Math Talk

I've added a new tab to the JCS LiveBinder - Math Talk.  Here is a video clip sample - you can find this and other videos under the red Math Talk tab of the JCS Elementary LiveBinder.  There are also articles and other math talk resources there.  Check it out!

Let me know if you have any resources to share...I'll be happy to add them to the LiveBinder, too!

New K-5 Math Resources Linked to the JCS LiveBinder!

Happy Tuesday!  While I was searching for resources to support us in our math continuum development, I stumbled upon the Cleveland County, NC site.  They maintain LiveBinders for each grade level, and I've linked those on our LiveBinder.  To view, go to the JCS Elementary LiveBinder, click on either the K-2 Math Resources or 3-5 Math Resources Red Tab, and then click on your "__ Grade Resources" grey tab. Remember that their Instructional Guides may not be in the same sequence as our Scope and Sequence Documents, but check out the resources under the domain tabs. Happy searching!

Another Opportunity to Award Excellence in Math and Science Teaching

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching 

Alright, y'all...Here's another opportunity to nominate yourself or a colleague.  Winners receive $10,000 (ahem...who couldn't use that?!?), a paid trip for two to Washington, D.C. to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities, and a certificate signed by the President of the United States.   Details follow...

What are the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching?

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 mathematics and science (including computer science) teaching. 

Awards are given to mathematics and science (including computer science) teachers from each of the 50 states and four U.S. jurisdictions and recognize those teachers who develop and implement a high-quality instructional program that is informed by content knowledge and enhances student learning. 

Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science (including computer science) education. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Who is Eligible?

The following are eligibility criteria for nominees. They must:

• Teach mathematics or science (including computer science) at the K-6th grade level in a public or private school.
• Hold at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Be a full-time employee of the school or school district as determined by state and district policies, and teach K-12 students at least 50% of the time.
• Have at least 5 years of full-time, K-12 mathematics or science (including computer science) teaching experience prior to the 2013-2014 academic school year.
• Teach in one of the 50 states or the four U.S. jurisdictions. The jurisdictions are Washington, DC; Puerto Rico; Department of Defense Education Activity schools; and the U.S. territories as a group (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Not have received the PAEMST award at the national level in any prior competition or category.

Nominations are Now Open

The 2014 Awards will honor mathematics and science (including computer science) teachers working in grades K-6. Nominations close on April 1, 2014.

What are you waiting for???  Go to https://www.paemst.org/ to start your application (or nominate a colleague) today! 

TAP Math Websites Closing

TAP Math Participants:

The TAP Math grant is about to "officially" close. The final report goes to DPI for the Department of Education on December 1 and the website will close. Jeane asked me to alert to the TAP Math participants in our district to get anything off the website you need before Thanksgiving.  

The URL for the summer PD materials is:  https://sites.google.com/site/tapmathsummer2012/home

The regular website is:  TAP Math Participants: http://tapmath.mrooms3.net/  

2014 SMT Center Awards

Would you consider nominating yourself or someone else today?  

Each year, the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center offers awards that recognize individuals and organizations whose extraordinary contributions to science, mathematics, and technology education in North Carolina are helping to advance education in NC.  Categories include K-8 teacher, 9-16 teacher, informal educator, administrator, student leadership as well as awards that recognize businesses and organizations that support STEM education.  Educator and student award recipients receive $1,000.  Recipients of the awards are honored in the spring at the Celebration of Science, Mathematics, and Technology.  View http://ncsmt.org/awards/overview/ for more information and to see videos of last year's winners.   Deadline to nominate is December 1.

To nominate, apply or for more details, visit: http://ncsmt.org/prog.awards.html. 

For more information, contact:

Lisa Rhoades

Program Associate

NC Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center  (SMT Center)

21 T.W. Alexander Drive

PO Box 13901

Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

919-991-5111

919-667-8864 - mobile

lrhoades@bwfund.org

www.ncsmt.org

NCDPI Elementary Webinar

Attention Elementary Teachers! 

Check out the upcoming webinar from NCDPI...

Computational Fluency, Algorithms, and Mathematical Proficiency

Learn what the experts say!

