Back to School Math Newsletter 2023
Riverview IU6 - Ben Brobst - bbrobst@riu6.org
Resource Spotlight - First Weeks of School
YouCubed - Week of Inspirational Math
A few months ago, youcubed released new Week of Inspirational Maths (WIM) tasks based on the concept of “groupitizing.” Along with our many other WIM resources, these new tasks are great way to kick off the school year:
- So Many Visuals (Grades 1-4)
- Area Design (Grades 3-5)
- Flipping Votes (Grades 3-5)
- Flipping Votes (Grades 6-8)
- Dots on the Grid (Grades 9-14)
For kindergartners, I recommend Which is More?, a task that was added to WIM last year and encourages “groupitizing” (it's also great for first graders).
100 Numbers to Get Students Talking Task
Professional Learning Opportunities
Fall 2023 Virtual Book Study - Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics
This book study will be fully self-paced and asynchronous with an optional in-person book study session held at Riverview IU6 on October 26, 2023 from 8am to 3pm. Participants are not required to attend the in-person session to complete the book study.
**If you participated in the Summer 2023 Book Study, you will receive an invitation to attend the October 26 book study session at RIU6!**
Once registered, participants will receive a recommended pacing guide, links to recorded discussions about the book, valuable instructional resources, and reflection questions to complete after finishing each chapter. Riverview IU6 also has copies of Building Thinking Classrooms available to borrow. Participants will receive a separate email from Ben Brobst with the book study resources after registering.
Click Here to Register for the Fall 2023 Book Study on My Learning Plan.
Reach out to Ben Brobst (bbrobst@riu6.org) with any questions or issues with registering.
Math Coaching Endorsement Program
Penn State Harrisburg's Mathematics Coaching Endorsement program is the premier program dedicated to preparing grades K-12 educators to be leaders in their schools and promote mathematical instruction that targets the diverse learners in classrooms. The Math Coaching Endorsement Program is asynchronous so you can complete the modules at your own pace and convenience.
Graduate credit applies. The courses can also apply to the Master of Education in Teaching and Curriculum. For more information, contact Dr. Jane Wilburne (jmw41@psu.edu)
Free Virtual Math Conference!
Dates: September 12, 19, 26, 2023 | 12:00-5:30 PM ET
More than 100 of the nation’s teachers, administrators, researchers, and policy makers will convene to share leading research and effective strategies to engage and inspire students, and to address the gaps in learning made worse by the pandemic.
Leading experts will discuss the latest scholarship on strategies for mathematics instruction and academic interventions; highlight solutions rooted in research and successful classroom practices; and explore emerging resources.
The Summit will address six themes across Pre-K–3, 4–8, and 9–12 grade-level spans:
- Increasing Opportunities to Learn and Raising Expectations for All
- Strategies for Differentiating Instruction for Diverse Learners
- High-Dosage Tutoring and Other Academic Recovery Strategies
- Learning Progressions and High School Pathways
- Language and Mathematics
- Leveraging STEAM Applications for In-Demand Careers
For more information and to register: IES Math Summit (socio.events)
What's Ben Reading?
If you teach your students a 'trick' like Keep-Change-Flip when dividing fraction, check out this article by Tina Cardone, one of the authors of Nix-the-Tricks.
Reason Why -- When You Invert and Multiply - Article by Tina Cardone
"Few phrases make me cringe the way I do when I hear, “Ours is not to reason why; just invert and multiply.” A student’s job in math class is to reason, and a teacher’s job is to help the students see that math makes sense. Understanding division of fractions is complicated, bringing together many ideas that build up to a method that makes sense, especially in the tricky case of a fraction divided by a fraction. Liping Ma writes about research asking teachers to explain what it means to divide by a fraction. Most U.S. teachers were startled to find how difficult this was for them.
What if we start with the simpler case of a whole number divided by a fraction?..."
Please encourage teachers and administrators at all grade levels with an interest in math to sign up to receive updates.