Math - Camera - Action!

Hey Middle School Math Teachers...have you heard about the MathCounts Video Challenge?  The Math Video Challenge empowers students to work together to take their math and problem-solving skills to the next level with a creative video project.  Students work together in teams of 4 to create a video that explains the solution to a MATHCOUNTS problem and demonstrates a real-world application of the mathematics in the problem.  This project integrates art, writing, mathematics, acting and technology, and allows students to have fun while learning content.    Click the photo below to view last year's winning video, and click here to see previous winners.

Ready to get started?  Click the image below!

Need more motivation?  There are prizes, and it's free to enter!

Thoughts On The Journey

I met Karen Economopoulos just before we began our district-wide journey toward conceptual math via Investigations at a TERC reception during an NCTM conference. (Thanks, Dr. Maria Blanton for scoring the JoCo attendees an invite!!)   We talked and laughed about the candy bar, drink tickets, and our accents, and she was so supportive as she brainstormed with me about our implementation plan.  She listened to my worries and wonderings about starting with the 2nd edition vs. delaying implementation to wait for the 3rd edition.  She encouraged me to "just get started."


Now, as our district is a little further along that journey toward conceptual mathematics education, I'm a little worn down by the sheer enormousness of it all...but the bumps and bruises are FAR outnumbered by the renewed excitement some teachers express about teaching mathematics; by the  amazing conversations happening in our math professional learning communities and throughout classrooms around the district.  I KNOW this was a step (or push, in some cases) in the right direction for us, even though it's not been easy.  We've all got a few scars to show for our hard work, but through it all, we've learned that we can do hard things.

As I read Karen's words in this blog post this morning, I am reminded why we started this journey in the first place.  That it's not about new and flashy mathematics at all.  It's about doing what's right.  It's about helping everyone (teachers, students, parents, community stakeholders) understand that mathematics is about a creative way of thinking and that it ought to make sense.

We were so excited to attend the NCTM "Investigations Sneak Peek Session!"
That's another of my edu-heroes, Amanda Gosek, pictured with Karen.
Amanda is amazing and deserves her own series of blog posts (stay tuned)!

I can't wait to see Karen again at the NCCTM State Conference in November!!  Join me (I'll be near the middle, on the end!) and we'll eat popcorn and learn together!  (Note to the program committee... please don't put my session opposite hers!!)

Week of Inspirational Math Challenge

How do we help students develop growth mindsets toward mathematics?  Check out this video, created by Sarah Holmes and Christen VanNewkirk, two of our Johnston County Public School high school math teachers, and their students.  

Will you accept their challenge and give it a try?  
Let us know how it goes!

For more information, visit Jo Boaler's Week of Inspirational Math at YouCubed.org. 

Blog 2.0!

Welcome!  I'm so glad you decided to check out this blog!  I'm excited about the possibilities of using this tool to share ideas and showcase the wonderful things happening in math classrooms across the Johnston County Public School District.  This is actually my second attempt to blog about math in Johnston.  I'm giving it another shot after stepping away from it for a couple of years, and I'm excited to share and learn with you!

Exciting Math Professional Development Opportunity

Jo Boaler is coming to North Carolina! 

NCCTM  Spring  Leadership  Seminar
Friday, March 27, 2015

The Mindset Revolution:  Teaching Mathematics for a Growth Mindset

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jo Boaler

Marriott Greensboro Airport Hotel
9:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Dr. Boaler’s keynote address will focus on what it means to teach math for a growth mindset. She will work with participants on different mathematics tasks, different forms of assessment and grading, grouping arrangements, encouragement and praise, and many other aspects of mathematics teaching, through the use of classroom videos and math tasks. There will also be four afternoon break-out sessions (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12), facilitated by the Department of Public Instruction Mathematics Consultants.

Have you registered yet?  It's sure to fill up fast, so register today!  Click here to register.

Check out this video as she shares the Good and Bad of Mathematics Education:

What Do I Need to Know About the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics?

There's a lot of misinformation out there regarding the Common Core State Standards for Math.  Want to know more about the CCSS?  How they were developed?  Which states adopted them?  Why is there a need to revise the old standards?  

1).  Click on the image below and check out this three-minute video, posted on the CCSS website:

2.)  Watch this 15 Minute Video Alan Maloney and Jere Confrey from the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation explain what we need to know about the CCSS.

3.)  Check out these resources from the National PTA 

3-5 Games have been posted to the Mathematics Wiki

http://maccss.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/Elementary 
Click on the grade level (3-5).  
Then scroll down and look for the link " Building Conceptual Understanding and Fluency Through Games"

Building Conceptual Understanding and Fluency Through Games

These games are aligned to The Common Core State Standards. The intent of this document is to provide students with an opportunity to develop conceptual understanding and computational proficiency.  Please feel free to adapt, tweak, or modify the games to meet the needs of your learners! K-2 Games coming soon!

Please send feedback:

Kitty Rutherford  kitty.rutherford@dpi.nc.gov  or

Denise Shculzdenise.schulz@dpi.nc.gov .