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September
2012
MathBits
Inside this issue:
Donna Forbes is Minnesota’s 2011
Presidential Award Winner
“Being recognized both at the state and national levels for my passion—
teaching math to young adults—is an honor. Being part of the community that is shaping the future of children is a privilege, a responsibility,
and a challenge. I cannot ask my students to challenge themselves if I
don't do it for myself. This honor is my brass ring and a stepping stone
to continue to learn and explore new ideas that will ignite a passion for
learning in the students I teach.”
Donna Forbes has been an educator for more than 34 years and has
spent the last 14 years teaching high school mathematics in the Mahtomedi School District. She currently teaches Pre-calculus and Geometry at Mahtomedi High
School. Before settling in Minnesota, she spent 4 years with the Peace Corps, teaching mathematics in a rural high school and mentoring new Peace Corps volunteers in Swaziland in
southern Africa. Outside her classroom, Donna enjoys being the advisor for the National
Honor Society. As a coach, Donna also uses the tennis courts and lacrosse fields as her teaching grounds.
Over the years, Donna's professional development has been a catalyst for networking and
getting involved with several local and state committees. She was a District Director and Vice
President for High School on the Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM)
Board of Directors and is now the Financial Secretary for the MCTM Foundation governing
board. The mission of the board is to support the teaching and learning of mathematics.
(Continued on page 4)
President’s
Message
3
Assessment
Updates
5
District 1
Feature
6
High School
Feature
7
CONNECT
8
Matt Mentor
9
Foundation
12
Special points of
interest:
2012 PAEMST
finalists—Kristin
Cayo & Mike
Wallus
Making the Case for Change
MCTM Annual Fall Conference—October 19
Conference reflections from Amy
Grund & Jill Halberg—see p. 12
Location: Champlin Park High School, 6025 109th Ave. N., Champlin, MN
MDE/MCTM offer
professional development webinars—see p. 10
Get energized for the new academic year, meet friends from previous conferences, check out
exhibits and support your state Mathematics teacher‘s organization.
Theme: Making the Case For Change
How can we take advantage of new technology to change how we teach and what we
teach?
How can we differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students?
How can we change classroom assessments to gather the most useful information on student learning?
(Continued on page 4)
Delegate Assembly Resolutions
report—see p. 13
Goals of MCTM
To develop an active interest in the science of mathematics.
To help provide opportunities for the exchange of ideas and materials regarding instruction in mathematics.
To further the study of problems relating to the teaching of mathematics at the elementary, secondary, and college levels.
To work for the improvement of mathematics instruction at the elementary, secondary, and college levels in Minnesota.
To work for the improvement of employment and service of members of the Council
and members of the profession in general.
2012-2013 MCTM Board of Directors
Elected Officers
District Directors
Appointed Offices
President
Michele Luke
[email protected]
President-elect
Ellen Delaney**
[email protected]
VP Elementary
Pam Richards**
[email protected]
VP Jr.High/Middle School
Mary Jo Hughes
[email protected]
VP High School
Paula Bengtson
[email protected]
VP Mathematics
Christopher Danielson**
[email protected]
VP Mathematics Education
Kathleen Cramer
[email protected]
VP at Large
Lisa Conzemius
[email protected]
District 1
Amy Wix
[email protected]
District 2
Christy Hemp**
[email protected]
District 3
Cheryl Tucker
[email protected]
District 4
Karen Hyers
[email protected]
District 5
Tracy Bibelnicks**
[email protected]
District 6
Courtney LaRoche
[email protected]
District 7
Sherri Kruger
[email protected]
District 8
Russ Davidson**
[email protected]
Executive Director
Tom Muchlinski
[email protected]
Financial Secretary
Craig Rypkema
[email protected]
Recording Secretary
Patty Wallace
[email protected]
MathBits Editor
Teresa Gonske
[email protected]
Webmaster
Rich Enderton
[email protected]
MDE Mathematics Specialist
Sue Wygant
[email protected]
NCTM Representative
Abe Schwartz
[email protected]
MinnMATYC Representative
Becky Groseth
[email protected]
** Newly elected or appointed office holder for 2012-2013.
Outgoing board members who completed terms at the close of the 2012 Spring Conference:
Judy Hansen, V.P. Elementary
Kay Wolhuter, V.P. Mathematics
Rhonda Bonnstetter, District 2 Director
Seth Leavitt, District 5 Director
Greg Geary, District 8 Director
Thank You! Your service was greatly appreciated!
Page 2
MathBits
President’s Message
Michelle Luke, MCTM President
Happy Fall! I hope you had an enjoyable and relaxing summer and a great start to the school year! It is not
too early to think about attending the Fall Conference on October 19th at Champlin Park High School.
We have had difficulty securing active boards and other technology for our Spring Conference. We hope
to put a special emphasis on technology at our Fall Conference by being in a high school with marvelous
facilities. The theme for the Conference is ―Making the Case for Change‖. More information on the Conference including presenter and attendee information is at www.mctm.org. While you are there, notice our
new look.
