From NCTM President - To Flip or Not to Flip: That is NOT the Question!

To Flip or Not to Flip: That Is NOT the Question!

By NCTM President Linda M. Gojak
NCTM Summing Up, October 3, 2012 

Over the last three decades a variety of instructional strategies have been introduced with a goal of increasing student achievement in mathematics. Such strategies include individualized instruction, cooperative learning, direct instruction, inquiry, scaffolding, computer-assisted instruction, and problem solving. A recent strategy receiving much attention is the “flipped classroom.” 

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Join the KPS Math Wiki!

I need your help! Let's work together.
http://kps-math.wikidot.com/start

Perhaps students forget....

Notable quote by Yeap Ban Har, PhD, National Institute of Education, Singapore:

"Perhaps students forget because they learn by remembering."

The Next Generation Assessment - Things to Note

I have been trying to keep up to date with Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium's development of their new "national" assessment. Some interesting things I have read include:

• Assessment items for math in grades 3-5 will be written at a reading level ONE GRADE BELOW the level of the students taking the assessment.
• Assessment items for math will written in such a way that a calculator will not be required.
• Selected Response assessment items will be written in such a way to eliminate the likelihood of getting a correct answer by guessing. They will also be written in such a way that better evidence can be obtained about how deeply a student understands the standard. 

For example, see a traditional assessment item below:

 Now see a possible SBAC item below with its rubric:

source

• Constructed Response items will each typically require 1 to 5 minutes to complete, but some may take up to 10 minutes.
• Some Constructed Response items may be scored with artificial intelligence and will be referred to as CR items. Some will require hand-scoring and will be referred to as ER (Extended Response) items.
• Performance Tasks (PT) may require up to 135 minutes to administer. This administration time includes a 45 or 90 minute classroom portion and a 45 minute computer-based portion.

For more information: http://www.smarterbalanced.org/smarter-balanced-assessments/

N Ways to Apply Algebra

with the New York Times

Thinkfinity - a blog I recommend

Another place to think and share and learn!

THINKFINITY

Math Talk

As our district begins using the new resource Math in Focus and continues to implement the Common Core State Math Standards, I am finding it more and more imperative that students learn how to communicate and problem solve with each other. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has been expressing that need for decades, but more and more educators are finally taking notice.

NCTM has a two-part article with suggestions for asking good questions and promoting discourse in your classroom:

Asking Good Questions and Promoting Discourse Part I

Asking Good Questions and Promoting Discourse Part II

Model Drawing in Math in Focus

Upper elementary will be teaching some Math in Focus lessons soon using model drawing. To give the students the background they need, here are two supports to use:

Show your students this Prezi to give them an overview of how bar models can be used: CLICK HERE

Have your students go to this website to practice solving word problems with bar models: THINKING BLOCKS

Those annoying Math in Focus Teacher Edition spirals!

Thank you, Shawn, for this great idea! Now the pages won't slip off the spiral. Problem solved with 2 tiny pony beads and some glue.

How to add classes in Think Central

For parents to see their child's math book online, teachers must first create classes in Think Central. For directions on how to do this, CLICK HERE.