The Mathematical

This is a great question – and one that I get asked often! Fluency does not necessarily mean students have the facts memorized and can complete them in a certain amount of time, but that they have an effective strategy that allows them to correctly solve the particular problem. Here is some more information below for guidance.

Fluency in mathematics computation requires three things: flexibility, accuracy, and efficiency. Flexibility with numbers begins with students realizing that numbers can be decomposed and composed to use in computations. The way that students decompose and compose numbers is dependent on how students see the problem, the numbers involved, and most likely, the context of the problem. To develop this flexibility with numbers, students can investigate operations on numbers through number talks. Using number talks allows students to develop strategies based on the problems in the problem string. Students, over time, begin to develop different strategies based on the numbers presented in the number talks. This flexibility with numbers is where fluency starts.

Accuracy is where students not only get the correct answer to the computation but also involves the accuracy of the intermediate steps in their chosen strategy. Often, teachers just look at the final answer and make a judgment. This is a disservice to students. Many times, students give correct solutions to problems but may make errors along the way. Left unchecked, these intermediate errors in strategy can cause problems later on. So, again, number talks helps here because the answer is only part of the talk. The strategy used is just as, if not more, important.

Finally, efficiency of strategy is extremely important. The purpose of building fluency and, more specifically, efficiency, is to make sure students’ strategies use a small number of steps. No strategy used should be so convoluted that it takes half of a page to write on paper or several minutes to explain. Efficient strategies use a small number of steps to achieve an answer.

Also, there should be a lot of emphasis on estimation in all grade levels as a means to not only get a “ballpark” answer before computation but also as a means to check and see if their final answer makes sense.

Here's a short video on Memory vs Memorization: https://gfletchy.com/2014/12/01/from-memory-and-memorization-there-is-a-difference/

The authors of The Distance Learning Playbook (Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and John Hattie) discuss the importance of direct instruction. With an effect size of 0.59, direct instruction offers students with learning strategies such as modeling, scaffolding, explaining, and examples before students begin working with the desired concept. Additionally, those worked examples have an effect size of 0.57 and play an important role of the mathematical learning process.

But can you have too much of a good thing? Don't fall into the trap where you find yourself spending most of the instructional time doing direct instruction keeping students from being able to work in groups to discuss and then transition to independent work.

An appropriate balance must be made between direct instruction (teacher speaking) and student discussions and time spent on the task/problem. If the teacher spends the majority of the time on direct instruction, students will have a limited opportunity to attempt work on the task at hand before leaving the classroom. Remember, students are learning a lot of things in all subjects. Expecting them to remember everything when they get home to practice a math problem for the first time will more than likely be unsuccessful.

Content experts at the Georgia Department of Education have developed Remote Learning Plans for teachers and parents. These Georgia Standards of Excellence-based plans were specifically designed for use during these uncertain times as support for school districts, administrators, teachers, and parents who are working tirelessly to provide students with quality content.

The plans are easy-to-use and include both “plugged and unplugged” activities. Math activities can be found for all grade levels starting with Kindergarten all the way through to Calculus. Check back for more Remote Learning Plans in each content area as they are updated weekly. Below is a small example of what you will find.

GoFormative (also known as Formative) is a web-based platform that allows teachers to give live assignments to students. Teachers are also able to provide immediate feedback as students work through the activity at their own pace. Formative has received permission to add 2,823 free lessons to their library. Here are some exclusive links to all of the new content that is ready to use in Formative. Teachers can create a free account and upload their students by syncing with Google Classroom.

If you would like to learn how to use GoFormative, do not hesitate to reach out to me. I have used this platform with my students and can definitely help you get everything up and running. You can also join Lauren Dunning, a High School STEM teacher, as he discusses how he uses Formative to create creative, engaging curriculum for his students through various instructional strategies. Register here for webinar on March 2nd.

Feel free to click any of the share links to add these Formative bundles directly to your Formative account! Some of these free resources include mini-lessons (some with videos) and short formative assessments already set up and ready to go. Teachers can use them as-is or copy and edit as needed.

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Math - Open Up Resources Share Link
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Complete Folder FJMD9V
6th Grade XNXW3K
7th Grade VCLB4X
8th Grade 2NX3QQ

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Math - Illustrative Mathematics Share Link
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Complete Folder RQPTBD
Algebra 1 L55U6M
Algebra 2 67M3C2
Geometry 3G7AY7

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Math - MARS Tasks Share Link
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Complete Folder WKNMJD
Middle School 9J2GLC
High School DPSXPB

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Math - MARS Lessons Share Link
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Complete Folder F3RVFZ
6th Grade K9KXSY
7th Grade G7UXUE
8th Grade GKV29H
High School 9DX9YE

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Math - EngageNY Share Link
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Complete Folder XXWSL7
Kindergarten YU552J
1st Grade HYZF7A
2nd Grade LRC9HA
3rd Grade 3M296J
4th Grade 3MCBAD
5th Grade 57WFYG
6th Grade J2AUV2
7th Grade RYR7SC
8th Grade 3LHFVB
High School UY7YQE

Here are a few video tutorials that might be helpful when using Prodigy with your students. District-wide tournament coming in April! More information will be provided during our next K-5 Math Meeting on March 23rd.

