Director’s Notes!

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

October 2015 Volume 1, Issue 1

Math In the News

Special points of

interest:

Math Updates for

Elementary, Middle, and High School

Essential Content for

Upcoming Topics for Elementary, Middle,

and High School

Inside this issue:

Elementary School

Mathematics Updates

2

Middle School

Mathematics Updates

2

High School

Mathematics Updates

2

School Spotlight 3

Becoming Data

Informed 3

Writing Strategy 3

Upcoming Events 4

Office of Academics and

Transformation

Division of Academics

Department of Mathematics

Phone: 305-995-1939 Fax: 305-995-4188

http://math.dadeschools.net @MDCPSMath

Click Here for the Elementary School Professional Development Calendar

Click Here for the Middle School Professional Development Calendar

Click Here for the High School Professional Development Calendar

South Central North Holiday/Recess Planning Day/Early Recess

Click Here for the 2015

FSA T-Score Results

Greetings Magnificent Mathematics Teachers, Happy October! I am confident that the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year has

been academically rewarding and productive for you and your students. As we work

towards our district's VISION 20/20 plan of providing a world class education for all

students by equipping them with a high-quality education and empowering them to be

productive lifelong learners and responsible global citizens, I would like to take a

moment to share with you essential information as it relates to “What’s Going on in

Mathematics.” As a means of providing continued support in delivering Relevant,

Rigorous & Innovative Academics to all students, the Mathematics Department (also

known as Team Math) has taken recommendations from teachers across the district and incorporated those best

practices into the revised 2015-2016 Pacing Guides, the corresponding Topic Assessments, and monthly

Mathematics Content Driven Professional Development offerings targeting teachers, Math Leaders and

Administrators. Team Math would like to ensure that school site stakeholders are kept abreast of essential

mathematics content to ensure students’ success. In addition, we are revamping the Mathematics Website to

make it more resourceful and user-friendly. Finally, for the first time in M-DCPS Mathematics Department’s

history, Team Math is showcasing the “Math In The News” newsletter to keep teachers abreast of timely and

relevant mathematics information to aid in the planning process. Team Math’s debut newsletter contains grade-

level relevant resources such as the Department’s Professional Development Schedule, 2015 FSA T-Score Results,

Progressions and Standard's Overviews for upcoming Pacing Guide Topics, School Spotlights, Little Known Math Facts,

and much, much more. On behalf of Team Math, we hope you find this newsletter useful as you continue your

endeavors of providing a world-class education for our students. Thank you for your continued dedication and

priceless service to our students. Follow us on Twitter @MDCPSMath.

Happy solving until the next release!

Michelle R. White

Executive Director, Department of Mathematics

Extra, Extra………Elementary Mathematics Updates!

To optimize your teaching and learning time in the classroom, we’ve got you covered! Our elementary mathematics pacing guides teams revamped some pacing guide components to facilitate the planning process. The number of the chapter used to teach the topic is indicated next to the topic title. A column for the Depth of Knowledge level for each lesson was added in the Instructional Tools table on page 2 of the pacing guide to ensure the lesson

is taught at that level of rigor as required by the Mathematics Florida Standards (MAFS). In the same Instructional Tools table, teachers notes are more explicit, referencing the FL DOE Item Specifications document as needed to fill in any gaps as per standards assessment limits. These additional tidbits support teaching to the rigor and complexity as required by (MAFS).

The Department of Mathematics and ETO also compiled Bell Ringers that consist of one item per day to review standards that have been previously

taught, supporting Differentiated Instruction (DI) as well as retention of content learned. Implementation will follow the following example: when teaching chapter 4, begin with bell ringers of concepts taught in chapter 3 (as recap) and continue with bell ringers of the other previously taught chapters (e.g., chapter 1 and 2). Bell Ringers will be located in the Mathematics pacing guide section, for grades 3, 4, and 5, by quarter for each topic.

Grades K, 1, and 2 may use the SAT-10 Dailies as their bell ringers.

New Topic Assessments are available, aligned when possible to standards item types as per FL DOE Item Specifications. These will be located in Gateway to Data (formerly known as Thinkgate), for each topic for grades 3, 4, and 5. Currently, to access these assessments, go to tg.dadeschools.net.

Username: YourEmployee#, Password (case sensitive): MiamiDade2015* Two forms are available: a regular Topic Assessment (HMH “Form B”) and a FSA Topic Assessment (combination of the “Form C” and “Form A”, with other added items. Grades K,1, and 2 Topic Assessments will also be

accessible in Gateway to Data; they will be administering “Form B.”

