November 2011
This month we continue our sharing of resources for depth of understanding in mathematics and
connecting mathematics to the real world. We also include resources on different perspectives for
assessment, including the role of assessment in instruction. In addition, please consider nominating a
wonderful elementary teacher that you know for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and
Science Teaching!
Ed Nolan
Depth of Understanding in Math
There’s an App for That!
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and
Curriculum 2.0 emphasize a balance between
conceptual
understanding
and
procedural
computation. This renewed focus provides and
encourages opportunities for teachers and students
to consider multiple strategies and connections
among content to build greater depth in student
learning, which contributes to lasting understanding.
Despite restrictions on cell phone use during the
school day, smart phones provide the opportunity
for students to continue their learning and practice
beyond the campus. Here are just a few of the
apps available from the App Store and the Android
Market.
All students also have
the
opportunity
to
develop
depth
of
understanding in math
by demonstrating all five
areas
in
UCARE
(Understanding,
Computing,
Applying,
Reasoning,
and
Engaging) and through
the Standards for Mathematical Practice from the
CCSS. Depth of understanding is the expectation
for all students and will lay a strong foundation for all
future mathematics courses.
So, what does depth mean? What does it look like?
How do I teach/plan for depth?
Learn more from these resources:
•
•
Going Deeper in Math Framework
Connections for Deeper Understanding
•
In Okta's Rescue, players save Okta
and his friends by transporting them
to a safe ocean. Students will quickly
learn how to maximize their heroic
efforts by subitizing.
•
In Concentration, students match
whole numbers, shapes, fractions or
multiplication facts to equivalent
representations.
•
In Lunch Rush, help PBS’ Ruff Ruffman
with mental addition and subtraction
while collecting his cast’s sushi order.
These, and many more apps, are available as webbased activities and virtual manipulatives on
NCTM’s Illuminations site.
If using an iPhone as part of instruction isn’t your
cup of tea, perhaps using the phone as motivation
for a lesson is more your style. The February 2007
issue of NCTM’s Mathematics Teaching in the
Middle School features an engaging problem about
cell phone coverage. With minimal tweaking, this
problem is suitable for most ages.
Department of Curriculum and Instruction — Mathematics
850 Hungerford Drive Rockville, Maryland 20850
Holiday Spending
Column o’ Calculators
Oh, the holidays; the expectation of winter snow,
happy children dancing spontaneously in the toy
store, cursing pedestrians in the mall parking lot…The
winter season also bursts with data for math class!
Cash for Calcu-Clunkers
With Black Friday and Cyber
Monday in the past, these
infographics
communicate
spending habits and prompt
further
discussion
about
consumer choices.
Considering buying a new
woolen hat for that special
someone? Also consider the
costs associated with crafting a
handmade head-warmer. This
blog entry will make you think
twice before snickering at the
price tag.
There are many programs available for turning
those old, unwanted calculators into a charitable
gift. One such program is the aptly named
CharitableCalculators.org.
This organization
collects TI calculators, accessories, and guides
for donation around the world. Would your Math
Club like to host a fundraiser?
Charitable
Calculators.org also accepts cash donations to
pay for batteries and shipping.
Is your school interested in using CASIO
calculators? CASIO is currently offering a TI
trade-in program.
Find out more on their
website.
Remember when a turtle
dove cost only 25 cents? We
don’t, either. The folks at
PNC Wealth Management,
however,
have
been
calculating the price of the
Twelve Days of Christmas for
27 years. The results can be
found in this article and also
in
an
engaging
Flash
presentation.
Lastly, are you looking for that perfect book for that
imperfect someone? Maybe someone who believes
they weren’t born with the infamous “math gene”?
Then this book is for you (to give to them)! Math for
Grownups features basic arithmetic and mental math
for the real real world. Warning: This book contains
tricks without understanding.
Calculator Rewards Programs
Both CASIO and Texas Instruments offer points
programs for purchasing calculators and
teaching accessories. Simply clip and mail the
UPC with the appropriate form to earn
calculators, professional development, software,
and even a projector!
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
Is This Going To Count?
The Future of Assessment?
Why do we elect to assess students at various points
in their educational journey? Students frequently ask,
"Will this be on the test?" and "Is this going to
count?", and they have a right to know. This
provocative and thoughtful series from the
Annenberg Media group was designed to help a
range of groups and people learn how "teachers deal
with common issues and discover ways to use
assessment to improve teaching and learning."
PARCC, the Partnership for Assessment of
Readiness for College and Careers, is currently
developing formative and summative assessments to
measure learning of the Common Core State
Standards. Maryland, along with 23 other states and
territories, are participating in the PARCC
assessment program.
This eight part series was originally produced by the
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and
the Massachusetts Corporation for Educational
Telecommunications. Visitors to the site can watch
all eight parts via this site, and the installments here
include "You WILL Be Tested on This!: Standardized
Testing" and "When I Was in School: Implementing
Assessment Reform".
So, what will these assessments look like? Will they
replace MSA and HSA? The Math Office and MSDE
do not have answers to these questions, but we
have a few resources that may be guiding decision
making. Consider these assessment items from the
Math Assessment Resource Service, a program
funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
and hosted by the University of Nottingham and UC
Berkeley.
Discourse Video
Pick of the Month
What do YOU wonder?
Not The Future of Assessment!
Department of Curriculum and Instruction — Mathematics
850 Hungerford Drive Rockville, Maryland 20850
Teacher Opportunities
Presidential Awards for
Elementary
Math Teachers
Nominations
are
now
being
accepted for Presidential Awards for
Excellence in Mathematics and
Science Teaching for elementary
teachers (K–6). The deadline for
nominations is April 1, 2012. The
nomination
form
should
be
completed early enough to allow the
nominated teacher time to meet the
nomination application deadline of
May 1, 2012.
STEM Teaching Project
Early Career Math Teachers
Towson
University’s
Baltimore
Excellence in STEM Teaching
Project (BEST) is now accepting
applications for its 2012-2013
Cohort. The application deadline is
December 19, 2011.
The BEST Project is a year-long
professional development program
for
secondary-level
science,
technology,
engineering,
and
mathematics
teachers.
The
foundation of BEST is a 6-week
authentic research experience at a
Baltimore-area college, university,
or government facility.
The STaR program provides early
career faculty in mathematics
education with opportunities to
network with other new mathematics
teacher educators. The program
consists of a summer institute (July
15–20, 2012), academic year
networking via electronic means,
and
a
regroup
session
in
conjunction with the Association of
Mathematics Teacher Educators
annual meeting.
What Does Your Classroom Say?
Consider what the layout of your room
says about the kind of instruction that
will take place. This presentation from
Maria Andersen examines how seating
can encourage interaction. While aimed
at community college teachers, the
ideas are pertinent to all educators.
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
Focus Groups Forming
•
Classroom teachers are needed to
review CASIO calculators for
compatibility with current and future
math curriculum.
•
Classroom teachers are needed to
provide feedback for upcoming Math
6, 7, 8, and Algebra 1 CCSS curriculum
documents
Contact Colin Reinhard for
more information!
or Contact us at 301-279-3161
Department of Curriculum and Instruction — Mathematics
850 Hungerford Drive Rockville, Maryland 20850