Greetings!
The beginning of the school year always brings a combination of anticipation and excitement, whether your first or 20th year of teaching. The new year offers a fresh start; a chance for all educators, regardless of their role or years of experience, to consider how they can improve the teaching and learning of mathematics. This newsletter offers support in this process, highlighting ways in which the Investigations materials, and website are tools for professional development. In particular, the focus is on common beginning-of-the-year topics: establishing routines, developing a mathematical community, and thinking about how to make whole-class discussions effective learning opportunities.
We hope all of you have a successful and productive school year!
Karen Economopoulos and Keith
Cochran
Co-Directors of Investigations
in Number, Data, and Space
Myriam Steinback
Director of Investigations Workshops for
Transforming Mathematics |
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Setting Up the Mathematics Community
As the school year begins, many are thinking hard about how to create supportive and productive learning environments. For teachers, this involves deciding how to set up the classroom and have math tools readily available, and how to establish routines and expectations for math class. Principals and other leaders are thinking about how to best support teachers in this work while also fostering a school- or district-wide community that supports the teaching and learning of mathematics.
Read more about setting up the mathematical community, and download cases that describe teachers' thoughts on this work. These teacher-written cases "provide examples and question to inspire your own questioning and reflection. You may want to use this set of cases on your own or discuss them with a group of colleagues. ... The questions at the end of each case provide a starting point for [such a] discussion." (Implementing Investigations at Grade X, Part 7.)
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Discussing Mathematical Ideas
Whole-class discussions are an important aspect of the Investigations curriculum. These discussions provide students the opportunity to articulate, represent, connect, and consolidate mathematical ideas. In order for classroom discussions to be productive, teachers need to:
- build a mathematical community in which students are prepared to listen actively and contribute ideas
- focus discussions on key mathematical ideas
- encourage the participation of all students
- set up the classroom in way that supports discussion
. . . continue reading about planning for and facilitating productive whole-class mathematical discussions (PDF).
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What's New: Impact Pages
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The section of our website about the impact of Investigations has recently been revised and expanded. These pages provide information about research studies that examine the impact of the first and second editions of the curriculum on student learning. The new pages also describe and link to a recently released study that randomly assigned students to different curricula over a two-year period and found that the 2nd edition had positive effects on student learning.
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News: The Common Core Standards
On June 2, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) released Common Core State Standards for K-12 Mathematics. "These Standards define the knowledge and skills students should have within their K-12 education careers so that they will graduate high school able to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses and in workforce training programs." (corestandards.org/about-the-standards) As of the end of August, 35 states (and DC) had adopted the Common Core Standards. (View a regularly updated map.)
Publishers, curriculum developers, and educators at all levels are now analyzing the standards, reviewing curricula in relation to those standards, and planning for implementation. Investigations staff will be working with Pearson to develop a plan that will help schools and districts use the curriculum to meet the standards in a thoughtful and sensible way. Watch for emails, newsletters, and/or website updates for more information.
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Professional Development
Professional Development Institute
Boston, MA
November 17-19, 2010
Learn More
We are booking 2011. If you are interested in hosting any of our workshops, institutes or customized professional development for your school, contact us.
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Helpful beginning of the year resources:
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The Math at Your
Grade
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, K-5
Teaching a New Unit: Where to Start?
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, K-5
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