The Mathematical

The Math Curriculum meetings will be held for each specific grade level. These sessions will include reviewing supplemental resources being used at each of the schools, discuss and make possible adjustments to our scope and sequence, and introduce the new version of the pacing guide. Each school has been asked to send a representative for each grade level.

Kahoot! introduced the challenge feature that lets you assign kahoots as homework, something that many of you, our community, were asking for. This can be used in conjunction with the Kahoot's new mobile app.

When students start playing the homework challenge, you can keep track of their progress and assess the results. Log in to your account in the app, open your challenge and tap on the leaderboard to view a report, including:

• A full leaderboard with all players (while players only see top 5 and their own score)
• Who completed the challenge and who is still playing
• What ratio of correct (green) and incorrect answers (red) each of the players had
• After a challenge is completed, you can review stats question by question and see the ratio of correct and of incorrect answers.

More information and example videos can be found here. You don't have to use it just for homework. It can also be completed in class allowing for students to work at their own pace instead of seeing who can answer the fastest which sometimes encourages student guessing.

As you finish up this school year, sometimes it can be challenging to keep your students engaged and on-task. Here are some suggestions you can try that can help reinforce skills learned this year and introduce new ones to help your students be more successful in the next school year.

• Problem-Based Learning activities: these activities allow students to use the skills they learned in class and use them in real world situations. (Sites: Robert Kaplinsky, Mathalicious, YummyMath, or Mindsets Learning)

• 3 Act Tasks: these tasks allows students to use what they know to solve a situational problem. They are required to ask questions, decide what information they need, and make reasonable estimations as they solve them. (Sites: When Math Happens, Andrew Stadel 3-Act Math Tasks or LiveBinder of 3-Act Tasks)

• Escape Room tasks: these tasks allow students to work collaboratively on challenging problems. Teachers can have them work in small groups or as one whole group. (Sites: How to Create an Escape Room, Common Supplies Needed, and BreakoutEDU has some free challenges or you can make your own)

• Open Middle challenges: these problems are open-ended allowing students to practice their skill set to find the best possible solution. While it looks like they only have one problem to solve, they will actually solve it multiple times to find the best solution. (Hint: give students a recording sheet to record their different attempts) Teachers can use numbered water bottle caps to make it easier for students to try their various solutions. (Site: Open Middle)

Your students might know their way around a numerator and denominator, but are they ready for what’s next? Suddenly, it’s time to learn how to add fractions — and your class is confused.

Feeling intimidated? You’re not alone. Adding fractions may seem daunting, but it doesn’t need to be.

Prodigy has put together a guide to help you successfully teach your students how to add fractions, covering:

• Why students struggle with fractions
• Types of fractions
• 3 easy steps for adding fractions
• Adding mixed fractions
• The importance of adding fractions
• 5 Engaging activities

Andrew Stadel, the creator of Estimation 180, will officially be launching podcasts on May 8th. According to Andrew, "I often hear teachers share the strategies they use and challenges they face when facilitating Estimation 180 tasks. I'm excited to interview classroom teachers so we can learn from each other on how to continue developing student curiosity, number sense, and math reasoning!"

What to expect from his first episode: I have made many mistakes throughout my teaching career. There were three big mistakes I made that helped inspire Estimation 180. In episode 1, I will share one of those three mistakes. I made a mistake when students asked me, "How tall are you?"

To visit the Estimation180 site, click on the logo.

I'm sure a lot of you have already heard about the app, PhotoMath. It's supposed to be a handy little app that students can use to solve math problems by taking a picture. The app then solves the problem and shows all of the work step by step. Here is a video to see it in action.

So there is good news and bad news. Let's start with the bad news...yes, students can use this app to potentially cheat. Well, here's the bad news for students: it doesn't always get the answer correct and mostly works with the boring and more simple math problems in our textbooks. It cannot solve problems where students are asked to solve word problems, justify, or analyze a graph. (That's the good news for teachers!)

So maybe we as teachers need to change the type of problems we are assigning. We need to shift from assigning "naked" math problems to ones that require a little more thought from our students. These problems should be asking them to solve real-world problems, having them justify their reasoning, doing error-analysis, or explaining what a graph represents. Isn't this what we want our students to be able to do anyway?

