Interior Math

Conference

February 19, 2016 - Vernon, BC

Vernon Secondary - 2100 - 15th St

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BC Association of

Mathematics Teachers

Time Activities

8:30 Registration

9:00 Keynote Address: Cathy Bruce and Tara Flynn

10:00 Break - Exhibitor Displays

10:30 -

12:00 Break Out Session:

The Importance of Spatial Reasoning

for Young Children

Cathy Bruce/Tara Flynn

Exploring

Gr. 6 - 9 Curriculum w/

Hands-On Activities

Susan Ward

Building

Thinking

Classrooms

Gr. 7 - 12

Amanda Russet

Lego Robotics in

Math

Gr. 4 - 7

Brendan

Robertson

Apps for Math

and more

K - 12

Mike Haworth

12:00 Lunch

12:50-

1:55 Demonstration &

Presentation

Colleen

Lindsay

Place Value 101

Grades 1 - 3

Stacey Anderson/

Christine Trickey

Incorporating Aboriginal

Content into the Math

Curriculum Grades 4 - 9

Dmitri Zebroff

Thinking

Classrooms

K - 8

Dean Rowland

Talking, Writing and Discussing

in Math

6—12

Val Edgell

Breaking-in

to Break Out

K - 12

Corinne

McWhinney

Creating a

Culture of

Thinking in a

Math

Classroom

Through the

Lens of the

New

Curriculum

Lindsey

Schroeder

K - 7 and

beyond!

2:00 –

3:00 Demonstration &

Presentation

Colleen

Lindsay

Guided-Math in the Primary Classroom

Christina Calado/ Angie Rivard

The Progression of Fractions Grades 3 - 7

Diana Huddart/

Lisa Quiring

What’s the Problem with

Math? A PBL Approach

Grades 4 - 8

Paul Britton

Tangram

Puzzles: Expand

Your Spatial

Awareness

Grades 2 - 4

Candice

McMahon

Using Lego

Robotics to

Teach Math

Grades 8 - 12

Josh Vance

Problem First

Gr. 7 - 12

Ryan

Thompson

Schedule

Cathy Bruce is an Associate Professor at the Trent University

School of Education and Professional Learning. Cathy is a co-

Principal Investigator of the Math for Young Children (M4YC)

project. She won a SSHRC Award in 2013 to continue this

research into early mathematics and young children’s spatial

reasoning. A former teacher, Cathy has been studying teaching

and learning for 25 years. She teaches mathematics methods

courses at Trent where she brings her passion for mathematics

teaching and learning to teacher candidates. In 2012–2013, Cathy was honoured to receive the

prestigious Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) teaching award.

Additionally, she received the 2015 International Eduardo Flores Leadership Award for her

contributions to action research locally, nationally, and internationally. Key areas of research

include teacher and student efficacy, the effectiveness of alternative models of professional

learning for teachers, the use of technology in the mathematics classroom, as well as teaching

and learning in the difficult-to-learn areas of fractions and algebra. Her awesome family of

boys keeps her on her toes.

Tara Flynn is an educator, author, and editor who has

worked with Dr. Cathy Bruce in the fascinating world of

mathematics education research since 2007. As Project

Manager and Research Officer, Tara has worked with

countless dedicated and innovative educators, and has been

an integral member of the Math for Young Children (M4YC)

team since the project’s inception. She has co-authored

several publications on young children’s spatial reasoning and

has presented widely on this topic. As an editor, Tara cut her teeth at Alternatives Journal,

and more recently has edited numerous teacher resources in mathematics education. She

is the awestruck mother of a 20-year-old son.

Keynote Address

All sessions will be filled on a first-come basis. There is no pre-registration for sessions.

