Table Talk : Table Talk Introduce yourself
Discuss a project you assigned this year that was very successful.
Strategies to Upgrade Mathematics in the Middle School : Strategies to Upgrade Mathematics in the Middle School Rhenida Rennie
Making Middle Grades Work/ High Schools That Work
Ohio School Improvement Institute
Starter: Think- Then Do. Take a Regular Piece of Paper – Roll into a Cylinder. : Starter: Think- Then Do. Take a Regular Piece of Paper – Roll into a Cylinder. Which cylinder has greater volume?
One rolled lengthwise
One rolled widthwise
Which cylinder will take the most decorative paper to cover?
Lengthwise
Widthwise
Slide4 : "As for the future, your task is not to foresee it, but to enable it."
Education Trust, 2000: All 21st Century Graduates -- Mathematics required: Calculus.
Table Talk: What is… : Table Talk: What is… Your Schools’ Grade level Mathematics Curriculum?
The % of 8th Graders completing Algebra I at your school?
The % of 8th Graders Passing the state test?
Mathematics : Building : Mathematics : Building Arithmetic – Foundation Algebra I – Floor
Middle School:
Minimum – Foundation Firmly Set
Preferable – Solid Floor
Recommended Practices : Recommended Practices Qualified Teachers
Math Certified & Effective Instructional Strategist
The Teacher Center
Your SREB-State Online Resource
MIDDLE GRADES MATHEMATICS SERIES
Probablility and Statistsics
Geometry
Instructional Strategies
2. Strong Curriculum : 2. Strong Curriculum National Standards – NCTM & TIMSS
State Standards
SREB – Getting Ready Series, Algebra Readiness Indicators: 5 Process & 12 Content
District Leadership in Aligning and Revising Curriculum
Teachers map/pace curriculum
3. Engaging Instruction : 3. Engaging Instruction Standards-based, Collaboratively Planned Units and Lessons
Student Centered Strategies
Numeracy Across the School – Tables, Charts, Graphs, Statistics, Predictions, Estimations ……..
Technology use
4. Focus on Application – Real World Problems : 4. Focus on Application – Real World Problems Teacher generated
Students submit
Business/Community
Technology Problems : Technology Problems A woman called the help desk with a problem with her printer. The tech asked her if she was “running it under Windows.” The woman responded, “No. My desk is near the door. But that’s a good point. The man sitting in the cubicle next to me is under a window and his is working just fine.”
Technology Problems : Technology Problems Tech Support: “OK, Bob, let’s press the control and escape key at the same time. That brings up a task list in the middle of the screen. Now type the letter “P” to bring up the program manager.”
Bob: “I don’t have a P.”
Tech: “On your keyboard, Bob.”
Bob: “What do you mean?”
Tech: “P on your keyboard.”
Bob: “I’m not going to do that!”
Slide13 : “Can you copy the internet for me onto this diskette?”
“Hello, Is this the internet?”
“So this will get me connected to the internet, right?” “Yeah” “ And that’s the latest version of the internet, right?”
“My computer crashed!” “It crashed?” “Yeah, it won’t let me play my game.” “All right then,hit Control-Alt-Delete to reboot it.” “No, it didn’t crash – it crashed!” “Hunh?” “I crashed my game. That’s what I said before! I crashed the spaceship, and now it doesn’t work.” “Click on ‘File’, then ‘New Game’.” “Wow! How’d you learn how to do that?”
Real World Example : Real World Example Car dealers use the "rule of thumb" that a car loses about 30% of its value each year.
Suppose that you bought a new car in December for $20,000. According to this "rule of thumb," what would the car be worth in December the next year?
In December two years later?
In December five years later?
Develop a general formula for the value of the car x years after purchase.
Real World Example : Real World Example Two trees are similar in shape, but one is three times as tall as the other.
If the smaller tree weighs two tons, how much would you expect the larger tree to weigh?
Suppose that the bark from these trees is broken up and placed into bags for landscaping uses. If the bark from these trees is the same thickness on the smaller tree as the larger tree, and if the larger tree yields 540 bags of bark, how many bags would you expect to get from the smaller tree?
5. Create Climate of High Expectations : 5. Create Climate of High Expectations Bell-to-bell instruction
Focus on A and B level work only
Homework Policy
Projects
Student study teams and group work
Teacher Encouragement
Slide17 : 6. Support – Extra Help
Tutoring - Before/After School
Study Teams
Double Dose
Summer School
Blackman Middle – 6 week full day for 7th & 8th Grades
Fail ANY academic course: Required
Fail any course for a grading period or recommended by teacher as at-risk of failure: Encouraged
Eight 45-minute Periods: Tech-based reading, Reading, English, Math, Hands-on science, Careers, Survival, Pers. Sk.
Pre-tests/ Post-tests: Rd gain Avg = 1.5 Grade Level
7th Pre-Algebra = +9
8th Algebra 1 = + 10
Rewards: Career-based Field trips, themed lunches, T-shirt
1…..2……..3……….. : 1…..2……..3……….. 1 Action the District should/can take to support a more rigorous Middle Grades Mathematics Curriculum
2 Actions the School should take to improve student learning in mathematics
3 Actions I will personally take to improve studetn learning in mathematics