Thank you to all of you, who presented at, contributed to and participated in the success of our 2012 Ross Taylor Symposium
for Mathematics Education and Leadership and the Spring Conference. We especially want to thank our keynote speakers: Dan
Meyer, Stanford, CA and Jeremy Baumbach, Troy Faulkner, Jen Green and Rob Warneke from Byron High School. We appreciate the work of the following chairpersons and their committees:
Conference: Judy Hansen, Mary Jo Hughes and Lisa Conzemius
Program: Denise Anderson
Symposium: Terry Wyberg
Publicity: Patty Wallace
Technology: Greg Gearey
Conference Support: Deb Guthrie and Bill Eppright
Delegate Assembly: Courtney LaRoche, Cheryl Tucker, Bill Eppright and Jennifer Dugan
NCTM Materials: Abe Schwartz
Exhibits: Jo Ann Luhtala
Registration: Tom Muchlinski and Craig Rypkema
I was fortunate to attend the NCTM Conference in Philadelphia last spring. I participated in some great sessions, some of which
were presented by authors of some wonderful NCTM publications. More information at: www.nctm.org. I am listing a few for
your consideration:
Motivation Matters and Interest Counts (Amanda Jansen, & James Middleton, 2010)
This book is a resource on motivation and engagement. It includes six principles for understanding academic motivation
and five instructional principles that promote motivation and engagement.
Smarter Together! Collaboration and Equity in the Elementary Classroom (Helen Featherstone, Sandra Crespo, Lisa Jilk, Joy
Oslund, Amy Parks, and Marcy Wood, 2011)
The authors present ideas and strategies for group work based on Complex Instruction. They explain how to involve every
student in group learning with examples of good tasks and help in adapting existing tasks.
Strength in Numbers, Collaborative Learning in Secondary Mathematics (Ilana Horn, 2012)
The author discusses classrooms as learning environments, equitable mathematics teaching, mathematical competence,
group-worthy tasks, positive interdependence, designing group work, collaborating with colleagues and five practices to
help change teaching.
Understanding RTI in Mathematics, Proven Methods and Applications, (Russell Gersten & Rebecca Newman-Gonchar, 2011)
The book presents current research articles on Response to Intervention and mathematics with practical ideas for implementation. Russell Gersten is a member of the National Mathematics Panel.
Famous quotes
Mathematics is the door and
key to the sciences.
~ Roger Bacon (1214-1294)
September
I don't believe in
mathematics.
~ Albert Einstein
(1879-1955)
Page 3
(Continued from page 1)
Donna has a B.S in mathematics education from Widener University and an M.Ed. in curriculum and design from the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota). She is National Board Certified in mathematics adolescence/young adult and is certified in
grades 7-12 mathematics.
The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is awarded annually to outstanding K-12 science
and mathematics teachers from across the country. The winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators following an initial selection process done at the state level. Each year the award alternates between teachers teaching kindergarten through 6th grade and those teaching 7th through 12th grades. The 2011 awardees teach 7th through
12th grades.
Winners of this Presidential honor receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation to be used at their discretion.
They also are invited Washington, DC, for an awards ceremony and several days of educational and celebratory events, including visits with members of Congress and the Administration.
Kristin Cayo and Mike Wallus
2012 MN Finalists for the Presidential Award
Kristin Cayo is a fifth grade teacher at Forest Hills Elementary in the Eden Prairie School District. In addition to teaching at
Forest Hills for the past 10 years, she has served on several state standards committees. Kristin has also worked on the Minnesota Mathematics Framework Project, providing lesson ideas, classroom videos and vignettes and a deeper understanding of the
math standards for teachers.
Mike Wallus spent the last 16 years as a Multi-Age Primary grades teacher at Valley Crossing School in Woodbury and is currently working for the Minneapolis Public Schools as an elementary mathematics coordinator. For the last 4 years he has also
been an adjunct faculty member at Hamline teaching courses through 'The Project for Elementary Mathematics.'
Watch for an announcement of the 2012 Presidential Award winner sometime during the 2012-13 school year.
Online Soon: Nomination Form for
Presidential Award for Excellence
in Mathematics and Science
Teaching
Nominate outstanding teachers for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching! This award honors exemplary K-12 mathematics and
science teachers for their contributions to improving teaching and learning. Nominations will soon be accepted for 7-12 grade teachers. Nominations are typically accepted through March and applications are typically accepted through the end of
April. Watch for more details to come or check for updates at www.paemst.org. K-6
teachers will be eligible to apply during the 2013-14 school year.
MCTM Fall Conference (cont.)
(Continued from page 1)
Keynote speaker: Sara Vanderwerf from Minneapolis Public Schools.
Title of talk: “Cocktail parties, 1991 and 12%”
Find out the connection to mathematics teaching and learning.
Choose from over 50 sessions offered by experienced Minnesota teachers sharing their expertise with their fellow teachers.
Highlighted Sessions addressing technology issues
If students can get solutions in seconds from WolframAlpha, where does that leave teachers?
Interactive math textbooks for your digital classroom!
'APP'lications in mobile computing for K-12 math
On-line resources for math teachers: What's out there and where do I start?
Register at www.mctm.org. Program
Flipped classroom: fad or evolutionary approach to quality instruction?
information will be on the website.
Advanced use of Google Forms and Documents for course management
Online EQUATIONS: The game of creative mathematics
Page 4
MathBits
Statewide Assessment Updates
Rosemary Heinitz, Math Assessment Specialist, Statewide Testing
MCA-III and GRAD Online Item Samplers
The item samplers in the MN Assessment Portal now give a score when a student has completed the sampler. When they have completed the sampler, a list of all of the items will appear with a score for each item.