The Georgia Numeracy Project is a free numeracy development resource that is provided by the Georgia DOE. The main focus of this project is to help students with their understanding of numbers and their ability to use numbers to problem solve. In addition, the Georgia Numeracy Project can be used as a resource for MTSS and includes a flowchart to help teachers screen and monitor student progress. The DOE is updating this project to now include intervention probes, data collection spreadsheets and graphs, and intervention resources. These updates should be complete by July 2019. Use this link to see more information.

Looking for ideas for your STEM/STEAM lessons? Check out some of these!

150 STEM & PBL Activities

https://www.teachengineering.org

http://www.novelengineering.org

https://www.eie.org

http://www.stemcobb.com/lesson-links.html Elementary STEM Lessons

http://www.stemcobb.com/ms-stem-lessons.html Middle School STEM Lessons

239 STEM Resource Websites

STEAM Leadership Conference 2019

May 10-11, 2019 - Georgia Tech

This year's conference seeks to engage education leaders in thoughtful dialogue focused on how they can create and sustain initiatives for a more equitable STEAM future. By being intentional in the design and development of inclusive learning environments, education leaders can transform student learning experiences and spark the interests of the next generation of STEAM leaders.

Cost: $250, Register here.

Manipulative Monday (sponsored by Hand2Mind)

May 13, 2019 - El Reposo Mexican Restaurant in Fayetteville, GA, 3:00 - 5:00

Stop in and learn about common manipulatives used in grades 3-5 and see new resources to support student learning in next year's classroom. Event includes appetizers, soft drinks and door prizes. See flyer for more details.

RSVP by Friday, May 10

College Readiness Mathematics Summer Professional Learning

Jun 18-20, 2019 - Dekalb Early College Academy in Stone Mountain, GA, 8:30 - 4:00

This is a three-day, professional learning session which focuses on evidence-based, effective mathematics instructional strategies to assist in preparing students for post-secondary options. Participants must register for this professional learning opportunity no later than May 6, 2019, by completing the registration form at College Readiness Summer Professional Learning Institute.

2019 Summer Mathematics Academies

Available dates in June & July

This is a 2-day workshop offering professional development focused on specific grade bands (K-1st, 2nd-3rd, 4th-5th, 6th-8th, Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II). Areas of focus include improving teacher knowledge, supporting productive struggle, experiencing engaging, rich tasks aligned to GSE standards, and classroom strategies to meet the needs of ALL learners.

Cost: $90 for GCTM members, $120 for non-members

More Info and to Register.

7th Annual West Georgia RESA STEAM Conference

Sep 12th-13th, 2019 - Peachtree City, GA

Conference theme: Fly Me To the Moon...and Beyond

Location: Peachtree City Hotel & Conference Center (Hilton)

2443 Hwy 54 West, Peachtree City, GA 30269

Registration Info: $100 1 day/$200 both days. Breakfast and lunch are included.

More Info and to Register.

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!

2019 Georgia Numeracy Project Professional Learning. Retrieved from http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Documents/Mathematics/Georgia-Numeracy-Project-Professional-Learning-Overview.pdf

Kahoot! Introduces Smart Practice for Challenge Feature. (Apr 18, 2019). Retrieved from https://www.techlearning.com/news/kahoot-introduces-smart-practice-for-challenge-feature

Kennedy, Laney. (Apr 17, 2019). How to Add Fractions (+5 Awesome Activities). Retrieved from https://www.prodigygame.com/blog/how-to-add-fractions/?utm_source=blog-email&utm_medium=CTA

Landa, Joel. (Oct 23, 2014). New PhotoMath app that solves math problems by taking a picture could lead to new era of student cheating, change instruction methods, teachers say. Retrieved from https://ed.stanford.edu/in-the-media/while-encouraging-more-low-income-students-attend-college-financial-help

Meyer, Dan. (Oct 22, 2014). We Should Wish PhotoMath All the Success in the World. Retrieved from http://blog.mrmeyer.com/?s=Photo+app

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