May Meeting Minutes
Math Study Group
Meeting Minutes
May 19, 2017
Call to Order and Introductions – Led by Dr. Mason
Presentation on Matific by Lawrence Korchnak
Goal of Matific: Improve mathematics learning k-6
Teacher guides instruction
Engaging and rigorous
Learning through discovery
Progress is “why” of Matific
TED Talk: Simon Sinek
Education hasn’t kept pace with innovation. Why?
No profit
Fear
Testing
Teach the way they were taught
Resources have come so quickly and teachers haven’t had the technology
Funding (budget)
Educating, communicating with, and getting buy-in stakeholders
Demands on emerging workforce are very different now than then
“Revert back”
Children are “high stakes”
“Habits of Mind” should be taught and modeled
Trust – everyone has opinion (and an answer) in education
Societal values – “I” vs. “We”
Human effect – no one easy answer
Salaries
Pick 2 – good, fast, or cheap ßDon’t settle! Choose all three
Ron Clark Academy – Atlanta
Pockets of innovation
Ron Clark Story on YouTube – VASCD
Scaleability?
Change Agents
Greatest potential for innovation are the teachers
Buy-in is about mitigating risk
Jo Boaler’s NCSM 2017 Keynote – “Change Perspectivs in Math”
Students must be connected to the mathematics
“Change is inevitable. Progress is not.”
What is Matific?
Teaching resources – teachers make the decisions
Resources
Episodes
Digital worksheets
Playlists
Teacher guides
Lesson plans
STEM Presentation by Dr. George Rublein
Why do we need to add fractions?
Insert Lawrence Quote
For many a lack of facilities with mathematics is detrimental to their future career
“When are we going to use this?” The critical question!
Unless children are exposed to mathematics within other fields they will not connect to it in an applicable way.
The “Alphabet Song” & music
Mathematics talks to lots of external things
Geometry Add-on Certification
Possible grant project through the NSF – we need
What are the Universities doing to prep geometry teachers?
What are the district needs? Need your help!
Algebra Add-on
Methods course for geometry? What would a Geometry Specialist need?
Technology?
Geometry – Geogebra and etc.
Coding – TI Calculator Course in Hampton HS June 28, 29
Computer Science
*Need to bridge the pedagogy with the math and the high school and the middle school – not tested on the Praxis
Transitional pedagogical approach to math
Mentorship Course & Coaching
Is a Geometry Add-on needed?
Would help flexibility n the master schedule
Would make teacher more marketable
Would make the middle school teachers, who have the pedagogy ready to teach the HS in a more engaging way?
Filling out the form… How to go about it?
Easier to ask the supervisor
Question modifications
Digitalize it – 2 Forms (one for principals, one for division leaders)
Differentiate between the Middle Schools and High Schools. How many high schools, how many middle (b/c it will be filled out at the divisional level)
Clarification of “sections” … maybe “classes”?
Last question- Reword. Is this professional development? Needs specification.
Clarify 6-12, Secondary or middle—ask specifically
Group questions appropriately (geometry, algebra, PD)
Include a form for the principals – maybe check box & open response, just to ensure they are in the conversation
The options are great. Think about opening and advertising to Special Ed. Think about separating (like the tech methods) so it’s not included in a bundle
Partner with the Community Colleges to teach Linear Algebra, Calculus (not offered at W&M) and more accessible
Reminder about Summer Courses
Open to all (free to Grant participants)
June 19-23 Holland Elementary in Virginia Beach
July 21-24 at W&M
F65 Research Methods is offered online and f2f
Math Specialist courses will be online
Number and Number Sense, Leadership, Algebra, & Geometry
K-8 Math Specialist and Needs Assessment
Will be disbanded unless the numbers grow
Going through a review of the program
Is there a need?
VCU runs a cohort based cohort; Regent, ODU, Liberty, GMU have online programs
Offer a Blended Model
Present a Problem. Complete the needs assessment. Back to the Deans
Email out- How many math specialists do you plan on hiring?
STEM Leadership Meeting
Thursday, Sept 14
Email Ellen Hook for an Invite
Expedited Retake Plans?
What are other districts doing in order to accommodate retakes?
SDBQ are given to the students and they are then able to take ownership
Bring in subs for those who have passed and then break up the rest of the teachers who are expected to work with the students in various ways depending on the schools; Saturday boot camps; Pull math specialists and other teachers (like 6, 7)
The kids who can retest are grouped and told that “they can do this” and they use the released test items to practice. Math specialists are there to help.
Relationship building and mindset. Do not give the entirety of the test but chunk it
Really long remediation sessions, used reporting categories and assembled; no subs available so they regrouped
Success with breaks and short lessons with strategies
Jefferson Labs – short number of questions- but not for like 50 mins sections
Quick formative assessment helpful in checking other holes to check questions they got right
Active, fun “brain breaks”
Buy-in for the whole team
Dig deep for the errors. Don’t accept that it was just a “silly” mistake.
Positive mindset 62% is not a D…
Meeting Dates for 2017-18
Check-in on 10/14 (STEM Conference)
3rd Friday is not the best for Hampton
September
Math Day Reminders
MSG Group registers for free
Please register!
Proposals are accepted! Let’s get the program done!!!
Theme: Supporting struggling Students
K-8 grade band
Prodigy – Reach out to find someone
PO – Typically the checks are mailed — will check
Recommended proposals and topics list (send to Portsmouth)
Book Study for next year
Yes!!!
Visible Learning k-12
The Mathematics Coaching Handbook
Selected articles from the group
High-Yield Routines k-8