Professional Learning Day
Forest Avenue & Riverside
Maximizing Student Mathematical Learning in the Early Years
1. Use problems that have meaning for children (both practical and mathematical).
2. Expect that children will invent, explain and offer critiques of their own solution strategies within a social context.
3. Provide opportunities for both creative invention and practice.
4. Encourage and support children by providing carefully scaffolded opportunities which allow them to deepen their understanding, use meaningful and elegant solution strategies and confidently engage in the mathematics.
5. Help children see connections between various types of knowledge and topics, with the goal of having each child build a well-structured, coherent knowledge of mathematics.
Capacity Building Series Maximizing Student Mathematical Learning in the Early Years, 2011
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/cbs_maximize_math_learning.pdf
TEACHING TO IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING & ACHIEVEMENT
2. Encourage and foster "math talk."
3. Facilitate experiences that allow for mathematization of everyday knowledge.
4. Model and nurture positive attitudes, self-efficacy and engagement.
Capacity Building Series Maximizing Student Mathematical Learning in the Early Years, 2011
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/cbs_maximize_math_learning.pdf
FIVE PRODUCTIVE TALK MOVES...
REVOICING
Repeating what students have said and then asking for clarification. "So you're saying...?"
REPEATING
Asking students to restate someone else's reasoning. "Can you repeat what was just said in your own words?"
REASONING
Asking students to apply their own reasoning to someone else's reasoning. "Do you agree or disagree and why?"
Adding On
Prompting students for further participation. Would someone like to add something more to that?
Waiting
Using wait time. Take your time...We'll wait...
LUCY WEST
TURN & TALK: ONE POWERFUL PRACTICE, SO MANY USES
PRINT RESOURCES
The Cloud Spinner by Michael Catchpool Illustrated by Alison Jay @ 2012
The Action of Subtraction by Brian P. Cleary Illustrated by Brian Gable @ 2006
So Few of Me by Peter H. Reynolds @ 2006
Pest Fest by Julia Durango Illustrated by Kurt Cyrus @2007
A Leaf Can Be ... by Laura Purdie Salas Illustrated by Violeta Dabija @ 2012
Once Upon A Pond Written & Illustrated by Peter Simon @ 2008
Giving Thanks by Jonathan London Paintings by Gregory Manchess @ 2003
Tracks of a Panda by Nick Dowson Illustrated by Yu Rong @ 2007
How Much? Visiting Markets Around the World by Ted Lewin @ 2006
For Good Measure The Ways We Say How Much, How Far, How Heavy, How Big, How Old by Ken Robbins @ 2010
Ten Birds by Cybele Young @ 2011
MINDS-ON QUESTIONS
2. Write the names of ten places you can find a _____ (triangle) ?
3. What do you see? (variety of visual images)
4. There are 14 legs in a barn. What animals might be in the barn? Solve the problem in as many ways as you can.
5. Show how you might estimate the cost of coffee and a muffin for the group today.
6. How many things can you think of that come in pairs? in a dozen? in groups of three?
7. What numbers describe you? Explain the connection.
8. Write a plan for how you could figure out the number of games the Blue Jays will win/lose this season.
9. Write ten questions that someone could answer using the information on a graph.
10. Which number does not belong? Explain why. (6, 15, 10, 12)
RESOURCE: Share & Compare - A Teacher's Story About Helping Children Become Problem Solvers In Mathematics by Larry Buschman @ 2003 www.nctm.org
Eyes on Math - A Visual Approach to Teaching Math Concepts by Marian Small Illustrations by Amy Lin @ 2013
Big Ideas from Dr. Small - Creating A Comfort Zone for Teaching Mathematics Grade K-3 by Marian Small @ 2010
Math & Literature by Marilyn Burns & Stephanie Sheffield @ 2004
Critical Literacy - Enhancing Students' Comprehension of Text by Maureen McLaughlin & Glenn L. DeVoogd @ 2004
Many Texts, Many Voices - Teaching Literacy & Social Justice to Young Learners in the Digital Age by Penny Silvers & Mary C. Shorey @ 2012
It's Critical! Classroom strategies for promoting critical and creative comprehension by David Booth @ 2008