Keynote: 9:00 – 10:00

What is spatial reasoning and why is it important? New developments in Education

When you use a map, do you rotate the map to match your orientation or do you orient the

‘north’ of the map to polar north? Are you attracted to symmetrical designs? Have you ever

tried to teach really young children to code? Do some of your high school students use spatial

reasoning when they work with linear equations? In this keynote presentation, Dr. Cathy Bruce

will share her research on spatial reasoning and its role in mathematics learning. She will

engage participants in considering what we mean by spatial reasoning, why it is important and

how we can spatialize mathematics to support student understanding. Be prepared to do

some math!

10:30 – 12:00

Break Out Session: VSS Theater

The Importance of Spatial Reasoning for Young Children:

Practical Strategies for K-2 Teachers (and Beyond)

Catherine D. Bruce, Associate Professor, Trent University

Tara Flynn, Project Manager and Research Officer, Trent University

In this session, participants will be encouraged to try a range of playful spatial reasoning tasks

that have been co-generated by teachers and researchers, and field- tested in Canadian

classrooms with hundreds of children and their teachers. The significance of these tasks will be

discussed and linked to video of children. Discussion on the implications for teaching geometry,

spatial reasoning and mathematics overall will be encouraged in this interactive session.

Session Descriptions

10:30 – 12:00

Exploring the Grade 6 – 9 Curriculum with Hands-On

Activities

Susan Ward, Spectrum Educational Resource Representative

In this session Teachers will work in small groups with manipulatives to explore

some of the content in the new curriculum as it relates to the Big Ideas and the

Core Competencies. Participants will leave with a collection of free manipulatives

and instructions for several activities that are ready for classroom use.

Lego Robotics and Math: Grades 4 – 7

Brendan Robertson, Vernon

Few tools generate as much excitement in the classroom as those that enable

students to truly take charge of their own learning. With LEGO® Education WeDo,

students don't just know, they do. Designed for children grades 2-7, WeDo is a

learning solution that brings together technology, curriculum and hands-on work.

Working in pairs, you will experience how students can create moving models to

explore Math concepts and problem-solving abilities.

Building Thinking Classrooms: Grades 7 – 12

Amanda Russett, Kamloops

Problem-based learning is an effective teaching strategy to help students learn;

however, just asking students to solve problems does not ensure they are learning

or thinking about the mathematics. In this presentation, teachers will experience

strategies based on the research of Dr. Peter Liljedahl that can easily and quickly be

implemented in classrooms to create a culture of problem solving.

Apps for Math and More

Mike Haworth, Revelstoke

With over 1.5 million apps in the Apple App store, the question is often not, "is

there an app for that?", but rather, "what is the best app for that?" During this

presentation, a range of different app suggestions for use with mathematics and

for use in classroom communication and digital storytelling using Apple iOS devices

such as iPads will be presented for use by individuals, small groups, and large

groups. In addition, discussion of app selection and technology integration criteria

will be presented. You may want to bring your own device to this session!

12:50 – 1:55

Demonstration and Presentation

Colleen Lindsay

What do students with Math Disabilities require? This session will give insight into

what leads to a Math Learning Disability and what teachers can do to support

these students. Current research and best practices will be shared.

Building Thinking Classrooms: K – 8

Dean Rowland, Okanagan Falls

After working closely with Peter Liljedhal in our district this fall, this presentation

will demonstrate the 3 main pillars of his approach to delivering Math curriculum

while building Thinking Classrooms: Use vertical non-permanent surfaces in class,

use random groupings to create working groups, and use good tasks.

Place Value 101: Grades 1 - 3

Stacey Anderson and Christine Trickey, Vernon

Beginning teachers will be shown how to introduce and teach the concept of

PLACE VALUE. We will help you to organize and facilitate stations, games and

Guided-Math groups. There will be hands-on activities and games that we will

share with you to use with your class! We will also give ideas on how to assess your

students. This will be an informative session that you won't want to miss!

Talking, Writing and Discussing in Math: Grades 6 - 12

Val Edgell, Shuswap

How can we increase our students’ ability to reason, think and use their

understanding of math to make sense of the world? We will experience an activity

that I’ve used successfully from grade 6 through to adult learners to increase

verbalizing and explanation of math concepts. When you can write, talk and

explain your mathematical thinking, you’ve got it!

