PoWs on the Road

See where we’ve been and where we’re heading. Come meet us at a conference or professional development event near you.

October is a very very busy month for us!

Northwest Mathematics Conference in Bellevue Washington

Max presents: Getting Good at Problem Solving Through Sense Making

The first CCSS Practice is “Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.” But how do students become sense-makers? What can teachers do so that students are making sense of problems for themselves? And what do teachers do that gets in the way? In this hands-on workshop we’ll use different activities to make sense of some interesting math problems.

Suzanne presents: Unsilence Students’ Voices

Picture a classroom. A teacher presents a problem and initiates a discussion. Some students look attentive but are quiet. A few students have hands raised, posed to talk, but at least one or two students seem disengaged. Every classroom has silenced voices. Learn activities to increase CCSSM practices (especially #1 and #3).

NCTM Regional Conference in Baltimore Maryland

Look for us at Booth 112 – Suzanne, Annie, Max, Steve and Erin Igo will all be there, be sure to stop by and say hello!

Suzanne and Erin present: Moving Beyond the Right Answer: Developing Students’ Math Communication Skills

The Math Forum’s rubric emphasizes a combination of good problem solving and strong mathematical communication. We score in six areas, including interpretation, strategy, accuracy, completeness, clarity, and reflection. We’ll share stories from online and classroom exchanges of our efforts to help students develop mathematical communication skills.

Steve presents: Notice and Wonder: Beyond Engagement to Reasoning

The notice-and-wonder approach to problem solving has gained popularity for overcoming student anxiety and for connecting to student thinking. We will look at the activities and developmental progression that show the approach’s value for expert problem solvers and facilitate the connection to strategic planning and higher-order thinking.

Annie presents: “Noticing and Wondering” as a Vehicle to Understanding the Problem

The activity Noticing and Wondering can help all students generate mathematical ideas and make connections among them. It paves the way for developing other problem-solving strategies, supports a classroom culture that gives every student ways contribute mathematically, and promotes the practice of sense making and perseverance.

ATMOPAV Mathematics & Technology Conference in Horsham, Pennsylvania

Annie presents two sessions:

Grades K-5:  Sense Making?  Aren’t We Already Doing That in Literacy?

The very first Mathematical Practice, “make sense of problems”, includes ideas that have long been foci of literacy instruction.  Yet when “math” start, everyone leaves those good habits behind.

Grades 6-12:  Ever Wonder What They’d Notice (If Only Someone Would Ask)?

Sense-making is an important part of math, and a powerful way for teachers to learn what students understand about a problem or situation.  How can “noticing” support this mathematical practice?

December 2013

CMC North Asilomar 2013 in Asilomar California

Annie Fetter presents two sessions:

Strategic Uses of Technology to Promote Conceptual Understanding

Sense Making? Aren’t We Already Doing That in Literacy?

Steve Weimar presents:

Notice & Wonder: Engage in Formative Assessment of Mathematical Thinking

Suzanne Alejandre presents:

Moving Beyond the Right Answer

Max Ray presents:

Becoming Better Reasoners: Supporting Students to Develop as Problem-Solvers

Ongoing:

*Let us help you plan and present a mathematics workshop for the professional development of your teachers. We offer workshops during the school year on professional development days or as weekend sessions. If your school, district, or region is interested in having a Math Forum staff member present a workshop, please complete this form. See our sample agendas from workshops that we’ve presented.