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.