PD workshops for 2008-2009

K-8 Multi-Day Workshop

Teaching Mathematics to Special Education Students

3^rd-8^th grade teachers of special education students (possibly relevant to high school special education teachers)

October 1, November 4, December 3, 2008; January 15, February 4, March 4, 2009 
9 am – 3:30 pm

This six day workshop series will help provide the content background needed by special education teachers who are responsible for teaching the mathematics grade level content expectations. It will also provide teaching strategies for general education teachers who are working with special education students.

The mathematics content will come from the K-8 grade level content expectations, focusing primarily on the number and operations strand and the measurement and geometry strands. The overarching process standards of Reasoning and Proof, Problem Solving, Connections, Representations, and Communication will be used to structure the six days.  

Participants will receive the book Teaching Children Who Struggle with Mathematics, by Sherman, Richardson and Yard, which will serve as the primary resource for the series.

These workshops will be co-facilitated by Barbara Littlejohn (Lansing School District, retired), Nancy Rudd (Lansing School District, retired), Kerry Biladeau (Waverly Community Schools, special education) and Theron Blakeslee (Ingham ISD).

Participation is limited to 30 teachers. Special education and general education teachers from the same school or district are encouraged to attend as teams.

“Teaching About…” Series for Upper Elementary and Middle School

Teaching About Area, Perimeter & Volume   – Cancelled

3^rd-6^th grade teachers

October 9, 2008    9 am – 3 pm    TEC Room A

Participants will learn strategies and activities aligned with the Grade Level Content Expectations for teaching about area, perimeter, surface area and volume of regular and irregular shapes and solids. These strategies and activities can be used with any district curriculum. Assessments will also be developed that allow teachers to probe students’ understanding of the concepts behind area, perimeter and volume, as well as fluency with formulas.

Teaching About Whole Number Operations

3^rd-6^th grade teachers

November 12, 2008    12:30 pm – 3:30 pm    TEC Room C

Whole number operations seem to be difficult for some students. However, teachers can help students develop number sense and build on their innate problem solving ability to become fluent in whole number operations. Participants will learn strategies and activities aligned with the Grade Level Content Expectations to move students toward fluency. These strategies and activities can be used with any district curriculum. Assessments will also be developed that allow teachers to probe students’ understanding of operations in context.

Teaching About Fractions in 2^nd and 3^rd Grade

2^nd-3^rd grade teachers

November 13, 2008    12:30 pm – 3:30 pm    TEC Room A

When students develop a strong conceptual foundation about fractions, they carry it with them into later elementary, middle school and high school. This workshop helps teachers learn strategies for teaching students the fundamental ideas behind fractions – their various meanings and uses, equivalent forms, and how to solve real-world problems with simple fractions. The workshop is based on the Number and Operations GLCEs for these grades.

Teaching About Fractions, Decimals and Percents in 4^th-7^th Grade

4^th-7^th grade teachers

January 22, 2009    9 am – 3 pm    TEC Rooms BC

Students need to develop fluency with fractions, decimals and percents, based on deep conceptual understanding. Participants will learn strategies and activities aligned with the Grade Level Content Expectations to develop conceptual understanding that moves students toward fluency. These strategies and activities can be used with any district curriculum. Assessments will also be developed that allow teachers to probe students’ understanding.

High School and Middle School Workshops

Using the CBR2 Data Collection Device to Teach About Rates of Change (Algebra)

High school and middle school mathematics teachers

Nov. 6, 2008   9 am – 2:30 pm    TEC Rm A

Analysis of data from real world situations is a key component of algebra. CBR2s (Calculator-based Rangers) are motion detectors that collect real-time data about moving objects and display the data on a computer or graphing calculator. Linear, quadratic, and periodic motions can be displayed and analyzed. Ingham ISD has two classroom sets of CBR2s and TI-84+ graphing calculators to loan to schools in Ingham County. This training will help you put more fun into your Algebra or physics classes.

Teaching Relevant Algebra I to All Students (3 half-days)

High school and 8^th grade mathematics teachers

October 8, November 18, and December 2, 2008    12:30 pm – 3:30 pm     TEC Room B

The new Algebra I content expectations are deeper and more demanding than those in traditional Algebra I courses. Join with your colleagues to explore Algebra I topics including linear, quadratic and exponential functions, from a real-world perspective. Many engaging activities will be presented that can be used in your classrooms.  

Using Formative Assessment to Ensure All Students Meet the New High School Content Expectations 

High school and middle school mathematics teachers

February 5, 2009    12:30 pm – 3:30 pm    TEC Room A

How can you help struggling students make it through the new, challenging High School Content Expectations and middle school Grade Level Content Expectations? One strategy involves the use of formative assessments, which give you up-to-the-day information about what each student is learning and what is confusing to them, providing a clear path for both you and the student to mastery of the topic. Formative assessment practices, sample assessments, and benefits for students will be discussed.

K-12 Workshops and Math Network

Teaching About Problem Solving in Mathematics

K-12 teachers

December 10, 2008    12:30 pm – 3:30 pm    TEC Rooms BC

Many strategies are available to help students learn to be better problem solvers. This workshop presents those strategies in the context of rich and interesting non-procedural problems that challenge students to apply and deepen their mathematics understanding.

Ingham Mathematics Advisory Team / Math Network (IMAT)

Open to any K-16 teachers

October 9, December 3, 2008; February 12, March 18, May 7, 2009    4:30 pm – 6:30 pm   
TEC Rooms BC

This on-going professional learning community is for K-12 teachers who have building and district level respon­sibilities for mathematics. Returning and new members are welcome. Issues related to curriculum, instruction and assessment will be examined. Updates will be provided on state and national priorities. Facilitator: Theron Blakeslee.

Take-Out Menu

Please contact Dr. Theron Blakeslee to set up these workshops for your entire faculty, in your school:

Teaching Math to Young Children, Grades K-1

Theron Blakeslee, Ingham ISD

$300 for three after school sessions

Participants will deepen their understanding of the Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCEs) and learn new strategies and activities to help young students develop a firm foundation in mathematics. The Cognitively Guided Instruction approach will be used to help teachers understand how young students think about addition, subtraction and problem-solving, building on children’s intuitive knowledge of numbers and counting. Participants will assist each other in adapting existing instructional materials to align with the GLCEs. Facilitated by Theron Blakeslee, Ingham ISD.

Teaching Math to Young Children, Grades 2-3

Theron Blakeslee, Ingham ISD

$400 for four after school sessions

Participants will deepen their understanding of the Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCEs) and learn new strategies and activities to help young students develop a firm foundation in mathematics. The Cognitively Guided Instruction approach will be used to help teachers understand how young students think about multiplication, division, place value and problem solving. Participants will learn how to build on children’s intuitive knowledge of addition and subtaction strategies. They will also work together to adapt existing instructional materials to align with the GLCEs. Facilitated by Theron Blakeslee, Ingham ISD.

Helping Struggling Readers Comprehend Mathematics

Amy Kilbridge and Theron Blakeslee

$200 for one after school or half-day session

Toolkit of reading strategies and thinking strategies. Ingham ISD has developed a tool kit of reading and thinking strategies for high school and middle school mathematics classes, to help struggling readers get the most out of textbook narratives and learn how to solve problems that sometimes involve complex reading. The strategies build on what students have already learned in English classes about how to comprehend complex passages. Amy Kilbridge and Theron Blakeslee, Ingham ISD curriculum consultants, will present this toolkit of strategies to middle and high school mathematics teachers during an after school or half-day workshop.