Developing Developing MathematiciansMathematiciansWalnut Creek School District Walnut Creek School District

Presented ByMichele BlankLisa Cheney Joy Inouye

At Murwood…At Murwood…SVMI Coaching Institute August

2011

Professional Development◦SVMI Monthly Professional Development ◦Staff Meetings

Number Talks Problem of the Month

◦Collaboration MARS Tasks

Staff Book Study◦Good Questions for Math Teaching:

Why Ask Them and What to Ask, K-6

◦Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics

Volume One (k-3) & Volume Two (3-5)

◦Number Talks: Helping Children Build Mental Math and Computation Strategies

Number TalksNumber Talks

“Helping children build mental math and computation strategies”

Introduced to teachers over the course of three months and five staff meetings.

Number TalksNumber TalksAt the first staff meeting

1. Teachers were shown a video clip: Talking About Number Talks. Why Number Talks?

2. Next teachers were divided into two groups by grade level, K-2 and 3-5.

3. In grade level groups they were shown a video of a grade level specific Number Talk.

4. An SVMI participant teacher modeled a Number Talk.

5. Teachers planned a Number Talk

Number TalksNumber TalksAt the second staff meeting

1. Teachers shared a number talk they had tried in their classroom.

2. Teachers were given a chance to ask questions or get clarifications.

3. A handout was given summarizing Number Talks.

Number TalksNumber TalksDistrict Collaboration

◦A Number Talk was modeled during this district staff development session. Teachers were encouraged to try a Number Talk.

At the third staff meeting teachers in grade level groups shared Number Talks they had tried.

Number TalksNumber Talks At the fourth staff meeting we

followed the format in Number Talks Chapter 9 for a school wide perspective.

1. Teachers watched Number Talk video clips showing Number Talks in different grade levels.

2. Following the video clips the staff discussed content and strategies observed in the Number Talks.

Number TalksNumber TalksAt the fifth staff meeting we

continued to look at Number Talks from a school wide perspective.1. Teachers watched video clips.2. The video clips were discussed.3. Teachers worked in cross grade

level teams to write a sequence of Number Talks building on strategies from grade level to grade level.

4. The Number Talk sequences were shared with the entire group.

Problem of the MonthProblem of the Month

Helping children persevere to solve non-routine problems

Introduced to teachers over the course of three months and five staff meetings.

Problem of the MonthProblem of the MonthAt the first staff meeting

everyone was given a POM to solve.

1. Teachers worked on the POM in grade level groups and shared strategies for solving the levels.

2. Ideas for trying the POM in the classroom were shared by SVMI participants.

Problem of the MonthProblem of the MonthAt the second staff meeting the

teachers worked on another POM in cross grade level groups.1. Teachers were shown a power point

with the protocol for doing the POM and guidelines for creating status and explanation posters.

2. Teachers worked in their groups to create status posters.

3. Teachers were encouraged to try one of the two POM’s they had worked on in their classroom.

Problem of the MonthProblem of the MonthAt the third staff meeting

1. Teachers brought status posters that their students had created.

2. The staff did a gallery walk and discussed the strategies they saw students using.

Problem of the MonthProblem of the MonthPlanning of the School Wide POM

1. The school leadership team met and planned the event.

2. A reflection sheet for students to use was designed with the following questions: Record the strategies and solutions that you see.

What can you learn from the other groups’ work?

Find a strategy you want to try next time.

Problem of the MonthProblem of the MonthAt the fourth staff meeting

preparations began for the school wide POM.1. Teachers were given the POM

selected to solve. 2. Ideas for using the POM in the

classroom were shared.

Problem of the MonthProblem of the MonthAt the fifth staff meeting the

preparations for the school wide POM continued.1. The plans for the big event were

shared. 2. Teachers were given a list of suggested

strategies to prepare their students for the event.

3. Teachers were also given a schedule for viewing the status posters displayed in the hallway on the day of the event.