Students can click on the sequence number and it will return them to the item. They can see how they answered the item but they can‘t change their answer.
The online item samplers must be accessed either by using AIR‘s secure browser or Mozilla Firefox. In order to use text-to-speech, the item samplers must be accessed through the secure browser. Instructions for
accessing the online item samplers are available on the Item Samplers page of the Minnesota Assessments
portal (www.mnstateassessments.org > Family/Student > Item Samplers).
Fall is upon
us and
there are
lots of
updates to
give you!
Anyone can access these online item samplers using the guest login options. Students may also use their first
name and MARSS/SSID number to log into a guest session or a ―practice‖ test session with a Test Monitor
who is using the Test Monitor Training Site.
New Voice Pack for MCAs
AIR has entered into an agreement with NeoSpeech to provide the ―Julie‖ voice pack for use in conjunction with AIR‘s Online
Testing System for Windows machines. This voice pack is to be used only in conjunction with, and not separate from, the
online assessments delivered by AIR‘s Online Testing System. Contact your District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) for more
information about the voice pack.
Grade 11 MCA-III Field Test
The final administration of MCA-II for Grade 11 will be 2013. In 2014, the first operational administration of the Grade 11
MCA-III will assess the 2007 Mathematics Standards. The Grade 11 MCA-III will be an online test as in grades 3-8. Field testing of multiple choice items and newly developed technology enhanced (TE) items will be done through an Independent Field
Test. The testing window for the field test is January 28 – February 22, 2013. Schools have been identified for demographic
balance to participate in the field test. Other schools may also choose to participate. Contact your District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) for more information about participating.
We will share more information at a session at the MCTM Fall Conference.
GRAD Test
In the absence of new legislation, the alternative pathway for GRAD expires with the 2013 administration. For future cohorts,
this means that in order to qualify for graduation, students must continue to take GRAD retakes until they pass.
OLPA and MCA-III in 2013
In the 2012-13 school year there will be two testing windows for online assessments in grades 3-8. The first window is October
1 through February 22 and is for the Optional Local Purpose Assessment (OLPA). The OLPA uses Minnesota specific items
and the same adaptive algorithm as the MCA-III accountability test. Students‘ results will be immediate, similar to the way they
were for the 2012 administration. Schools may choose to administer the OLPA up to two times per student during the window.
The second online window is March 11 through May 10. The MCA-III assessment administered during the second window will
be used for accountability purposes. All schools must administer the accountability administration at some point during the
window.
We hope you participate in the Math Webinars. The first webinar will be on September 25. Have a good year!
Rosemary Heinitz
[email protected]
Margarita Alvarez
[email protected]
Science is built up with facts, as a house is with stones. But a collection of facts is no more a science
than a heap of stones is a house.
~ Henri Poincare (1854-1912)
September
Page 5
My Summer Blog Learning Adventure
Amy Wix, District 1 Director
Like most of my teacher friends, I was excited for the summer months—lots of time to catch up on reading my favorite authors!
I started out strong in June, mixing reading in with other favorite activities but soon found my fondness for the murder-mystery
genre was interfering with my ability to get a restful night‘s sleep. I quickly discovered a new favorite—math teacher blogs.
I would sit down at my computer for a few short minutes to read an eye-catching topic and get completely sucked in! One blogger would link to another, then another, and so on. I‘d find myself up most
of the night bookmarking, saving and making notes on some great ideas. It became an addiction. When
I would get together with teacher friends I would find myself starting sentences with ―I read this great
blog post about…‖
Living in ‗outstate‘ Minnesota and teaching in a smaller school district, we have few opportunities for
professional development specific to our grade and subject level. I discovered a whole world of PD with
some awesome teachers who are ALL WILLING TO SHARE!
Here are a few of my favorites:
Finding Ways to Nguyen Students Over by Fawn Nguyen. http://fawnnguyen.com/ Great insight to middle school learners.
I‘m planning on adding some of her problem solving ideas to my class this year.
Approximately Normal (in the classroom) http://approximatelynormalstats.blogspot.com/ I‘m not sure what draws me specifically to this blog other than the style of writing and the detailed instructions. (I‘m thinking I can work marshmallow shooters and shrink-dinks in to my lessons at some time this year.)
dy/dan by Dan Meyer. http://blog.mrmeyer.com/ I couldn‘t get enough of Dan Meyer at our Spring conference!
Action-Reaction: reflections on the dynamics of teaching by Frank Noschese. http://fnoschese.wordpress.com/ Okay, he‘s
really a physics teacher, but he has some great ideas on using whiteboards in the classroom. Take a minute and check out his
TED talk as well.
Overthinking my teaching: the mathematics I encounter in classrooms by Christopher Danielson.
http://christopherdanielson.wordpress.com/ ―Overthinking My Teaching‖ (by our own VP Mathematics) reflects on lessons; a
perfect example to help us become more reflective of our own classroom practices and how our students are learning.
http://www.classroomprofessor.com/teaching-math/best-math-blog-posts-march-2012/ If you aren‘t finding inspiration in any
of these blogs, here is a blog entry about the ―best math blogs‖ by Peter Price.
What can you do with all of these great resources
(and the links within the links, etc)?
I found another tool that helps me to organize information, links,
blogs, and downloads in an easy to access format. LiveBinders
(www.livebinders.com) is a free online bookshelf. You can create
multiple binders, and multiple folders with in each binder. The
site even has a ―livebinderit‖ button you can drag up to your toolbar, making it easy to add items to your binder as you come across
it while online.
