5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions

This is the latest book I've been reading as I continue to look for ways to help teachers incorporate the Standards for Mathematical Practice (from the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics) into their instruction. The 3rd math practice standard expects students to be able to construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others, and the activities in this book will help promote that standard.

In short, the 5 practices are:

1 | anticipating
2 | monitoring
3 | selecting
4 | sequencing
5 | connecting

The reality is that teachers need a lot of time to be thoughtful and intentional in their lesson planning. And they need a lot of time to be able to discuss their ideas and to discuss their successes and failures with other teachers.

So, how do we make the time?

Inspiring Others: Balancing the art and science of education

Balancing the art and science of education 

By Carol Hunter on November 25th, 2013

Growth Mindset and the Common Core Math Standards | Edutopia

Growth Mindset and the Common Core Math Standards | Edutopia

Concrete Representations are SO Important!

In our district, we have been really making an effort to represent math concepts concretely first, then pictorially, then abstractly. This article gives a great example for how to uses oranges as a concrete item for learning about fraction division.

Orange You Glad I DID Say “Fraction Division”?

Alfinio Flores and Melina D. Priewe 

December 2013, Volume 19, Issue 5, Page 288

How is Your Math Instruction Going?

We all can benefit from regular check-ups. Use this check list from Math in Focus to rate your math instruction. Where are you strongest? Where could you improve?

Math in Focus Background Videos for Parents

For any parents interested in learning how to help their children with math, click on the links below to the view background videos for each grade level.

Kindergarten

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

New page added: Welcome to "Bar Model of the Week"

In an effort to increase teachers' comfort and familiarity with bar models, I will be posting a new bar model problem each Monday for anyone to try. Draw your bar model, show your thinking, write your solution, and take a picture of it! Then, e-mail your solution to me by Friday and I will post it the following week. Let's stretch our thinking and grow our brains!

Try this week's bar model.