February 2012
This month, we look deeper into our role as mathematics educators during the transition to the common core. Many
of the resources contrast the current state of standards and student expectations with where we strive to be. The
team has made a concerted effort to bring you an extensive batch of videos to spark conversations in your
classrooms and staff rooms. If you have a video from your classroom, we would love to feature you in an upcoming
newsletter. Have a meaningful lead up to the MSA!
Ed Nolan
Where Do We Go From Here?
“A recent study examined mathematics standards
across the United States and abroad…” It seems
like every educational initiative of the last fifteen
years begins with such a statement.
We are
probably expecting the next sentence to read, “The
rd
United States is 23 out of 26 countries in the
analysis.”
How do standards truly affect the
achievement of our students? Is the solution to
these woes more rigorous standards like the
Common Core?
Why do we, as mathematics
educators, continue to take such a beating?
•
A recent study was conducted, but the results may
not be what you would expect. When comparing
increased rigor in states’ mathematics standards
with NAEP scores, there does not appear to be a
connection between standards and student
achievement.
•
If more rigorous standards are not the solution, then
what is? Less assessment? Less “drill and kill”?
More basic skills? More integration of content
areas?
As educators and instructional leaders it is tempting
to get caught up in studies and statistics, anecdotes
and media attention. In any period of transition, like
we are experiencing now, we must make ourselves
aware of the givens of the situation and put our
efforts in to what we can control.
•
•
•
As a school district in Maryland, we will be
implementing the Common Core State Standards
for all grades.
The Montgomery County School Board has
adopted both the Standards for Content and for
Mathematical Practice.
Grade level and course content is defined by
Common Core.
End of year assessments will be written by a 23state consortium and will include both current and
previous grade content and will include evaluation
of the mathematical practices.
Algebra 1 in middle school remains a goal for all
students.
If we see that it is not the standards that make the
difference in our students’ math achievement and
we choose to accept that we cannot control what
happens to students outside of our classrooms, then
our energy must be focused on choosing varied,
appropriate instructional strategies that meet all of
our students’ individual learning needs.
During this transition, mathematics educators have
every reason to be anxious. We get to make a
choice. Do we take that anxious energy and focus
on the challenges of the unknown, or do we give
ourselves permission to take risks, struggle with new
instructional strategies, and find a new way forward
for our students? Our students are counting on us
to prepare them, with only minutes a day, for the
unpredictable expectations of college and career.
Department of Curriculum and Instruction — Mathematics
850 Hungerford Drive Rockville, Maryland 20850
The Teaching Channel
Keep Current with the Common Core
Last month we made a quick reference to the TCH
website and blog.
The more time we spend
exploring the available resources, the more
impressed we are with the volume of great strategies
and teacher reflections available through the site, If
you are considering the free registration, here are a
few more videos to whet your appetite.
Our friends to the north in Frederick County have
created an introductory video for their Common Core
plans in mathematics. They video features several
stakeholders sharing their views on the transition.
Please note that current MCPS and FCPS may share
names, but vary in content. Once the transition to
Common Core is complete, shared course names will
also share the same content.
•
Keep heading north and you will bump into our friends
in New York, who also have created a series of
transition videos. Featuring the state’s education
commissioner and a contributing author to the
common core, the video explores the “6 shifts”
necessary to make effectively engage the Common
Core.
•
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In England, primary grades teachers monitor
formative data in their mathematics classes.
Notice how peer review and the PLC meet up
with inquiry-based learning strategies. Brilliant!
On Long Island, New York, a new teacher tries
out differentiation for the first time.
In Morocco, the olive trees growing on campus
bring math to the students’ doorstep.
Crowd-Source Your Planning
Tired of sifting through blog after blog looking for that
one video or lesson idea to help make meaning for
students? Wikispaces are a recent addition to the
blogosphere, making it easier for like-minded folks to
share their resources for which they have a passion.
The Student Made Math Movies Wikispace features
math videos created by students from around the
world. The videos vary from procedural to deeper
understanding, so choose wisely!
Professor Hung-Hsi Wu takes a long look at
“Textbook School Mathematics” and contrasts our
current print resources with the need for deeper
understanding, founded in precision and logical
reasoning. He wraps up his essay with the idea of
mathematical Engineering, the need for teachers to
transform diverse, abstract concepts into a
consumable form for grades K-12.
With transition to new content and instructional
strategies in the forefront, transition to new
assessment is also quietly moving ahead. Recently,
the two primary assessment consortia awarded a
contract to Pearson to develop a technology
readiness tool to assist states and local districts to
determine technology needs to implement the new
assessments.
PARCC also released its latest invitation to negotiate
(ITN) to create professional development tools to
explore effective classroom practices as it relates to
the PARCC assessments.