Links to Elementary School Math Progressions with Topic Standards Overview are now available.

Taking it to the Next Level in Middle Grades Mathematics!

We are thrilled to announce enhancements made to the 2015-2016 Middle Grades Math Pacing Guides! The Middle Grades Mathematics pacing guide team along with the collaboration of the 2014-2015 Middle Grades Math Department Chairpersons fine-tuned the Teacher Notes provided for “bulls-eye” instruction to hit the Learning Target with every lesson! In addition, the Middle Grades Mathematics curriculum team reviewed the 2014-2015

Mid-Year Assessment data to identify the three lowest performing standards per grade level district-wide, took a deep dive in the Instructional Resources aligned with these standards, and strategically added Teacher Notes and hyperlinked resources, such as tasks, lessons, videos, and assignments, to ensure these data-driven standards are addressed as intended in the FSA Item Specifications. After this “deep dive” into the data-driven standards, all remaining

lessons and standards in the Instructional Tools matrices were cross-referenced with the FSA Item Specifications and Progressions Documents, to provide supplemental resources with explicit teacher notes to address any gaps as well as provide further support in incorporating strategies specified in the standard. The next wave of enhancements was to incorporate VIDEOS modeling the strategies required by the MAFS (e.g. using visual models to teach

division of fractions). These “how-to” videos have been hyperlinked in the Teacher Notes of the Instructional Tools Matrix for teachers to preview prior to planning in order to assist in embedding the identified strategies during instructional delivery. The best way to understand a new strategy is to see it in action!

Announcing online Collaboration Sites for Middle Grades Math Teachers to share exemplary resources, ideas, and best practices across Miami-Dade! As shared in the September Middle Grades Math Leaders’ iCADs, we now have available Edmodo collaboration sites for teachers, by grade level,

to provide a platform for sharing great math problems, performance tasks, rubrics, lessons, power points, links to great math websites, and best practices. During the week of November 9th, a gift card will be awarded for the winner of a raffle of all teachers who have shared resources on the wall-so please share away!! The following collaboration sites are available to join in Edmodo: Grade 6 Math Teachers Collaboration Site: For Teachers By Teachers, Grade 7

Math Teachers Collaboration Site: For Teachers By Teachers, and Grade 8 Math Teachers Collaboration Site: For Teachers By Teachers.

Student Practice with Technology-Enhanced Math Problems!! See the link for past and upcoming PDs on Edcite. Edcite PDs

Links to Middle School Math Progressions with Topic Standards Overview are now available.

Page 2 Math In the News

3 Things You Need to Know About High School Math Updates! Yes it is true, new resources have been added to the 2015-2016 Pacing Guides. Now there is easy way to identify and retrieve supplemental materials for targeted prerequisite skills that students need to obtain to be successful in the grade level content standards. The Academic Support table found in the Pacing Guide is one of two tools that provide the aforementioned features. The second resource is the Topic-At-A-Glance; this is also a new featured document that will assist with planning for each topic. The Topic-At-A-Glance deconstructs each standard and contains additional resources (I.E.

eMathInstruction) that are not found in the Pacing Guides. Coupling these two resources will aid in closing the academic achievement gaps students may have.

M-DCPS Mathematics Department in collaboration with the Florida Center for Research in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (FCR-

STEM) at Florida State University (FSU) provided opportunities for Algebra I and Geometry teachers to develop and publish original Integrated STEM

lesson plans on CPALMS as referenced in WB 17260. The FCR-STEM Lesson Plan development process was a huge success. Would like to thank all

contributing teachers, STEM Lessons may be found in the district’s Algebra I and Geometry pacing guides and at the following site: http://www.cpalms.org/

Public/ResourceCollection/Preview/59

Last but not least, all Topic Assessments will be revised and updated throughout the year. Each Topic Assessment moving forward will address the lowest

standard, according to the District Average, from the previous Topic Assessment. Topic Assessments are available through the new testing platform G2D. G2D may be accessed via the Employee Portal under the Apps, Services, Site tab from any school site computer. Each Topic Assessment will become available as stated on the second page of each Pacing Guide, in the Assessment Window Section.

Links to High School Math Progressions with Topic-At-A-Glance are now available. (To access on any M-DCPS computer, click on your email address

when prompted. )

As teachers, we want to support our students’ needs in the best way possible and as we know, this can

be a demanding task. Indeed it is difficult and challenging to know our students beyond the numbers of

their academic achievement. Write-to-Learn strategies can be the first steps in engaging in the true

practices that should not only be part of classroom instruction but also help find the root cause of

student math deficiencies.

