The Mathematical

As we continue to teach students both virtually and in-person, teachers must continue to adjust their teaching styles in an effort to reach all students effectively. This means teachers must plan meaningful and purposeful activities with the goal of maximizing student impact. The authors of The Distance Learning Playbook (Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and John Hattie) discuss the importance of recognizing strategies that help to leverage improved student learning while balancing student needs.

Here are some ideas to help make learning better for your students (pg 171):

• Focus on what students know and don't know. Use pre-tests or other short mini-assessments or activities to determine what they don't know and focus on those concepts.
• There should be a balance for students and teachers. Provide mini-lessons and activities that are skills-based with opportunities for interaction and feedback.
• Harness technology to engage students. Utilize current technologies to motivate and engage students and enhance learning. Provide opportunities for students to interact via technology platforms to increase participation.
• Provide timely feedback. Include detailed explanations or video demonstrations for students who get stuck or are struggling. Do not rely on parents to fill that gap.
• Create opportunities for social interaction. This is critical right now for students to be able to interact and to learn together in a time where a lot of our students are isolated. Provide ways for them to share ideas, give each other feedback, and discuss what they have learned with each other.

Research confirms that students can learn up to five times more material in an online course than in an in-person course. What systems do we need in place to make this happen? How can we be successful?

The answer is not always in the organizational systems or communication systems in place (although these can help). The answer can lie in three pedagogical reasons:

1. Determining an aligned pedagogical purpose
2. Connecting the technological apps to the pedagogical purpose
3. Making student thinking visible in order to capitalize on the formative assessment cycle

To help achieve this, you can use the acronym APPS.

To read more about this, use this link to access the full article.

Introducing Math Teacher Lounge, a video series designed just for K–12 math educators. Your hosts Bethany Lockhart Johnson and Dan Meyer will dig deep into topics you care about and interview guests you need to know about. View the first episode below. If you would like to sign up to be notified as new episodes are posted, click here.

Episode 2 • Bethany Lockhart Johnson and Dan Meyer discuss technology in the math classroom with the following special guests: Idil Abdulkadir, Robert Berry, Lauren Carr, Steve Leinwand, Francis Su, and Theresa Wills.

Don't miss out on valuable information, helpful videos and tutorials, and professional learning registrations. Be sure to join the appropriate Math Google Classroom to ensure you have access to all the latest information. It is recommended that teachers turn on the email notification feature so that you are notified whenever a new post is made. To enable email notifications, go to Settings (when you click on the 3 horizontal lines in the top left corner), and turn on "Receive email notifications."

Join your grade-level Google Classroom to keep up with all the latest information!

These Professional Learning Sessions are tentatively scheduled to be held virtually. The virtual meeting links and information will be sent out via email and Google Classroom notices prior to the meeting dates.

High School Collaborative PL Session

Jan 13, 2021 - Virtual, 4:00 - 5:00

All high school math teachers are welcome to join this collaboration session. Meeting will start promptly at 4:00.

M Squared (New Math Teachers)

Jan 14, 2021 - Virtual, K-5: 3:00 - 4:00 and 6-12: 4:00 - 5:00

This meeting is for all new math teachers including first-year teachers, new teachers to Coweta County, or just new to teaching math.

K-2 Elementary School Collaborative PL Session

Jan 19, 2021 - Virtual, 3:15 - 4:15

All K-2 math teachers are welcome to join this collaboration session. Meeting will start promptly at 3:15.

3-5 Elementary School Collaborative PL Session

Jan 21, 2021 - Virtual, 3:15 - 4:15

All 3-5 math teachers are welcome to join this collaboration session. Meeting will start promptly at 3:15.

GaDOE is launching a new Virtual Mathematics Specialist program that will provide professional learning for teachers and teacher leaders specific to the various grade levels and high school courses as an additional layer of support for continued growth and development. All teachers are invited to participate in these high-quality professional learning opportunities.

Please find a link below to the communication that includes specific dates and times for each of the professional learning sessions by grade level and high school course. Also, the GaDOE has established a new online professional learning community to support teachers and leaders. The interactions in the mathematics groups will be led by the Virtual Mathematics Specialists and the GaDOE Mathematics Team.

As you continue to reach towards achieving your goals, please utilize me as a resource. I would love to spend time with teachers and admin during your planning or instructional periods. If interested in a meeting, a class visit, or modeling, please complete this form to request a time. You can also send me an email anytime!

Please contact Michelle Clarke, Math Content Specialist, with any comments, questions or concerns.

Email: michelle.clarke@cowetaschools.net
Website: curriculum.cowetaschools.org
Location: 167 Werz Industrial Boulevard, Newnan, GA, 30263
Phone: 770.254.2800
Twitter: @clarkemath