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Discussion groups can also be treasure troves of
resources. The TI-Nspire Group features ideas for
novices and experts alike. Online meetings are also
frequently hosted to learn more about what educators
are doing with calculators in their classroom.
Modeling Middle School Mathematics also shares 10
classroom videos featuring teachers and students
learning math in a scenario-based setting.
Classroom teachers are needed to
provide feedback for upcoming
Math 6 and Algebra 1 CCSS
curriculum documents.
•
See this flier for more information
•
Sign up for sessions at
http://goo.gl/4k9cu
Department of Curriculum and Instruction — Mathematics
850 Hungerford Drive Rockville, Maryland 20850
Teacher Opportunities
Maryland Public Television (MPT) and MSDE have
collaborated again to offer a full slate of web-based
professional development for CPD credit. Whether it
is differentiation strategies, using technology in the
math classroom, or learning to use the online HSA
tools, you are sure to find something of value.
Discourse Video
Pick of the Month
What do YOU wonder?
For PD on someone else’s terms, Frostburg State
University is holding its annual symposium on April
20. Highlights include PARCC Assessments, raising
classroom expectations, and creating dynamic
lessons on the interactive white board. Registration
runs through March 30 and includes breakfast and
an optional lunch.
The last day of school can mean only one thing:
begin planning for next year! The AP Institute in
Fairfax County is a great way to kick off teacher
planning season. This year, Fairfax will only offer
Calculus training. For a complete suite of AP Math,
you may also wish to consider Goucher College’s
summer program for teachers.
To round out your busy summer, consider visiting
sunny LA for the annual Reasoning & Sense Making
Institute hosted by NCTM.
The goal of the
conference is to give the limited number of
participants an interactive experience of tools and
strategies ready for immediate implementation upon
return to the classroom.
Participants will also
continue their professional development through a
series of online seminars during the school year.
Student Opportunities
What if you could guarantee every student the
opportunity to take a course from MIT or Stanford
instructors? This Spring, MIT will begin by offering
an introductory circuits course for electrical
engineers. MIT has even taken the step of offering
free and low cost certificates for successful
completion of the courses. Stanford is yet to release
their offerings, but an archive of past classes and
videos are available. While students may not have a
real-time relationship with the instructors, the content
is sure to activate the imaginations of our students
and perhaps their teachers, as well.
Another opportunity for students is right in our back
yard in Catonsville. On March 10, faculty, students,
and alumni of UMBC will present a day of enriching
courses designed to stir the passions of the
participants.
SPLASH! Registration ends on
February, so please share this exciting chance for a
taste of the college experience!
Department of Curriculum and Instruction — Mathematics
850 Hungerford Drive Rockville, Maryland 20850
Hexagon of Random Awesomeness
Have you seen Prezi in action but feel that using it
Is out of your technical reach? Now is the
If
Are
time to take the leap and try it out.
you don’t
you
Prezi recently released a PowerPoint
have a
wondering
Import tool making it even easier
subscription to
what to do with
to convert stale, linear
ASCD’s
that iPad that’s
presentations into engaging,
Educational Leadership,
collecting dust next to
visually-appealing
find someone who does!
your
collection of porcelain
extravaganzas
The article All Students Are
Jedi plates? Turn it into an
of exploration!
Artists explores how art
educational
portal with Apple’s new
Check out
education encourages students to
iTunes U, featuring free content from
PreziU,
constantly improve, something to which
universities
and publishers. There really is
too!
we as math educators can certainly relate!
more to the iPhone than Angry Birds!
VoiceThread is the latest cloud-based
Communication tool, combining the blog,
photostream, screencast, and audio
annotation. Difficult to describe,
but easy to master, try
conducting a remote notice
and wonder with your
students. Explore the
public collection
and find your
inspiration.
Have a Question or an Idea To Share?
Ed Nolan
supervisor
Cathie Peirce
admin. secretary
Brian Crane
content specialist
Katie England
content specialist
Jennifer Hallmark
content specialist
Colin Reinhard
content specialist
Missy Sigley
content specialist
Verna Washington
content specialist
or Contact us at 301-279-3161
Bonus
Discourse
Video!
If your students are sending their own objects
or peers into the atmosphere, sharing
that mathematical moment just got
easier! YouTube now permits
contributions via text message.
you or your students can now
seamlessly upload to your
class account for
immediate use.
Take the kids
outside
and
film!
Reader Contributions
Have you captured a
mathematical moment that
you would like to share? Do
you have classroom video or
student
work
that
demonstrates the Standards
for Mathematical Practice?
The Math Office is creating an archive of SMP in
action for use as models to share on the web and
in face to face professional development.
Please contact Colin Reinhard if you would like to
contribute or create content for this project.
Department of Curriculum and Instruction — Mathematics
850 Hungerford Drive Rockville, Maryland 20850