As I headed back to school this fall and I‘m asked if I caught up on my reading… I‘m able to truthfully answer yes. My lack of
sleep is now caused by the teaching ideas swarming around in my mind- I think it‘s time to start reading James Patterson and
John Sanford again!
In mathematics the art of proposing a question must be held of higher value than solving it.
~ Geoge Cantor (1845-1918)
We think in generalities, but we live in details. ~Alfred North Whitehead (1861-1947)
Page 6
MathBits
iPad Apps for the Math Classroom
Paula Bengtson, VP High School
iPad applications are a great way for students to enrich and reinforce their math skills. A multitude of engaging and beneficial
apps from which to select are available. King of Math and PrepGame are two apps that provide challenging practice at various levels.
King of Math is broken down into 12 books, each book having 9 chapters or levels. The chapter titles are Addition, Subtraction, Mixed 1, Multiplication, Division, Arithmetic, Geometry, Fractions, Powers, Statistics, Equations, and Mixed 2. The
questions are multiple choice but the format changes.
In the chapter on Addition, initially a problem is presented with four numerical answers. Then instead of four numerical answers being provided, there are four more addition problems requiring the student to match the given problem with another so
that the two problems yield the same answer. Smallest? or Largest? is presented and the student must determine which of the
four problems would be the appropriate answer. In another style, an equation is given with one of the addends replaced by a
question mark.
Scores are based on accuracy and time. If a wrong answer is chosen, the participant has two more chances to get the correct
answer. The individual will always know what the correct answer is before the next problem is displayed.
Prep Game covers five areas: Properties of Integers, Percents, Probability and Counting, Absolute Value and Coordinate Geometry. All of the areas have 15 levels except for Percent, which has ten. As in the previous game, the questions are multiple
choice. However, when a wrong answer is selected, the print turns red and the correct answer changes to green. After the
game has been completed, the student can go to the review and revisit the questions that were done incorrectly. The game also
keeps track of the student‘s personal best score. Below are some sample questions from Level 6 of Properties of Integers.
How many different prime factors greater than 1 does 29 have?
Calculate the expression 38 + 31=?
If m is an integer, is the expression below always an even integer? 10m+10
Given two numbers, calculate the greatest common divisor.
Given two numbers, calculate the least common multiple.
What is the remainder when 23 is divided by 11?
The product of 5, 12, 17 is closest to which of the following powers of 10?
What is the units digit of 42 squared?
Is 4788 divisible by 9?
How many numbers are between 200 and 237 inclusive?
How many different positive divisors does 12 have?
What is the remainder when 23 is divided by 11?
These two apps are just a sample of what is available to students and instructors. Most of the apps are free for the lower levels
and the upper levels may be purchased for a minimal cost. There are applications providing reference, graphing calculators,
past math league tests, games of logic, etc. Check out the possibilities and enjoy the next school year!
NCTM Illuminations ideas—illuminations.nctm.org
We know you've been busy over the summer, and so have we! We are proud to present a new mobile app, Pick-a-Path (iOS,
Android). This app is based on the Decimal Maze from the popular lesson Too Big or Too Small. Navigate Okta from top to
bottom — adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing as you go! Earn 1, 2, or 3 stars by completing various mazes involving
integers, fractions, decimals, exponents, and more.
This app is a beta version, but later versions will include a random puzzle generator and a store where players can create their
own sea world by purchasing fun items.
Download Pick-a-Path for your iOS or Android device today!
New to Illuminations?
Get acquainted with more than 600 lessons and 100 online activities by viewing this two-minute video (WMV)
September
Page 7
CONNECT
Committee to Orient and Network New/Novice Educators into a Community
of (math) Teachers
Help get new teachers CONNECTed to MCTM. If you have newly licensed mathematics teachers in your building, introduce
them to MCTM and the programs available through CONNECT. A number of sessions at the Fall Conference are designed for
beginning teachers. Virtual mentoring emails sent throughout the year, coordinated by Ann Sweeney, and opportunities for live
mentors are available. Archived Matt Mentor advice columns and virtual mentoring tips can be found on the website.
MCTM CONNECT is an
initiative of MCTM that
attempts to reach out and
support pre-service Math
teachers and those in their first
few years.
CONNECT Committee Members are Larry Luck (chair), Anne Bartel, Rhonda Bonnstetter, Terry Wyberg, Becky Groseth, J. P. Heisel, Diana Hestwood, Betty Johnson,
Ryota Matsurra, Amber Severson, Ann Sweeney, Bill Tomhave, Sara Van Asten, and
May Vang. Committee members‘ contact information is available on the website.
.
Scenes from CONNECT session at the
Spring Conference in May
Benefits of NCTM Membership
Abe Schwartz, NCTM Representative
With the beginning of another school year, now would be the perfect time to look into becoming a member of NCTM. A membership connects you with one-of-a-kind exclusive resources and mathematics education expertise. You also have the support
of a network of nearly 80,000 people who care about mathematics education, and the ongoing effort to improve the teaching
and learning of mathematics.