Breaking-In to Break Out: K - 12

Corinne McWhinney

Breakout EDU creates ultra-engaging learning games for people of all ages. Games

(Breakouts) teach teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, and

troubleshooting by presenting participants with challenges that ignite their natural

drive to problem-solve.

K-12 Breakouts can be used to teach core academic subjects including math,

science, social studies, language arts and more that apply problem solving

strategies within a real world OR collaborative context.

Incorporating Aboriginal Content into the Mathematics

Curriculum: Grades 4 - 9

Dmitri Zebroff

Creating a Culture of Thinking in a Math Classroom

Through the Lens of the New Curriculum: 2-hour session

Lindsey Schroeder, Kelowna

This will be a two-hour interactive session that explores ways to incorporate the

Critical Thinking and the Creative Thinking Competencies into the everyday culture

of our math classes. Teachers will leave with strategies, thinking routines, and

formative assessment ideas to take back to their classrooms.

This session is open to all teachers, but will be more focused on examples from

primary and intermediate classrooms.

2:00 – 3:00

Guided-Math in the Primary Classroom

Christina Calado and Angie Rivard, Vernon

Christina and Angie have been running a Guided Numeracy program between their

Grade Two classes for two years now. They have used assessments to identify and

group students from both classrooms based-on students’ needs and

misconceptions. Examples on what Guided Math looks like in the classroom, how

to set up and run a program, and ways to differentiate will be explored.

Demonstration and Presentation

Colleen Lindsay, Vernon School District and UBCO

What do students with Math Disabilities require? This session will give insight into

what leads to a Math Learning Disability and what teachers can do to support

these students. Current research and best practices will be shared.

What's the Problem with Math?: A New Way to Look at

Math Using a PBL Approach – Grades 4 - 8

Paul Britton, Vernon

Participants will explore the conventions of problem solving and how they could be

manipulated to create a rich application for math. Through starting with a

competency-based approach, participants will see how to take existing practice

and add a twist to unlock the reluctant learner.

The Progression of Fractions from Grades 3-7

-A Wholistic Approach to Teaching Fractions.

Diana Huddart and Lisa Quiring, Vernon

Participants will be given a package that, includes manipulative ideas, that will help

with the introduction and teaching of fractions. We will include ways to connect

fractions, decimals and percent.

Problem First: 7 – 12

Ryan Thompson, Vernon

Ryan will discuss his experience in making the switch from “instruction

problems” to “problem instruction.” Participants will experience a problem first

approach, have a discussion and then work on developing a lesson relevant to their

grade level embracing this structure.

Tangram Puzzles: : Come Expand Your Spatial Awareness

Target group - Gr. 2-4 teachers.

Candice McMahon, Vernon

This 7-piece set of shapes is an ancient Chinese puzzle game. The manipulation of

these tangrams uniquely fosters the development of spatial reasoning. Come

prepared to play!

Using Lego Robotics to Teach Math: Grades 8 - 12

Josh Vance, Vernon

Lego's EV3 is an ideal platform for exploring mathematical problems and making

abstract concepts tangible and concrete. It lifts math from the pages of a book to a

challenge that can be touched and solved through hands-on experience.

* With EV3 you can cover math curriculum areas such as:

* Proportional relationships.

* Equations and inequalities.

* Defining, evaluating, and comparing functions.

* Rounding numbers and measures to approximate answers.

* Understanding angle measure, area, surface area, and volume.

* Understanding and analyzing ratio concepts and developing solutions from there.

* Applying and extending previous understandings of arithmetic to algebraic

expressions.

* Estimating numbers, measures, and approximate answers, including using these

to check other calculation methods.

Plus much more!

Creating a Culture of Thinking in a Math Classroom

Through the Lens of the New Curriculum:

Continued 2-hour session

Lindsey Schroeder, Kelowna