Teaching and Learning maths with middle schoolers

"Inside Mathematics provides a resource for educators around the world who struggle to provide the best mathematics instruction they can for their students. Too often, teachers who excel at reaching students have few ways of sharing these strong practices with others - and teachers who struggle, struggle alone. Our classroom doors have remained closed too often and for too long. Inside Mathematics opens those doors: to tested demonstration lessons presented to children and groups of observing teachers; to guided tours of reflective mathematics practice, identifying what makes teaching, learning, and improving instruction in mathematics a difficult enterprise and providing resources for teachers to improve their practice; to mathematics teaching and learning tools and resources to support classroom teachers', math coaches', and administrators' daily practices; and to a professional learning community in which you are invited to open your own classroom door and engage in conversation about your own mathematics teaching and learning. This initiative grew out of the Noyce Foundation's Silicon Valley Mathematics Initiative. SVMI is based on high performance expectations, ongoing professional development, examining student work, and improved math instruction. The initiative includes a formative and summative performance assessment system, pedagogical content coaching, and leadership training and networks. Coaches in SVMI learn strategies of re-engagement with students around mathematics assessments, and demonstration lessons on re-engagement are featured here."

Math Lessons - Looking to understand a subject better, or maybe you don't understand what your textbook is trying to tell you? We have a collection of algebra and geometry lessons that you can view online right now.

Free Fractions Tools. These interactive, visual fractions tools are ideal for teacher-facilitated, whole-class instruction in fractions, "Number Talks" and for parents supporting their students at home. Each math tool is supported by Common Core State Standards alignment, key vocabulary, and IEP goals.

"I got this game off of the ilovemath,org wiki but I had to change some of the problems since we hadn't done all of that yet. It's a review game based on the 'win a fish' carnival game. "

"Calculation Nation® uses the power of the Web to let students challenge opponents from anywhere in the world. At the same time, students are able to challenge themselves by investigating significant mathematical content and practicing fundamental skills. The element of competition adds an extra layer of excitement."

"The New York State Mathematics Test is administered to eighth grade students in early May. Seventh grade students being considered for placement in an accelerated high school program may also be tested. The purpose of this test is to find out which concepts have been mastered in grades 5-8 and which need further development. This is a timed test that is to be administered under standard conditions. The test will be given on two consecutive days and includes multiple choice questions, short response, and extended response questions. "

Get outside and explore geometry (and other math) all around you. A math trail is a walk with various stops where you look at math in the world around you, and ask questions about it.

learned about this game at a Pippin's math conference which I blogged about here. It's sad that that was almost a year ago and I'm just now using it. You can use a regular review worksheet or my personal favorite, a Powerpoint of review problems.

"Wolfram talks about how computers should be used to advance the understanding of math the way it's really used in the real world. Kalman talks about using computers to deliver traditional math instruction and gold stars. Kalman reinforces the "teaching" paradigm; Wolfram blows it up and insists we look critically at what's being taught. Both these talks are about "improving education with technology" - but they couldn't be further apart in world view. But the TED audience applauds them both. This is why conversations about reforming education are difficult."

A great post and comments on two diverse approaches to the use of computers in maths education. Contrary or Complimentary?

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"Students will plot points on a coordinate grid to represent ships before playing a graphing equations game with a partner. Points along the y-axis represent cannons and slopes are chosen randomly to determine the line and equation of attacks. Students will use their math skills and strategy to sink their opponent's ships and win the game. After the game, an algebraic approach to the game is investigated. "

Math for Grownups readers love Math at Work Monday. And here are the top 10 interviews of the year.

These comprehensive math vocabulary lists are based on the Common Core State Math Standards and are organized by grade level. The lists are also organized by the key K12 Common Core math content categories (geometry, measurement & data, etc.). These hundreds of academic vocabulary lists, comprised of thousands of key math terms, can be used with all twenty-five of VocabularySpellingCity's learning activities.