Presented by Heather Sparks, NBCT 2009 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Improving Student Engagement In Mathematics: Strategies for All Learners Presented by Heather Sparks, NBCT 2009 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year

Why are students disengaged? Lack of prior knowledge Missing foundational skills Limited experiences with “doing” real math “One right answer” approach “Permission” to be “bad” at math Others?

STRATEGIES: 1. Allow students to verbalize their thinking Every day, expect students to explain their thinking. Content example: Sense & Nonsense Roller Derby

Sense & Nonsense Mr. Bragg says he’s right 100% of the time. The Garcia family ate out last Saturday. The bill was $460. Ellen saved her money and bought a new bicycle for $92. Daniel missed 10 problems on his science test. He thinks he made an A. Rose ate ½ a pizza for dinner. The next day, she ate 1/2 of the leftovers for breakfast. She wants to share what is left with her four friends for lunch.

Roller Derby Organize 12 beans on your game board by placing them under the number(s) representing each sum I will most likely roll. Each time the dice are rolled, if you have a bean under that sum, you Can remove the bean. The first person to remove all his/her beans Is the winner.

STRATEGIES: 2. Use visual representations Visuals and/or manipulatives should be available and integrated into relevant math lessons. Content example: Ben’s Garden Plot Extend & Explain

Ben’s Garden Plot

Extend & Explain Patterns

Extend & Explain Patterns

STRATEGIES: 3. Help students develop “bridge” tools Students should be taught specific strategies to improve memory and understanding Content example: Hey, Diddle Diddle Big G Finger Multiplication

Hey, Diddle Diddle Hey, diddle diddle! The median’s the middle You add and divide for the mean. The mode is the one you see the most, And the range is the difference between.

Big G

STRATEGIES: 4. Create “reference” resources Students should maintain a math journal to record and store math resources. Content example: Interactive Math Notebook 3-D Figure Foldable

Interactive Notebooks

STRATEGIES: 5. Constant exposure to meaningful math Every day, provide meaningful math investigations including tasks games puzzles stories

Where to Find Tasks www.illustrativemathematics.org   www.insidemathematics.org http://bit.ly/29GZVxF (UT Dana Center Early Math Resources, PK-2) http://bit.ly/29Onkwa (Robert Kaplinsky’s Problem-Based Math Lessons) www.k-5mathteachingresources.com www.emergentmath.com/my-problem-based-curriculum-maps/ http://www4.uwm.edu/Org/mmp/_resources/cabs.htm www.mathedleadership.org/ccss/itp/index.html

Games Poison Mission Impossible Smartboard Games

Puzzles Tarsia Puzzles Number Line Patterns Which One Doesn’t Belong? Estimation 180 Visual Patterns

Number Line Patterns

Which One Doesn’t Belong?

Estimation 180

Visual Patterns www.visualpatterns.org

Stories Even Steven and Odd Todd Amanda Bean’s Amazing Dream Two of Everything The Great Graph Contest Patterns In Peru Spaghetti and Meatballs for All! Fraction Action It’s Probably Penny

This presentation and other resources are available at Comments & Questions? This presentation and other resources are available at www. hisparks.com