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Changing Our Standards–Changing Our Style
How will instruction change as we move toward implementing the Common Core State Standards for math? The emphasis will not be only on the acquisition of content knowledge but also on the understanding of the underlying mathematical concepts and the fostering of the eight Mathematical Practices: Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. Reason abstractly and quantitatively. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others. Model with mathematics. Use appropriate tools strategically. Attend to precision. Look for...
read moreDeveloping Number Sense: A Key to the Common Core (Part 6 of 6)
This is my sixth article on the teaching of number sense. In the previous articles, I discussed the importance of developing number sense in our students and then developed the first four components: Number magnitude Estimation Mental computation Mathematical properties In this article, we will explore the effects of operations. At a recent math training in Pacific Grove, California, I asked an audience if it is true that squaring a number results in a larger number than the original factor? When I pose this question in class, my...
read moreDeveloping Number Sense, Part 5
This is part five in a six-part series on the development of number sense. In part one, I outlined the importance of developing a sense for numbers that serves as a foundation upon which we build our mathematical structure. In the remaining installments I addressed five components of number sense. Number magnitude Estimation Mental computation Mathematical properties Effects of operations In this blog, I will talk about the mathematical properties. Typically, our state test only assesses students on the names of these properties. ...
read moreSocial Networking Safety for Teens
Nearly 90% of my students have made it easier for a predator to find them on Facebook. I’m told that I teach a math and science . I’m told that I teach 8th grade. More importantly, I teach children. For that reason, I want the best for them. I want them to be safe. I want to see them in their seats each day and not pictured on the evening news. Each year I give them an anonymous survey about their social networking habits. They are as alarmed as I am at the results. Over half have 24/7 access to the internet through...
read moreMath for Christmas
“What to do as we approach the final week before Christmas vacation? I don’t remember by teacher prep courses preparing me for this crazy week. I can’t teach anything that will be tested, as the students will forget everything by the time I see them again in January. The schedule this week is all convoluted anyway with assemblies, class parties, and such. If only there were a high-interest activity that would engage my students while giving me the opportunity to teach some math!” If you’ve had this mental conversation...
read moreThe Seven Noble Tasks
I just had the honor of presenting a new workshop called The Seven Noble Tasks with my colleague, Amanda Deedon. The workshop shows how we can develop character in adolescents and teens. The program fosters resilience, perseverance, caring, and other important characteristics these students will need as they move into adulthood. During the year, the students are given the opportunity to complete seven tasks that challenge them physically, emotionally, and academically. In conquering these obstacles, the students are better equipped to...
read moreDeveloping Number Sense: Mental Computation
This is part four in a six-part series on the teaching of number sense. In the previous issues we discussed the importance of number sense and outlined the components that comprise efficacy with number: Number magnitude Estimation Mental computation Mathematical properties Effects of operations We have also developed the first two of these components, number magnitude and estimation, and in this article we will explore the teaching of mental computation. As we move toward implementation of the common core, skill in mental mathematics will...
read moreOld Friend Gets New Job with the Common Core Math Standards
I bumped into an old friend the other day that I had not seen in over 20 years. In fact, it had been so long since we had last met, that I assumed he had passed on. You can imagine my surprise and joy at finding him alive and healthy. “He” was an old ditto I used when I first began teaching math. I asked him what he had been up to and he said, “I’ve changed my name. I used to be called ‘Problem-Solving Ditto’, but now I go by ‘Common Core Aligned Math Task’ and I’m getting all kinds of attention.” It was the week...
read moreA Story for Your New School Year
As we prepare for the beginning of another school year, I want to take a moment to illustrate why we chose this profession. My first week teaching at the new middle school had not yet ended when I had decided that Conrad had to go; it was either he or I, and I wasn’t budging. I considered recommending him for our continuation school. He was one of the first to show up each morning. I think his mother wanted to drop him off so she could have a break. A typical morning sounded like this: “How you doing, Mr. Fulton?” “I’m...
read moreTeacher to Teacher Press Newsletter August 2012
August, 2012 Hello Educators, We have so many newsworthy events to share with you as you prepare for another school year. First of all, we now have a Facebook page and Twitter account. You can join us at: Facebook.com/TeacherToTeacherPress Twitter.com/TTTPress We will keep you updated on our speaking schedule and announce when new handouts, blogs, and other materials are available. Soon we will also have a YouTube channel at Youtube.com/watchtttpress. Brad will be presenting at Capistrano Unified School District on August 27th. He...
read moreTTTPress Welcome Video
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