Happy New Year, from the staff of Investigations!
The coming of a new year provides an opportunity to reflect on the mathematics teaching and learning that's happening in your class, school, or district. We often hear from people concerned about engaging the wide range of learners in their classrooms--students who struggle with or excel in certain areas of mathematics, students with particular learning needs, and students who are English language learners, to name only a few. This newsletter describes the features of the curriculum that support teachers in this work, as well as other critical factors in modifying the curriculum with integrity. It also shares resources that can be used to explore this topic individually or in groups. We hope it helps further discussions about supporting the wide ranger of learners in your classrooms.
Also look for information about Investigations and the Common Core State Standards.
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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Supporting the Range of Learners
Engaging the range of learners in understanding mathematics was one of six goals that guided the development of Investigations. Because of this goal, a variety of features were included in the curriculum, aimed at supporting teachers in this work. This support appears at every level:
- The Session level (Differentiation: Supporting the Range of Learners),
- The Unit level (Differentiation in This Unit),
- The Grade level (Working with the Range of Learners: Classroom Cases), and
- The Curriculum level (Teacher Note: Racial and Linguistic Diversity in the Classroom),
Because the field-testing of Investigations involved documentation of thousands of hours in classrooms, observations of students, input from teachers, and analysis of student work, the curriculum reflects the needs of real students and teachers. However, teachers are active partners in implementing the curriculum in a way that accommodates the needs of their particular students. Doing this well requires that teachers:
- Know the curriculum.
- Know the mathematics.
- Know the students.
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Resources for Differentiation
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Differentiation and Intervention Guide for Investigations
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My Kids Can: Making Math Accessible to All Learners, K-5, (Edited by Judy Storeygard, TERC)
A compilation of essays written by classroom teachers, this guide is designed to help elementary teachers make math accessible for all students. There is a particular focus on instructional strategies that help students struggling with math advance toward grade-level competency. A DVD of video clips offers illustrations of these techniques, and includes reflections from the teachers
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The Common Core State Standards
The authors of Investigations are developing materials to support teachers and schools that use Investigations to implement the Core Standards. These companion materials will be available from Pearson for use in 2011-2012. Learn more about Investigations and the Common Core Standards. |
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Investigations for the Interactive Whiteboard
Materials for the interactive whiteboard are now available, providing support for every Session of the Investigations, K-5! Learn more about this product. View an informational video and download a sample session at each grade.
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| We are currently scheduling Summer 2011 Investigations Workshops. If you are interested in hosting a workshop, or in bringing customized professional development days to your school or district, contact us. |
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