Build Math Confidence November 2015 Volume 78

Fall Events

Thurs Nov 19 PD Workshop Rutgers/Piscataway Is That Your Final Answer?

Sat Nov 21 Conference Coordinator ATMNYC Annual Fall Conference NYC

Get Kahoot!!!

Kahoot is an engaging tool for surveying students with any device whether ipad, PC or cell phone. Click here for an example of 5th graders and here to watch a video about Kahoot.

I have been using Kahoot and it is a win-win as students enjoy playing and teachers like getting feedback from students.

How Kahoot Works

Frequently Asked Qs re: Kahoot

I also plan to try another app called Socrative as well as low-tech Plickers which is paper based.

Exit Slip Video from the Teaching Channel

The Nation's Report Card

"The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas" in Grades 4, 8 and 12. The latest report card released in late October shows a small decrease in Math proficiency. The college admissions tests SAT and ACT are also national assessments but only at the high school level their trends SAT and ACT.

NAEP Sample Questions

Try this quiz from NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

From the Washington Post: US Students Decline in Math

Math Anxiety vs Math Confidence

Back in 2003, I chose the web site name Math Confidence to put a positive spin on Math and learning. This NYTimes article begins with "A common impairment with lifelong consequences turns out to be highly contagious between parent and child, a new study shows. The impairment? Math anxiety. Means of transmission? Homework help", near the end it mentions a Mom from Long Island who overcame her Math anxiety and taught herself the Math!

Another New York Times reporter responded to the article with "Math Anxiety: A Reporter Knows the Subject All Too Well"

New Yorker spoof of Math education...not sure it's funny

Psychological Science article on Math anxiety from parents

Math Anxiety Quiz from the New York Times

Brain Teaser

Which is greater, 2^1100 or 3^700?

Bonus: Approximately how many times greater is it (to the nearest 10)?

Answer to last month's brain teaser: 204 squares

Click here for the question and solution to October's Brain Teaser

Thanks, Robin the Math Lady Schwartz

www.mathconfidence.com