Individual Memberships
Full Membership $81—The most comprehensive package of benefits for individuals
E-membership $69—Online only benefits at a reduced price
Student E-Membership $40—Specially priced membership just for students studying to be mathematics teachers
Emeritus Membership $40—A unique membership for retirees who want to stay involved in mathematics education
All memberships provide access to a variety of online resources, and digital copies of previous journal publications of choice.
FREE Member Exclusive Online Resources
FREE access to the Members Only area of the NCTM Web site chock full of lessons, classroom-ready activities, sample problems, interactive applets and multimedia for your students, and more. Members also have FREE access to NCTM's eStandards, FREE access to NCTM's E-Seminars ANYTIME, and a 20% members-only discount on a wide variety of books,
software, and other resources that cover mathematics education.
Sign-up to utilize these resources today!
Visit NCTM online at www.nctm.org or
visit Abe Schwartz (NCTM Representative) at the MCTM bookstore during the
Fall/Spring conferences to see the resources or have any questions answered.
Page 8
MCTM is an affiliate of NCTM.
Affiliates are independent
organizations with similar goals. Membership in MCTM contributes to
a collective state voice. Membership in NCTM lends to a national
public voice.
MathBits
Ask Matt Mentor!
Dear Matt Mentor:
Several students in my math classes are absent frequently. How can I help them keep up with the work they miss?
Signed, Frustrated Teacher
Dear Frustrated,
First, be sure your expectations about making up missed work are explicit. Communicate them
clearly to students at the beginning of the year. Consider creating a one-page document that answers
the question, “What should I do if I am absent from math class?”
Provide copies for students‘ notebooks, post it on your web page, and make it available to parents. It
could be a checklist, including items such as these:






Try reading the section your class worked on while you were gone.
Do all the sample exercises, step by step, and check the solutions.
Mark the ones you still have questions about so you can ask your teacher the next day.
Make time to come in before or after school to get help from your teacher.
Be sure to do these things right away so you don‘t get too far behind!
Here is a website with lots of ideas for learning in math (and many other subjects): www.howtostudy.org . (This site is
designed for college students but has many useful ideas for high school.)
You also need a plan to help students who are having trouble with the math content they missed. One possibility is creating a set of “content check problems” for each topic or subtopic in the course curriculum. You may have software or other
resources for your textbook that allow you to easily create short, 4 to 5 problem ―content checks.‖ Or, if you assign only oddnumbered exercises from the textbook for homework, select several even-numbered exercises for the content checks. This is
where it helps to involve your colleagues; several people can split up the work for each course. Select or create check exercises
that require a good understanding of the topic or subtopic, and ask students to show their work. Once you have created the content checks, you can use them with subsequent classes.
For younger students, who usually do not have answers in their books, it is still a good idea to create content
checks. Given the ambitious nature of current mathematics standards, it is important to help students keep
up with the core content.
“Are you OK?
I noticed that
you missed
quite a few
days lately.”
When a student returns after an absence of several days and seems ―lost,‖ pull out the content check corresponding to the current class work. Send the student to your resource/tutoring center, if you have one, to
work through the content check and get help as needed. Or, consider alternatives such as providing beforeor after-school help one or two days per week. Students who are in higher level or Honors courses could
receive ―community service‖ credit for volunteering as tutors on a regular basis. They will need some training in how to help without actually doing the work for the student; the student should do the writing and the
tutor does the coaching and checking.
For elementary students, it may be possible for teachers to find time during the school day to give a content
check and help with understanding the content.
You might also try asking students to work regularly in class with the same partner. Many teachers report
increased attendance because students are reluctant to abandon a classmate.
When a particular student is consistently missing class, the first thing you might do is talk privately with the student.
Say something along these lines: ―Are you OK? I noticed that you missed quite a few days lately.‖ Whatever wording you
use, be sure it is something you can say in a kindly, sincere way, without any hint of anger. Then stop and wait for a reply; be
patient. Let the student tell you what is happening. It‘s possible there are issues that the student needs help in resolving, such
as a sick parent(s), or having to care for younger siblings. If so, it may be important to bring in a counselor, another school
resource person, and perhaps the parent or guardian.
It takes time initially to set up a system that works well for your particular school situation. But keep in mind that the payoff is
ongoing help for students who miss class.
Best regards, Matt Mentor
September
Page 9
MDE/MCTM Webinars
MDE and MCTM are offering webinars designed specifically for K-12 mathematics teachers!
There will be 4 informational webinars offered throughout the year. Each session will be offered in two 45 minute parts--one for Grades K-8 and one for Grades 9-12.
The content of each webinar will include pertinent information regarding standards and
assessment.
The format of each webinar will include a 20-25 minute presentation followed by 20-25
minutes of time to respond to questions submitted through the webinar chat feature.
A FAQ will be posted in response to the questions raised at each session.
The webinar dates are: Tuesdays, September 25, November 6, January 15 , March 5
Times: 2:30-3:15 Grades K-12 overview, but then focused on grade 11
3:30-4:15 Grades K-12 overview, but then focused on grades 3-8
Please Visit the MDE Calendar to register (http://education.state.mn.us/WebsiteContent/Calendar.jsp)
American Mathematical Society—Math Contest
Who Wants to Be a Mathematician?
High school math contest: Chance for your student and department to win up to $5000
The American Mathematical Society is conducting a national contest for high school students (roughly 9th grade and above, but
anyone can take the test), Who Wants to Be a Mathematician, with a top prize of $5000 for the winning student and $5000 for
the math department of that student's school. There is no fee to participate.
