From July 9 Feedback

A Message from Karen Hi, Everyone! Every other day, I will address the Needs you have and give you what we hope are good, possible solutions. We know we may not meet every need but we will definitely try! We all appreciate your feedback! We all truly thank you for your patience! We all are grateful for the kind manner in which you give your feedback!

The Most Frequent Request I Need…...a review of the pretest to connect new knowledge to what I got wrong the first time, and why I got it wrong. (6) Possible Solutions… Natalie would be glad to show you the pre-test! We don’t want to teach to the test, BUT, we have a breakdown of the results by question. We have planned a week of addressing those areas of need.

The Second Most Requested Idea I Need… more modelling of new strategies and games to support the concepts. (3) Possible Solutions… We will be modeling the strategies. It is my understanding that last year’s books are being ordered for you. One of them is a book of games. Also, the “About Teaching Mathematics” books is full of games and strategies.

The Second Most Requested Idea I Need… Extra instruction for mastery on fractions and ratios. Suggested workbook that can give extra instruction and practice. (3) Possible Solutions We have some practice for the week of July 13. I think Googling the specific topic for problems at your grade level may be the easiest thing to do. This way you can have a wide variety of topics at no cost and you can put a few under the new Document Camera for the darlings to do!

I Need… Maybe different strategies written by peers uploaded on resources to help me remember steps (1) different strategies (1) Possible Solutions… We will ask your peers! We will be showing different strategies as we work. Also, Math Solutions is providing lots of good strategies.

I Need… To have something else to do if I know the content; isn't that what we are supposed to do with our kids and the purpose of the pretest? (1) Possible Solutions… Yes, teachers are to meet the needs of all of our darlings. We have visited with the people who scored an A on the pre-test and one person has accepted our offer to work on other items. I am working on this material and will have it available on Monday. Another thought: It is very hard to separate content and pedagogy (teaching strategies, ideas from peers, etc.). So while we may excel at the content, our hope is we can also learn from each other. Bottom line, we do try to please!

I Need… To not sit all morning. Is there another space available for whole group? The library is cramped. Possible Solutions Yes, the room is cramped and thank goodness we all wear great deodorant! Sorry, but Mia says this is the only space in the building that has Internet access in the summer. We thought we were going to use the Commons, but the Internet does not work there. Actually, we had built in 2 Transitions that included movement, but we can’t do them.

I Need… Several methods of solving same problem Possible Solutions… Yes! We try hard to always share final solutions to problems when they have been worked differently. It is also why we ask you to work in pairs, as a table or to talk to other tables. You are welcome to take a picture of all the work on the boards! **I always learn something new each day when I see the different ways folks solve problems. Soooo cool!

I Need… More examples of problem solving. (1) Possible Solutions… We will show some more the week of July 13. You can find some this summer at the website books-resources/classroom- lessons “About Teaching Mathematics” is full of problem solving!

I Need I would like a suggested timeline/pacing guide of the standards (2) Possible Solutions It is our understanding that one exists in the SLPS district and that was, but is no longer, aligned to the Common Core. We will ask Mia how this is addressed in SLPS as I think she is our best resource for this.

I Need… The books from last year. Possible Solutions… It is my understanding you will receive them! Perhaps a “veteran” from last year will share their copy with you if you would like to do some work before they become available.

I Need Number Talks with fractions Possible Solutions… Great Idea! We will ask the Math Solutions folks to guide us on this topic.

I Need… Time to reflect on everything I have learned. Possible Solutions… There just is not enough time in the day, is there? I hope you will have some time before school to mull over what we have done and how you will use it next year. Hopefully, you will have a buddy in your building to talk to about the work!

I Need… For some of us to stop the outside conversation when others are speaking their thoughts and presenters are teaching. Possible Solutions… Aww, this is so nice! Thank You. And, no, Min, Angelene and I did not “plant” this need.

I Need… Continued participation by everyone and continued great teaching we are receiving. Possible Solutions… We have been thrilled from Day 1 with the great participation and interaction you all have given us! Min, Angelene, and I will do our best! All three of us are “night owls” and we have all pledged to go to bed earlier so we will all be full of vim, vigor, and vitality!