Ask Dr. Math^®

T2T^®

Stories From My Classroom: Using Powerful Problems to Build Mathematical Reasoning

1:30 - 2:30 Thursday, November 8
    Bushra Makiya, CIS 303: The Leadership and Community Service Academy, NY
    Suzanne Alejandre, The Math Forum, Philadelphia, PA

How can we take advantage of the Common Core SMPs to help students build, develop, and explain their reasoning strategies? Sample problems will be shared.

Powerpoint from session:
    download PPT: session33.ppt
    download PDF: session33.pdf

Introductions

 

Common Core State Standards

students engage in much higher level problem solving

SMPs are the heart of the Common Core

our activities should move towards working thoroughly with SMPs

 

In my classroom:

started experimenting

school-wide initiative

deeper problem solving

 

Process:

read problems together

whole-class discussion

work together: pairs or groups of 3

individual write-up

class presentations

 

Scholar's Challange A: Math Forum PoW: Falling Leaves

problem [pdf]

scenario [pdf]

rubric [pdf]

packet [pdf]

 

Student Samples: Write-up

What I Know

What I Need to Know

Process and Thinking

Solution

 

Rubrics

Bushra's Scholars' Challenge Rubric: Word document

The Math Forum PoW Rubrics: HTML - PDF files can be freely downloaded for Primary through Trig/Calc.

 

Student Presentations

https://vimeo.com/29610959

 

Scholar's Challange B: Math Forum PoW: Peeling Potatoes

problem [pdf]

scenario [pdf]

rubric [pdf]

packet [pdf]

 

Scholar's Challange 13: Math Forum PoW: The Complex Apartment Complex

problem [pdf]

solution and commentary [pdf]

 

Additional Resources

Math for America [HTML]

 

Blog: Suzanne at the Math Forum [HTML]

Blog: Middle School Mathematical Practices [HTML]

 

Annie Fetter: Ever Wonder What They'd Notice? [Ignite! Talk]

Max Ray: Why 2 > 4: A Proof by Induction [Ignite! Talk]

 

How to Start Problem Solving in Your Classroom PDF]

Problem Solving-It Has to Begin with Noticing and Wondering [PDF]

Unsilence Students' Voices [PDF]

Think You Don't Have Time to Use the PoWs? [PDF]

Writing to Develop Understanding: The Math Forum @ Drexel's PoWs [PDF]

 

Free Online Resources at the Math Forum [PDF]

 

Opportunity

DrexelNOW article: NSF Awards $2.2 Million to Project Studying Community-Based Professional Development for Math Teachers

EnCoMPASS: Emerging Communities for Mathematical Practices and Assessment