When/where: The 2013 contest will take place Thursday, January 10, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Convention Center in San
Diego. The event is part of the Joint Mathematics Meetings, which take place January 9-12, 2013.
Travel: The AMS will reimburse reasonable travel expenses and room and board for each contestant and a parent/guardian for a
maximum of two nights. Contestants and their parent(s)/guardian(s) are welcome to attend other events at the meeting.
Qualifying: Contestants are chosen based on their scores on a qualifying test, administered by teachers (or in the case of homeschooled students, by whomever does the teaching at home).
Request a qualifying test by emailing the AMS Public Awareness Office, [email protected], with the subject line "2013 national contest." In the body of the message, include your name, school, contact information, and courses taught this year.
Deadline for receipt of tests is Wednesday, Oct. 17. The AMS will select 10 contestants from different regions of the US and
will notify those qualifiers beginning Friday, Oct. 19.
Contest format: There will be two semifinal games, each with five of the contestants. The winners of the two semifinals will go
"head-to-head" in the finals for the national championship. The champion will win $5000 for himself or herself, $5000 for your
math department, a traveling trophy for you to display at the school until the 2014 contest, a trophy for the school/department to
keep, and an individual trophy for the winner to keep. All contestants will win prizes, cash for themselves, and cash for your
department (the minimum cash prize is $500 for the student and $500 for the department).
Free ASA/NCTM Statistics Education Publication
Statistics Teacher Network (STN) is a free newsletter published by the American Statistical Association and NCTM Joint
Committee on Curriculum in Statistics and Probability for Grades K–12. Read the latest news in statistics education or submit
articles and announcements. http://www.amstat.org/education/stn/
Page 10
MathBits
Resources
The Algebra 4 All (A4A) Social Network is an online community of educators committed to sharing resources and supporting
one another in the practice of teaching Algebra. The Network was created by Michigan Virtual University
(MVU) to support teachers involved in the state-wide Algebra for All professional development project. The A4A Social Network is now public, has a world-wide membership, and remains a relevant and viable resource for any mathematics educator.
Visit this social network at http://a4a.learnport.org
Common Core resources to support teaching and learning on the Inside Mathematics website. From the Noyce Foundation.
Resources on Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice, including:
Classroom video examples illustrating the math practice standards, including commentary
Videos of exemplary lessons integrating multiple math practices
Resources on Common Core Standards for Mathematical Content, including:
Common Core-aligned tasks, searchable either by grade level or by Common Core content area, such as ―Operations and
Algebraic Thinking,‖ or ―Geometry - Congruence.‖
Additional classroom videos of Number Talks
Four new classroom videos of ―Number Talks‖ showing students engaged in mental math exercises and conversations about
math, including one from a bilingual Spanish-English classroom.
These new resources will help support teachers‘ understanding of the Common Core Math Standards. Visit the site at
www.insidemathematics.org to explore free materials and tasks that teachers can use immediately with students.
Note: Even though Minnesota is not a Common Core Standards adopter for mathematics, the resources.
The new online journal, the Mathematics Teacher Educator (MTE), is now available.
MTE is co-published by AMTE and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. You may access the first issue online at
http://www.nctm.org/publications/toc.aspx?jrnl=mte The first issue of MTE is available to everyone. Subsequent issues will be
available only to current members of NCTM or AMTE.
Peg Smith, MTE Editor; Melissa Boston, MTE Associate Editor; and the MTE Editorial Panel (Denise Spangler, Panel Chair;
Gladis Kersaint, NCTM Board Liaison; Diana Lambdin, Alfinio Flores, Thomas Dick, Rheta Rubenstein, Tad Watanabe, and
Karen King, NCTM Staff Liaison) have worked hard to launch this exciting new journal!
Core Math Tools—Technology for Exploring High School Math
NCTM introduced a dynamic new technology at the Annual Meeting in Philadelphia last April. Core Math Tools is a
downloadable suite of free interactive software tools for algebra and functions, geometry and trigonometry, and statistics and
probability. The tools are compatible with the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (both content and practice standards), and are appropriate for any high school mathematics curriculum.
The suite includes General Purpose Tools offering spreadsheet, computer algebra systems (CAS), geometry construction, simulation, and data analysis tools. Also included are Custom Apps and Advance Apps, which focus on understanding key high
school math topics. Included are a significant number of data sets, which can be used with the data analysis and spreadsheet
tools.
Core Math Tools can be saved on a computer or USB drive, making it possible to use without Internet access. Files can be
saved and reloaded by students and teachers. Its portability allows easy access for students, teachers and parents outside the
classroom. Core Math Tools will automatically check for updates when launched and Internet access is available.
http://www.nctm.org/standards/content.aspx?id=32702
September
Page 11
Spring Conference Highlights 2012
The Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics and Minnesota Mathematics Association of Two-Year Colleges sponsored
the annual Minnesota Spring Mathematics Conference May 4-5, 2012 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.
The theme for the 2012 Spring Conference was “Framing the Future of Mathematics in Minnesota” and this theme was well-framed by the keynote speakers. Conference events opened Friday
morning with Dan Meyer setting the tone for engagement with "Tools and Technology for Modern
Math Teaching.‖ Then Byron High School teachers Jeremy Baumbach,
Troy Faulkner, Jen Green, and Rob Warneke held audience attention and
motivated further professional discussion with ―Embracing Change and
Transforming Education‖ as they gave the closing address on Saturday.
