30-9:00am and 3:30-4:00pm
*Zoom link will be communicated in our myLearning course and announcements. Be on the look out for it!
Looking forward to "Spring into Technology" with all you!
OLL and OTIS
Your Secondary Math Team
Mary Moss, Middle School Curriculum Specialist
Odalis Tavares, Senior Specialist - Secondary Math
Stephanie VanTassel - High School Curriculum Specialist