Building Teacher Pedagogic Content Knowledge
Through Problem Solving
presented by Suzanne Alejandre & Cynthia Lanius

National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM)
Math Leaders Catch the Spirit in St. Louis

Session 32 in St. Louis, Missouri
Monday, April 24, 2006, from 10:20 pm to 11:20 pm
Room F (capacity: 120)

Introduction

Why use problem solving to develop teacher math content knowledge?

What does research say?

How does problem solving provide access to student understanding?

What is a teacher's role in problem solving?

 

Problems of the Week

What are they?

 

Professional Development Examples

Pre-service Education

    Online Mentoring Project

 

Alternative Certification Program

    Transition to Teaching

 

Inservice Education

    School District of Philadelphia

    Temple Partnership

    Trenton MATRIX grant: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School

    Camden County MATRIX grant: Laurel Springs, Magnolia, Somerdale Park, Yellin

 

Let's Do Math

Congruent Rectangles

 

Work the problem

Samples of student work - what does the work tell us about student understanding?

What does the student seem to know? What does the student seem not to know yet?

Sample analysis of student work

 

Assessing Student Work

Rubric

PoW Scoring Grid

 

Resources to Browse with Internet Access:

NSDL Online Math Workshop: Algebraic Reasoning
http://mathforum.org/nsdl_mathtech/
Interested in learning more about our new (free) online math course focusing on algebraic reasoning?

 

Trial Class Account:
http://mathforum.org/products/
Free 21 day access to Current Problems of the Week and the Active Problem Library.

 

List of Technology Problems of the Week (free access)
http://mathforum.org/tpow/
Technology Problems of the Week (tPoWs) are problem-solving challenges modeled on our Problems of the Week that take advantage of interactive mathematics tools such as Java applets, Geometer's Sketchpad, Fathom, or spreadsheets. Students are invited to use the link "Submit your answer" to share their solutions, and then "self-mentor" using specially designed hints, checks, and suggestions for extensions.