Many attendees were impressed with Senator Al Franken demonstrating
Garfield‘s proof of the Pythagorean Theorem during his lunchtime talk regarding the STEM program and congress.
Dr. Peggy House, currently at Northern Michigan University, and Dr. Glen Richgels, Bemidji State
University, were awarded Honorary MCTM Membership in recognition of their years of service and
contributions to mathematics education in Minnesota.
Minnesota state finalists for the 2011 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science
Teaching (PAEMST) were also recognized. They include Meredith Boucher, North Junior High in
St. Cloud, Donna Forbes, Mahtomedi High School, and Andrew Schwen, Roosevelt Middle School
in Blaine.
Conference participants enjoyed a great variety of sessions, many offering active learning and networking opportunities. There was also plenty of time to socialize, catch up with old friends, and make
new acquaintances. New teachers and teacher education students easily mingled and were heartily
welcomed by the seasoned veterans.
MCTM Foundation
Ellen Delaney, Foundation Board Chair
[email protected]
Teachers who receive Conference Support Grant from the MCTM Foundation to participate in the MCTM Spring Conference
are asked to prepare a report on the conference experience. In this issue of MathBits and the next, we will share these reports
with you. Your contributions to the Foundation make possible the Spring Conference Support Grants that were so important
for these teachers.
My Amazing Experience at the 2012 MCTM Conference
Amy Grund, St. Mary's School, Bird Island, MN
I came to the 2012 MCTM conference determined to do two things: meet other teachers from Minnesota
and to learn more about the iPad. I didn't know until afterwards that I would learn so much more than that.
“I came to the
2012 MCTM
Conference
determined to
do two
things…”
My weekend started with the connect session on Thursday night. This would be something I'd encourage
any pre-service or new teacher to do. This two hour gathering allows you to meet people who are in the
same boat as you, get a nice meal, and learn some tricks from experts of getting the most out of the MCTM
conference. Not to forget: the bucket load of free books and manipulatives they give out to help new teachers. They have tables upon tables of items to give new teachers to help them begin their professional libraries. After carrying a box of materials back to the hotel, I thought that any new learning from the conference
would only be icing on the cake!
When the conference actually began, I had an idea of what to expect from past experiences: I‘d go to sessions and workshops, some amazing while others not so much, hear keynote speakers, and hope to score
(Continued on page 14)
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MathBits
Report on 2012 Delegate Assembly Resolutions
Accomplishment
1.
Be it resolved that the membership thank the MCTM Board for implementing electronic voting and improving electronic
communication (MathBits, emails, etc). (district 4)
Conferences
2.
Be it resolved that the MCTM conference committee explore options for availability of presentations prior to the conference. Assigned to the Spring and Fall Conference Committees. 5/6/12
3.
Be it resolved that for the fall conference MCTM invites vendors and experienced users (teachers) to offer targeted training
sessions specific to the technology implemented in the classroom. For example but not limited to iPads, eInstruction, Promethian, smart, and student- owned devices. Assigned to the Fall Conference Committee. 5/6/12
Communication
4.
Be it resolved that MCTM send out MDE updates to all members (through Constant Contact) as changes occur. Assigned
to the Technology Task Force. 5/6/12
Calculators and testing
5.
Be it resolved that MCTM explore communicating concerns to MDE regarding calculators used during assessments regarding the limitations of calculator choice on the state MCA-III test. Assigned to MDE Mathematics Specialist, Sue Wygant.
5/6/12
6.
Be it resolved that MCTM encourage MDE to require AIR to create free apps using the calculators that are used on the
MCA-III. Assigned to MDE Mathematics Specialist, Sue Wygant. 5/6/12
Advocacy
7.
Be it resolved that MCTM advocate to the Board of Teaching that a mathematics requirement be added to the relicensure
process for all. Testing occurs in both math and literacy, so both are important. Current requirements include literacy, mental health, etc. Assigned to the Executive Committee. 5/6/12
Collaboration
8.
Be it resolved that MCTM collaborate with SciMathMN to develop a plan and structure to utilize MCTM member volunteers to ―adopt a Framework‖ for periodic maintenance and upkeep. Assigned to SciMathMN liaison, Sue Wygant. 5/6/12
The committees of MCTM are the bodies that carry out the work of the organization. They work on their designated tasks and issues
throughout the year. MCTM members are encouraged to consider contributing their talents to the various committees. A broad
range of representation on the committees ensures that MCTM remains a strong, member-driven organization.
Try This—Math Exploration
Converting between centigrade (Celsius) and Fahrenheit
Regardless of the conversion you are doing, begin by adding 40 to the given temperature.
Then multiply by 5/9 (for F → C) or by 9/5 (for C → F).
Finish by subtracting 40.
Surprised? Why does this work? Explore conceptual connections with equations, functions,
graphs, symmetry, variation, and transformations.
Submit your explorations and explanations—or better yet, your students‘ work—for publication in the November
MathBits by November 1.
September
Page 13
(Continued from page 12)
some items for my classroom from the exhibit hall. Dan Meyer truly blew all my expectations away however. His idea of beginning math with perplexity and using it to capture students was truly genius. It was also fun to have Senator Al Franken, who
is hilarious, prove the Pythagorean Theorem to us using an iPad. That is a memory (and a picture) I will have for a lifetime.
