Making Math Meaningful Presented By: Jane Brouse Julie MacGregor

Agenda ● Mentor Text ● Ice Breaker ● Effective Problem Solving ● Interactive Activity ● The Three Step Math Lesson ● Mathematical Process Expectations ● Manipulatives ● Wrap Up

Alexander Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday

Ice Breaker ● Solve the following problem:

Debrief ● How did you solve the problem? ● What steps did you take? ● Did you break down the question? ● What strategies did you use? ● Did you explain your thinking? ● Would the use of manipulatives made this easier?

Effective Problem Solving ● Four Step Problem Solving Model: ● Understanding the problem ● Making a Plan ● Carrying out the Plan ● Looking back and reflecting on the solution

Interactive Activity: Math Strategies ● Guess and Check ● Act it Out ● Draw a diagram ● Make a table ● Look for a Pattern ● Use Logical Thinking ● Make an Organized List

And Now... Back to the Problem! ● Revisit your problem ● Think about using one of the strategies that we discussed to solve it ● Record your ideas / strategy on the chart paper ● Be prepared to share

Gallery Walk ● Please post your chart on the wall ● Take some time to read through each group's thinking ● Offer two stars and a wish to the group's response

Characteristics of Good Problems ● Requires a student to connect new ideas to previously learned ones. ● Can be solved many ways, often using different problem-solving strategies. ● Has many possible answers ● Piques curiosity ● Has personal meaning or relevance to students ● Has a creative element to it

Helpful Hints for Problem Solving ● If you're stuck... ● Take a deep breath and relax. ● Brainstorm: Write down everything you can think of about the problem. ● Highlight important parts of the question. ● Talk yourself through the problem. ● Think about other problems you've solved that are like this one. ● Look at the strategy list. Decide which one to try first. ● Talk about the problem with another student. ● Convince yourself that you can do it!

The Three Step Math Lesson ● Getting Started ~ Hook and Explicit Teaching ● Working on It ● Reflecting and Connecting

The Three Part Lesson ● Bansho Math demonstration

Mathematical Process Expectations ● The mathematical process expectations are to be integrated into student learning associated with all the strands. ● Problem Solving ● Reasoning and Proving ● Reflecting ● Selecting Tools and Computational Strategies ● Connecting ● Representing ● Communicating

Organizing YOUR Math Lesson ● Clustering Expectations ● Differentiated Math ● Everyday Math ● The Three Step Math Lesson

What Makes an Open Ended Task? ● Solution is not immediately obvious ● Problem relates to a key concept or big idea ● Problem is meaningful to students ● Problem promotes the use of one or more strategies ● The situation requires decision making above and beyond the choosing of a mathematical operation ● The solution time is reasonable ● The situation may encourage collaboration in seeking solutions

Interactive Activity ● Use the math manipulatives at your table ● Brainstorm as many different math activities you could use these manipulatives for ● Chart your thinking ● Be prepared to share

Gallery Walk ● One Stay ~ Three Stray ● Move from table to table and review the findings recorded ● The team 'expert' will answer any questions ● Add in any ideas you might have

Mathematically Speaking... ● Book bins ● Math in a Backpack ● Differentiated Math ● Everyday Math (poster)

Thank YOU!! ● It has been our pleasure to chat with you about Math! ● Enjoy your evening ● Jane and Julie