Math Mondays with Tanner
March 11, 2024
Build Math Minds
"Practice Makes Perfect" - Episode 147
This week's professional development tip is short and sweet. We often tell our students to keep trying because "practice makes perfect." Does it really though? If I am incorrectly multiplying fractions, using base ten blocks, or applying my understanding of a number line, am I really getting better? No! I'm only solidifying my incorrect understanding and getting better at being wrong.
The reality is that "practice makes permanent." As we go into a new week, I want you to consider the feedback you give in your math classroom. How are you providing students with meaningful feedback to ensure they are completing tasks correctly during work time when you are not standing right in front of them and guiding them along their learning journey? When you think about the fact that practice makes permanent, meaningful and individualized feedback is even more powerful!
Tuesday's Faculty Meeting
Tuesday's faculty meeting will take place in two phases. I am including a quick snapshot below.
2:45 until 3:15 - All Homeroom Teachers
We will explore the idea of "highways and exit ramps." The goal is for you to explore vetted and leveled resources we have available at Ebinport. Some of these will be new and many of them will be a "hey don't forget about ____." As you'll learn, everyone deserves an exit ramp - especially with only 19 instructional days until our students take math MAP again.
3:15 until 3:30 - 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Math Teachers
We will quickly meet to discuss the idea of implementing essential standards check-ups after Spring Break to give us a better understanding of where our students are right now. If we decide to go this route, I will be taking on the bulk of this work for you and your team. The goal is for this to be a data-informed way to guide our spiral review as we head towards SC Ready on May 23. You'll also receive a few newly released documents from the State Department regarding SC Ready.
DreamBox Classes of the Week
These classes had the highest number of average completed lessons for their grade level last week. This weekly reward comes with 10 extra minutes of recess. Thank you for prioritizing DreamBox and for helping our students close gaps and engage in enrichment opportunities!
Family Math Night and Math Spirit Week
We will be hosting Family Math Night on Thursday, March 14. Happy Pi Day! This is a free event for all of our families. We will provide a free dinner of pizza, drinks, and dessert in the cafeteria from 5:30 until 6:00. Families will then be allowed to visit 8 stations from 6:00 until 7:00. Each station will be pre-planned and will include three levels (beginner for PreK, K, and 1 ; intermediate for 2 and 3 ; advanced for 4 and 5). In addition, alls tudents will leave with a gift bag that contains dice, playing cards, directions for at-home dice games, directions for at-home playing card games, directions for all 8 math stations from the event, and a "hat day" pass." We have 205 RSVPs so far!
Thank you to those of you who signed up to help on Thursday. It's also not too late to sign up! Please click the link below to make sure you know what you signed up for. If you are hosting a station, I will send you a copy of your game directions this week so you can look through them ahead of time. There is no prep on your part, but I know it can be stressful to walk into a station not knowing what to do. As a reminder, I can promise you free dinner, childcare for your young children in B-133 (only available for Ebinport staff), and the chance to win one of five $10 Amazon gift cards.
Volunteer Sign-Up for Ebinport Staff: CLICK HERE
RSVP Link to Share with Families: https://forms.gle/wKA5P5zBXus4JLhN9
Spring FastBridge Window is Open
It seems like we just did this, but the spring FastBridge window is now open! It will close on Friday, April 12. If you need any help testing your students or if you have any questions, let me know!
Q3 Benchmarks are Next Week
All third, fourth, and fifth grade students will complete their Q3 math benchmark on Wednesday, March 20. Make-up testing will be on Thursday, March 21. These dates are non-negotiable. As a reminder, benchmarks only assess essential standards. If you have any questions, let me know!
Looking Ahead to Q4 Pacing Guides
I know that many of our grade levels have their Q4 planning days starting this week. If your grade level needs help creating a pacing guide, please let me know. Please account for the following end of year testing dates that will alter pacing during fourth quarter:
- Tuesday, April 16 - Spring Math MAP
- Wednesday, April 17 - Spring Reading MAP (not third)
- Tuesday, May 14 - SC Ready TDA
- Thursday, May 16 - SC Ready Reading
- Tuesday, May 21 - SC PASS Science (fourth) and Spring Reading MAP (third)
- Thursday, May 23 - SC Ready Math
Tanner's Schedule for the Week
As a coach, my schedule is flexible. Please realize that my schedule will change based on what is included below. This gives you a rough idea of when I will be out of the building, in coaching cycles with teachers, or in meetings. If you need anything, reach out and let me know how I can help!
Upcoming Math Events at Ebinport
- March 20 - Mandatory Q3 Benchmark for Upper Grades
- April 9 - Math PD
- April 12 - Spring FastBridge Deadline for Lower Grades
- April 16 - Spring Math MAP Testing for 1st - 5th Grades
- May 14 - Math PD
- May 23 - SC Ready Math Testing
Links to Previous Weekly Newsletters
- Math Mondays # 11 - Week of March 4
- Math Mondays # 10 - Week of February 26
- Math Mondays # 9 - Week of February 19
- Math Mondays # 8 - Week of February 12
- Math Mondays # 7 - Week of February 5
- Math Mondays # 6 - Week of January 29
- Math Mondays # 5 - Week of January 22
- Math Monday # 4 - Week of January 15
- Math Mondays # 3 - Week of January 8
- Math Mondays # 2 - Week of December 18
- Math Mondays # 1 - Week of December 11