Math In Focus

Overview of Program

Presented by R. NievesDirector of Mathematics & Science

District 75

AgendaLesson from Singapore What does the TIMSS report show?Mathematical Standards and Practice enables us to:Challenges?Why Math in Focus?

Focused and CoherentVisual and BalancesLess is MoreResearched in Common Core

Agenda• Gallery Walk through the program

• What is C-P-A?

• What is I-D-E-A?

• Visual Models (Strand Trace)

• What is Model Drawing?

• Activity: What are Number Bonds?

• Activity: What is the Bar Model?

• Activity: What is subitizing?

• Activity: Practice lesson and question techniques (working backwards)

What is TIMSS?TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study - the

earlier acronym was Third International Mathematics and Science Study) is designed to measure trends in students’ mathematics and science achievement in four-year cycles.

• What is the purpose of these studies?• Please visit TIMSS web site at http://isc.bc.edu/timss2003.html for

detailed information • Please also visit IEA web site at http://www.iea.nl/iea/hq/ for more

information.• Who conduct these studies?• These studies are conducted by the International Association for

Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). IEA is an independent, international cooperative of national research institutions and governmental research agencies. They are based in Boston, USA.

 

• How many TIMSS are there so far?

• Conducted on a four-year cycle, the first round of TIMSS was in 1995, the second in 1999 and the third in 2003.

• General Information on TIMSS:  TIMSS 2003

• What have TIMSS to do with Singapore Math?

• Singapore's 4th and 8th grade students scored top place for Mathematics in 1995, 1999 and 2003.  

What are the key findings of TIMSS pertaining to Singapore's good performance in mathematics?Please see the following press releases by the Ministry of Education, Singapore:   http://www.moe.gov.sg/press/2004/pr20041214.htm (for TIMSS 2003)   http://www.moe.gov.sg/press/2000/pr06122000.htm (for TIMSS 1999)   http://www.moe.gov.sg/press/1997/st00297.htm (for TIMSS 1995)

Why Math in Focus?• Authentic Singapore math pedagogy with fewer

topics taught in greater depth at each grade level.

• Visual representations and modeling strategies to solve complex problems;

• A consistent concrete-pictorial-abstract progression;

• A strong development of both conceptual understanding, place value, and computational fluency so students that understand the “how” as well as the “why.” And

• More time to fewer topics, to ensure that children master the material through detailed instruction, questions, problem solving, and visual and hands-on aids like blocks, cards and bar charts.

Mathematical: Standards and Practice

• Able:To Make sense of problems and

persevereTo reasonTo construct viable argumentsTo model with mathematicsTo use tools appropriatelyTo look for and make use of structureTo think flexibly and be reflective

Math in Focus (MIF)• MIF has also been shown to have positive effects

in US classrooms.  The Singapore math framework was one of the 15 national curriculums examined by the Common Core State Standards committee and had a particularly important impact on the Common Core writers and contributors.  Math in Focus is aligned to the Common Core State Standards and offers point-of-use correlations in the Teacher’s Editions, allowing teachers to make a seamless transition into the new standards.

Challenges• Students struggle with number facts, operational

sense, and abstract notation

• Students lack number sense, flexibility, and knowledge of number relationships

• Academic vocabulary may inhibit understanding

• Students struggle with abstract ideas outside of concrete examples

• The understanding of learning disabilities in math is not nearly as well understood as in reading *note IEPs

• Special education teachers are not generally trained in mathematics.

Gallery Walk

C-P-A?

• I.D.E.A.

– Investigate

– Develop

– Explore

– Apply

Model Drawing

Puts problem solving at the heart of the curriculum

Model drawing is a systematic method of representing word problems and number relationships that is explicitly taught beginning in second grade and extending all the way to algebra.

Activities

1. What are number bonds?

2. What are ten frames?

3. What are bar models?

4. Are there other visual models ex. place value?

5. What is subitizing?

Supporting with Good Questioning Techniques

• Method 1 (Adapted from Good Questions for Math Teaching-Why Ask

Them and What to Ask (K-6)) by Sullivan and Lilburn

Working Backward– Step 1-Identify a topic– Step 2-Think of a closed question and write

down the answer– Step 3- Make up a question that includes (or

addresses) the answer.

• Method 2Adapting a Standard Question– Step 1-Identify a topic– Step 2-Think of a standard question– Step 3-Adapt it to make a good question.

Practice Questioning SessionsIdentify a topic Think of an

answerMake up a

question that includes the

answer

Weight An eraser What can you find that is lighter than this book?