• Introduction to the teacher dashboard
• Introduction to assessments
• How to use the Plans tool
• How to use the Assignments tool
• How to use the Test Preps tool

IXL continues to update its online platform to meet the needs of teachers and students. Recently, they have added checkpoints within skills for 8th grade, Algebra 1, and Geometry. Others will be added soon! These can be great review opportunities before a quiz or test to see if your students are ready. Then use the detailed report to identify any student weaknesses.

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.

M Squared (New Math Teachers)

Mar 11, 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-5 Elementary School Collaborative PL Session

Mar 23, 2021 - Virtual, 3:15 - 4:15

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

Middle School Collaborative PL Session

Mar 31, 2021 - Virtual, 4:00 - 5:00

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

High School Collaborative PL Session

Apr 21, 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.

Number Talks (RESA Mini)

On-Demand Video (17 min) - Watch this short video on Number Talks in the classroom.

Watch now!

Facebook PLC for High School Math Teachers

Join our Facebook group for high school Math Teachers! Stay up-to-date on the latest math news and tools just for you!

Join here!

K-5 Math Endorsement

K-5 Math Endorsement is coming soon! Look for details in RESA's March Newsletter!

Need more info? Contact Joanne Britt

Get Google Certified

Do you want to obtain your Google Level 1 Educator certification? If so, this is the class for you!

Learn More and Register

Instructional Strategies and Student Engagement with Formative

March 2, 2021 - Webinar, 4:00 - 5:00

Join Lauren Dunning, a High School STEM teacher, as he discusses how he uses Formative to create creative, engaging curriculum for his students through various instructional strategies.

Cost: FREE

Register here.

IXL - Uncovering Insights in IXL Analytics

March 3, 2021 - Webinar, 6:30pm

Dive into some fan-favorite reports from IXL Analytics that will help you take instructional action in your classroom.

Cost: FREE

Register here.

The Role of Language and Literature in Math Class: 2 Part Series

Part 2: Early Ideas of Geometry and Measurement in Children:
The Role of Language and Literature in Math Class

March 9, 2021 - Webinar, 4:00 - 5:00

In this second edWebinar of a two-part series, Dr. Sara Delano Moore will share resources and strategies for developing the language and concepts of geometry and measurement with children’s literature. We will develop understanding of shapes (both 3D and 2D) and measurement (with standard and non-standard units) with trade books and big books that use high-quality language features as well as strong mathematics.

Cost: FREE

Register here.

Strengthening Problem Solving Virtually and In-Person Series

Webinar Recordings - Watch Now

Part 1:Mathematical Discourse and Collaboration

Part 2: Mathematical Task Selection

When Modeling Gets Messy: Help Students Discover New Ways of Thinking About Math Modeling

Webinar Recording - Watch Now

This session introduces the “Spies and Analysts” mathematical modeling strategy. During this collaborative session, discover practical ways to get students “unstuck,” allowing them to persevere in modeling, which is key for problem-solving in the secondary classroom. Teachers and students will love this creative and critical-thinking strategy and applying it to many mathematical problems in and out of the classroom. By HMH and aimed at secondary teachers.

Recalculating Secondary-Level Math in Hybrid, Remote, and On-Premise Classrooms

Webinar Recording - Watch Now

Math instruction is evolving…and tapping the power of technology and visualization tools can support middle and high school students’ grasp of math operations, practices and increasingly complex concepts. In this edWebinar, Kim Gardner, a middle-grade math educator and technology champion, and Justin Backeberg, a high school math educator, both share their approaches to rapidly changing instructional models and share some of the new technology tools and resources they’re adopting.

Exploring the Potential of Computational Thinking (Part 1 and 2)

Webinar Recordings - Watch Now

Computational-thinking skills include seeing patterns, creating rules or algorithms, making abstractions, and decomposing a mathematical structure into component parts. These skills are closely tied to many applications of mathematics as well as to the Standards for Mathematical Practice. Whether during in-person instruction or remote learning, teachers and students must continue to develop the mathematical practices; computational thinking provides an engaging context for this work. Students will explore engaging mathematical problems, develop the practices, and build foundation skills for careers that require computational thinking.

Computational Thinking to Strengthen Elementary Mathematics (Part 1 and 2)

Webinar Recordings - Watch Now

These sessions provide an overview of computational thinking’s four core components: patterning, decomposition, algorithmic thinking, and abstraction. See how these ideas support the mathematical concepts and skills needed for careers in STEM fields.

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