Math Minutes

2020/21 Quarter 4

Numeracy Project 2.0

Exciting work is being done on the Numeracy Project! The Math Team at Heartland AEA is working to fine tune standard alignment and progressions to make a good tool even better. With a focus on strategies, properties of mathematics, and the progressions of learning, teachers will be equipped with a tool to increase their students' numeracy.

Fun Fact: Did you know that the properties of mathematics are mentioned over 40 times in the K-5 Iowa Core Standards for Mathematics?

If you have previously been trained in the Numeracy Project, your Math Consultant can provide you with a short training to highlight these new changes. If you have not yet been trained in the Numeracy Project, ask your administrator to contact your Math Consultant to schedule a training. With our current pandemic restrictions, trainings will be available virtually, or in a District environment as early as summer 2021.

For those educators who are not familiar with the Numeracy Project, it includes screening, diagnostic and intervention activities plus monitoring for students beginning in grades Kindergarten through eighth grade (and possibly beyond) who have unfinished learning.

Contact your Math Consultant (see below for contact information).

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Mathwhiteboard.com

Are you looking for a good collaborative tool focused on mathematics?

Go to the website Mathwhiteboard.com. Click on:

Teachers and Students then
Create or Join a Whiteboard Now, then
New Whiteboard (at the top.)
A help menu will pop up displaying a variety of math topics that can be created on mathwhiteboard. Clicking out of the pop-up will let you begin your own whiteboard with a link automatically generated for you to share as you wish.

Just a few of the great things mathwhiteboard.com can do:

collaborate
graphing calculator
write or type math
computer algebra system
import pdf files
runs in a browser so no installation required

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Algebra Problem Strings by Pamela Weber Harris and Kara Louise Imm

Looking for new ideas for your middle and/or high school classes? Check out this book on Algebra Problem Strings.

”A problem string is a purposeful sequence of related problems, designed to help students mentally construct mathematical relationships. It is a powerful lesson structure during which teachers and students interact to construct important mathematical strategies, models, and concepts. The power of a problem string lies in the carefully crafted conversation as students solve problems, one at a time, and the teacher models student thinking and draws out important connections and relationships.”

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Coming soon to Creative Services at Heartland AEA

Soon schools will be able to order print copies of the material masters and activities by stage for the Numeracy Project 2.0. Contact your Math Consultant for directions on how you can get these new materials. We anticipate these materials will be ready by end of summer.