December 9th Meeting Minutes
Call to Order and Introductions
Welcome from Dr. Grant – Associate Dean
Report on current grant project - Will be running Math 537 (Rational numbers) in the Spring and Math for struggling K-2 students this summer. Non-grant funded sections of the courses will be available for anyone to enroll in. Course descriptions are below and more information will follow soon.
Upcoming courses in Spring, 2017:
MATH 537 Rational Numbers and Proportional Reasoning
The goal of this course is to provide teachers with the content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge needed to foster the development of rational numbers and proportional reasoning. This course will cover the Virginia SOL strands in fractions and rational numbers. Instruction will cover interpretations, computations, and estimation with fractions, ratios, proportions, decimals, and percents through a coordinated program of activities that develop both rational number concepts and skills and proportional reasoning. Special attention will be given to interpreting and assessing students’ work and learning.
EDUC V63 Math for Struggling K-2 Students – Summer 2017
This course will explore research-based approaches to developing numerical competency, especially in high risk K-2 students, and will provide the teachers extensive knowledge of formative assessments to inform instruction and monitor student understanding and progress.
Course Objectives:
1. The teachers will learn the stages of early arithmetic learning and be able to identify the level of a given student.
2. Participants will learn how to do early intervention that involves research-based,
diagnostic, one-to-one tutoring sessions that are videotaped and reviewed to plan the next session.
3. The teachers will work in teams, under the close supervision of the instructors, to plan research-based instruction for their students and interventions for the targeted students struggling in mathematics.
This course will be taught in a blended format with teachers meeting in locations determined by the enrollment.
TI Report from Ellen
Texas Instruments (TI) has a new partnership with NASA called reach for the stars. We need more trained stem students, so TI is helping to teach coding and input into calculators. If you would like a flyer please e-mail Ellen Hook (Ehook@ti.com)
TI has new coding hubs that allow you to plug probes into the calculators.
TI is offering fee based professional development this summer (possibly at the end of June). The fee will include a calculator, lesson plans, and resources. This PD is a great opportunity for teachers to learn a lot about the calculators and walk away with a multitude of ideas for classroom implementation.
Ellen is personally hosting a Texas Instrument summit at William and Mary this summer. More information to follow.
TI offers free webinars on Tuesday nights. Please e-mail Ellen if you would like to receive e-mails with more information.
Professional Development
We will be creating and implementing 7 professional developments for the grant schools this spring. We are willing to replicate these professional developments in other schools for a reduced rate if there is interest. Please contact Sam at srrhod@wm.edu for more information.
The group brainstormed the following potential professional development topics:
Creating and implementing meaningful mathematical tasks
Guided math groups*
Using CRA to guide math instruction*
Effective and alternative use of manipulatives*
How conceptual understanding affects word problems*
Lesson planning with mathematical connections*
Workshops for administrators on how to evaluate effective mathematics instruction. Look fors, etc.
How to plan and implement a lesson study
The use of performance tasks with rubrics
Creating real learning that transcends memorization
Using evidence-based practices when lesson planning
How to engage students in effective mathematical discourse
How to plan and implement discovery and guided learning
How to manage a mathematics classroom
Transitioning to the new standards
The New SOLs
Sam did a presentation on the lenses we should use to start the process on the new SOLs. This presentation will be posted soon and includes several exciting activities compliments of the teachers at Charles City Elementary.
The group has decided to spend 30-60 minutes of each future meeting breaking up into groups to unpack the new SOL standards. Please come to future meetings ready to work!
Sam has e-mailed FCPS about gaining access to performance tasks that they have created and is waiting to hear back.
Holiday Origami
Other Items
NC State is running a series of MOOCs this Spring. These MOOCs are free for teachers and include teaching mathematics with technology and digital problem solving among others. Please go to https://place.fi.ncsu.edu/local/catalog/section.php?id=1 for more information.
Per last months request, we have created a section on our website for Code 19 resources. If any districts have other resources please send them to us so that we can post them on our website and get VDOE to approve them.
The group has asked for clarification on what calculators can be used on the SOL test; especially for special education students. We will ask VDOE for clarification and get back to everyone.
Adjournment
Next meeting: Our next meeting will be on January 13th, 2017. Please e-mail srrhod@wm.edu to RSVP.