#INspirEDmath
September 2020, Volume 24
Prepare for Good Work Tomorrow By Doing Good Work Today
This month, we wanted to give you a newsletter that simply highlights what tools and opportunities are available to you as well as some incredible resources to hopefully ease some of the burden of doing it all right now.
Video of the Month
What Are You Teaching the World?
Establishing Our Circles
Stephen Covey created the Circle of Influence and Control tool to help teams look at all the things that concern them and then to realize the power they have over them.
Try this exercise at your next department/team/PLC meeting:
- On a large sheet of paper, draw a big circle, this is the Circle of Concern.
- Get your team members to write their areas of concern on sticky notes, and put them in the circle. There will be lots of things that are of concern to them or are factors that could be affecting how they feel.
- When they’re done, draw another smaller circle in the middle of the first circle, this is the Circle of Control. These are the things they can control.
- In conversation, move all the sticky notes in the big Circle of Concern that they can actively control, into the middle Circle of Control.
- So, draw another circle in between the first two – between the circles of Concern and Control. This is the Circle of Influence.
- Get team members to look at the ways they could influence some of the things that are out of their control. Maybe they can’t control them, but could they influence them?
- Go through all the notes that are in the Circle of Concern and together try to move them into the Circle of Influence.
Read more here.
Resource of the Month - Open Middle
This month we are featuring Robert Kaplinsky's Open Middle problems. The problems on this site have three features:
- A “closed beginning” meaning that they all start with the same initial problem.
- A “closed end” meaning that they all end with the same answer.
- An “open middle” meaning that there are multiple ways to approach and ultimately solve the problem.
Open Middle problems are challenging yet accessible to all learners. They are great options for that just-in-time teaching to draw out the needed prior knowledge to maintain grade level content.
What you will find on openmiddle.com:
- Challenging problems worth solving from Kindergarten through Calculus!
- Corresponding student worksheet in three languages!
- Printable number tiles for easy manipulation!
- Searchable problems by grade/course or DOK level!
Elementary
Depth of Knowledge
Functions
Do your students needs a hint? Ask:
How do you use function notation to determine the input and output of a function?
Balanced Equations
Directions: Using the digits 0 to 9, at most one time each, fill in the boxes to find the lengths of the missing sides such that the missing leg’s length is as long as possible.
Do your students needs a hint? Ask:
Where might you place the equals sign(s)?
Incorrect Linear Equations
Do your students needs a hint? Ask:
How do we figure out which side length would be easiest to assume?
How do we figure out the length of the remaining side?
Which side of a right triangle is the longest?
Desmos Check-in Screens
Instructional Support Survey - How Can We Help?
Opportunities for the Field
"Overcoming the Achievement Gap Trap" with Dr. Anthony Muhammad
Learning By Doing with John SanGiovanni’s Book Productive Math Struggle: A 6-Point Action Plan for Fostering Perseverance
Sign up here to participate! Deadline to sign up is October 4, 2020.
Indiana Council for Teachers of Mathematics PD Series
For dates, times, and more information on how to register - click here.
Virtual Access to Education 2020 Conference
Get access to: 20 sessions, keynote speaker Lance McLemore, a pre-conference educator panel, assistive technology exploratorium, UDL classroom experience, and recorded summaries of all sessions.
For more information and to register click here.
NExIDE Scholarship Program
Click here for more information and access to the application!
Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program
Learn more about TCFP here. The deadline is November 2, 2020.
Save the Date
Upcoming Chats:
September 23, 2020 - Social/Emotional Learning
September 30, 2020 - School Leadership
October 7, 2020 - Overcoming the Achievement Gap Trap
Follow #INedchat to be a part of the discussion!
News From IDOE
High School Math Clarifying Examples and Digital Resources Now Available on the Framework!
- Algebra I
- Geometry
- Algebra II
- Analytical Algebra II
- Precalculus: Algebra
- Precalculus: Trigonometry
Quantitative Reasoning and Finite will be released in Fall 2020!
Higher Learning Commission Extends Deadline for Dual Credit Instructors
In light of the impact of COVID-19, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education requested in May that regional college accreditor Higher Learning Commission (HLC) extend the deadline for dual credit instructors to hold a master’s degree and at least 18 credit hours in the content area in which they teach. The HLC Board of Trustees voted to extend the deadline by one year – to September 1, 2023 – allowing faculty to have more time to earn the required credentials. The extension will not negatively impact students participating in dual credit programs. Additional details can be found here.
Educator Spotlight
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
Emily Bruning
Email: ebruning@doe.in.gov
Website: doe.in.gov
Location: Indiana Department of Education, West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Phone: (317)-232-9142
Twitter: @MrsBruning