Join the DPI Elementary Mathematics Webinar on 

November 7 at 3:30 – 4:30

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/724745569

For more information, contact:  Susan Hart Program Assistant V K-12 Mathematics 919-807-3846

What the heck is a trajectory?

Attention all life long learners (and math nerds like me)!  Want to learn more about the mathematics behind the Common Core State Standards?  Join me and enroll in this online course to learn more about Learning Trajectories and how equipartitioning in elementary grades builds a foundation for rational number reasoning.  It'll be fun!  Details listed below.

Registration is now open for the next Mathematics Learning Trajectory (MLT) MOOC-Ed (Massive Open Online Course for Educators)!  Running from October 7 through November 25, the seven-week course is designed as professional development for anyone involved in mathematics education and in implementing the K–8 Common Core Math Standards at the classroom, school, or district level. The first course, “The Equipartitioning Learning Trajectory: a K-5 Foundation for Rational Number Reasoning,” examines how equipartitioning, grounded in fair sharing activities that create equal-sized groups or parts, provides a robust foundation for students’ conceptual understanding of division, multiplication, fraction, and ratio.

To register, go to:https://courses.mooc-ed.org/EquipartitioningF13/preview

Oh, and to see some really cool things about trajectories in the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, visit http://turnonccmath.net/.

Let's Talk Assessment for a Minute

Can you really just spend one minute discussing assessment?  Here are the highlights and what's newly available...

Want to know how the CCSS and the MAP DesCartes continuum align?  
Need help figuring out how to use MAP data with the CCSS?  The newly revised Johnston County Scope and Sequence documents list the DesCartes Goal and Sub-goal underneath each standard!  Visit the Johnston County Live Binders to download the latest version of these documents.

NCDPI, in conjunction with UNCC and Southwest Education Alliance, announce newly released Common Core Online Math Assessment Modules.  
If you are a K-2 or 9-12 teacher or coach interested in participating in an online module that focuses on Common Core Assessment in Mathematics, you may want to check out the webinar at  http://maccss.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/Webinars  The course is sponsored by UNC Charlotte College of Education and the Southwest Education Alliance and take approximately 10 hours per module to complete.  They envision these modules being used by math leaders at schools with groups of teachers during professional development (or Professional Learning Community) time.  To register for the course, contact Michelle Stephan at michelle.stephan@uncc.edu for more information.

K-2 Teachers

• We've got an opportunity to give feedback on the NCDPI K-2 Mid-year and Summative Assessments.  Let me know if you're interested in participating.  Now's the time for your input!

• NCDPI has an awesome webinar on the appropriate use of Calendar Time and it's place as we've transitioned into the Common Core.  This would be a great webinar for your Professional Learning Community to participate in together.  Check it out!  http://maccss.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/Webinars

What I'm Doing Today

I've been attending some of the "Reinvention Convention" technology courses that our instructional technology folks are offering.  I highly recommend them if you're looking for a quick and very informative session - they're great!  I created this blog in one of their sessions, and today I'm working on the layout and am adding resources to make the blog more useful.

This afternoon I'm in the office alone (which NEVER happens!), and am also working on creating a Math Framework for us, which includes a structure for mathematics class time.  It's way too quiet in here (even with music playing), and I need some feedback.  I'd love to hear your thoughts about what you consider  critical components of a math block, and how to structure a 50, 60, and/or 90 minute class so that learning is optimized.  Leave a comment below!

Let's Get This Party Started!

Welcome!

I figure if you're reading this, you've probably met me (maybe in some type of professional development) or you happened to stumble upon this blog (perhaps you Googled math blogs, for whatever reason).  If you don't know me, you can read my profile and see that I am employed as a Curriculum, Instruction, and Accountability Specialist in the Johnston County School System.  Unfortunately, it's not always possible for me to share current information with the teachers in my district face-to-face, so this is my attempt to disseminate information and share resources.  The main focus will be on math, but there will be posts about other educational topics from time to time.

I've added some grade-specific pages at the top, so you can click on the page that applies to your grade band for the latest updates from me.

Want to know when a new post is added?  Enter your email address where it says "Follow By Email" in the top right of the screen, and you will receive an email when this blog is updated.