Overall, it was another fantastic year at the Spring Conference. I had the chance to meet other teachers from Minnesota and
Michigan, hear their stories of what they are experiencing in their own classrooms, and yes, I did learn more about what I can
do with iPad.
I also wanted to thank MCTM Foundation for this amazing opportunity. Without this grant, I would have missed out on an
unforgettable conference!
Thinking About Teaching and Learning
Jill Halberg, Skyview Middle School,
North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District
“...I find myself contemplating a paradigm shift in my
thinking about teaching and learning.”
In the wake of ―No Child Left Behind‖ and the era of high
stakes testing, I find myself contemplating a paradigm shift in my thinking about teaching and learning mathematics. Should we
still expect students to work in small groups to discuss, defend, discover, analyze and write about mathematical concepts or do
we go back to whole group, teacher led instruction? Do we let high stakes testing dictate the way we think about our practice?
Itʼs times of uncertainty like these that I depend on guidance from other professionals who are actively involved with MCTM
and NCTM.
In search of what high quality math education looks, feels and sounds like in the 21st century, I attended several thought provoking sessions. One session, Making Algebra Accessible, addressed the importance of using manipulatives, such as algebra
tiles, to help students see and understand mathematical concepts. As students experiment with manipulatives they realize there
can be many ways to solve a problem but also that some are more efficient than others. The presenter emphasized the need for
students to defend their thinking to prove understanding so that itʼs not just a memorized trick that they soon forget or inappropriately apply in another situation. The goal is visualizing the math in order to promote understanding and retention.
With a mindset of improving understanding to maximize retention, I attended the next session, Improve Student Learning
Through the Flipped Classroom. After listening to four respected math educators each recount their journey in creating their
flipped classroom, I began thinking about integrating the two models over which Iʼve been conflicted. Perhaps the teacher led
concept development could be created in video form for students to watch prior to coming to class. This could then be followed
by an activity based, hands on interactive lesson during class, including guided practice and discussion. Students would thereby
have access to both skill based instruction and higher level learning.
After attending several additional sessions and collaborating with other math professionals from districts around Minnesota, I
have gathered many good ideas on moving forward with my thinking about teaching and learning mathematics. I would like to
thank the MCTM foundation committee for providing me with the opportunity to attend this yearʼs spring conference. It has
truly been an inspiring, thought provoking and energizing experience.
Next time, read stories from Joel Hogberg, and Mardi Knudson.
Financial Assistance for Professional Development
The Arnie Cutler Scholarship for Mathematics Course Work for Middle Grades Teachers provides funds to grades 6-8 teachers
for mathematics content course work.
The Conference Support Grant is available to beginning and midcareer teachers.
Updated information and application forms for both will will be available at the Fall Conference, and after October 19 on the
MCTM website.
Donations to the MCTM Foundation can be made with Fall Conference registration, in person at the Fall Conference,
and at anytime on the website. Your contributions help support these grants and new funding initiatives.
Page 14
MathBits
Se
Page 15
Minnesota Council of
Teachers of Mathematics
P.O. Box 289
Wayzata, MN 55391
Michele Luke, President
[email protected]
Tom Muchlinski, Exec. Director
612 - 210 - 8428
[email protected]
tm.org
www.mc
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR 2013
MCTM BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELE
CTION
The Minnesota Council of Teachers of Math
ematics Nominations
and Elections Committee is requesting nom
inations for the following offices appearing on the 2013 ballot: Vice
-President for Middle
School/Junior High, Vice-President for
Mathematics Education,
along with Directors for District 3 (Southeas
tern Metro) and District 6 (Northwest Metro). Each office has
a three -year term. Information concerning eligibility for office
and the timeline for the
election are available at www.mctm.org
The Committee will consider all nominati
ons submitted in deciding
on the slate of candidates for the 2013 elect
ion. The slate of candidates will be announced in early February
. The election will be
conducted electronically. Members will be
emailed the link to the
ballot in mid-February.
Please consider nominating a colleague or
yourself for any of the
offices for which you or your colleague
is eligible. Nominations
should be submitted to [email protected]
The nomination should
include the nominee‘s name, school, and
email address. The deadline for nominations is November 1, 2012.
Mission Statement
The MCTM is an organization of professionals dedicated to promoting the teaching and learning of meaningful
mathematics for all students by supporting educators in their efforts to improve mathematics education.
The MCTM strives to provide membership with current information regarding mathematics education in the
state of Minnesota. To accomplish this goal, we need an accurate, permanent address for each member and
a correct email address. To update your address information contact Exec. Director Tom Muchlinski at 612210-8428 or [email protected] or visit the MCTM website (www.mctm.org) membership page to make your
change.
If you received a paper copy of MathBits, it was a result of one of the following:
1) You explicitly requested to receive a hard copy through the USPS mail by contacting the executive director
at [email protected]
2) Messages sent to your email address have come back to MCTM as undeliverable.
If you did not make a direct request for a hard copy, it is important that you contact MCTM to verify a correct
email address. Please check that messages from the address [email protected] are not being blocked by your
server or being sent to your spam folder.
Submit items for publication in the next issue of MathBits to [email protected] by November 1, 2012.. Many
types of contributions are welcomed. Email or call 651-638-1967 with questions or comments. Thank you.
Teresa Gonske, Editor.