This year, we will share a series of literacy strategies that will enhance the teaching and learning of

mathematics. This newsletter issue will focus on CALLA (Cognitive Academic Language Learning

Approach), a strategy that provides support for students in learning content as well as “learning to learn.”

In three easy steps, students read problems carefully and record what the problem is asking. Throughout

the process, students are guided to a solution by asking them to solve, check and explain their work.

Students are encouraged to write about what made the problem difficult or strategies that helped them

solve the problem (Kenney, et. al. 2005, “Mathematical Literacy: Helping Students Make Meaning in the

Middle Grades”). The CALLA strategy has an added value; not only do students learn how to organize

their thoughts but a non-intimidating environment is created. In addition this process welcomes ELL

students to participate in the problem–solving process regardless of the language barrier. Moreover,

Mathematical Practice 1- Make Sense of Problems and Persevere in Solving Them is present throughout the

whole instructional process. Please feel free to incorporate the CALLA strategy in your classroom. A

win-win situation!

Thomas Jefferson Middle School

Using Excel and Topic Assessments to Become Data Informed

Page 3 Volume 1, Issue 1

“Teaching students to

write well must be a

part of any

comprehensive

mathematics

program.” - Writing

Across the Curriculum,

Michigan Department of

Education

“Using the Edcite plat-

form has afforded me

the opportunity to

assess my students in

an innovative way.”-Gina Harris

One component of determining the needs of our students is through assessment. District created Topic Assessments are an

excellent way to achieve this goal with questions centered around the Mathematics Florida Standards (MAFS). Michelle White,

Executive Director of Mathematics suggests, “every effort should be made to administer the corresponding Topic Assessments on a

on a regular basis to ensure rigorous measures are in place to aid students in mastering the full intent of the MAFS standards. As per

the Florida Continuous Improvement Model (FCIM), assessments should be administered on a regular basis to measure mastery and

provide Differentiated Instruction (DI) guidance.”

Another component, which is just as important is time to quickly disaggregate data by item and standard

analysis from each topic assessment. When data is relevant it allows educators to make informed decisions that

can positively impact student performance. The Math Team is proud to present a user-friendly Excel™

template, created by Dr. Yuwadee Wongbundhit, District Supervisor for Instructional Support, that will enable

educators to have fun analyzing items and standards quickly on their own. More information and training will

be provided during the Mathematics Leaders ICADs.

Writing-to-Learn & Problem Solving: A Mathematical Practice that Works!

Page 3 Math In the News

Fun and test are two words we rarely see in the same sentence, especially from students. When Gina

Harris, a teacher at Thomas Jefferson Middle School (TJ) heard Emmanuela Novelice, an Algebra I student

say, “It was a fun new way to take a test”, she knew she was heading in the right direction with Edcite*.

This was something she could not keep to herself. With the support of the Principal, Mrs. Robin Atkins

and her administrative team, Thomas Jefferson started to conduct in-house cross-disciplinary professional

development and extended their knowledge by inviting Josie Fixler, an Edcite representative to conduct

Professional Development at TJ.

Josie best summed up the reason Thomas Jefferson Middle School is in the spotlight for this issue of the

newsletter by saying, “It was a true pleasure to work with the team at Thomas Jefferson Middle

School. Their enthusiasm towards new technology was awe inspiring. Learning a new platform like Edcite

can sometimes be challenging, but not for these teachers. Even those who were unfamiliar were willing to

dive in and become familiar. By the end of the session, all of the participants were busy creating questions

and assignments that were ready to be implemented the next day in their classrooms. I know that this

team of teachers are going to produce amazing things in the coming year and I can only hope to be invited

back to share in their accomplishments.”

*Edcite (www.edcite.com) is a free website that enables teachers to create interactive items comparable to some of the

technology-enhanced type problems found on the Mathematics FSA.

Stay Connected

Assessment, Research, and Data Analysis Phone: 305-995-7512

Fax: 305-995-1960

http://oada.dadeschools.net/

Career & Technical Education (CTE)

Phone: 305-693-3030 Fax: 305-696-9346

http://dcte.dadeschools.net/

Center for Professional Learning (CPL)

Phone: 305-883-1084

Fax: 305-884-8142

http://cpl.dadeschools.net/

Instructional Technology Services (ITS)

Phone: 305-995-3751 Fax: 305-995-3697

http://its.dadeschools.net/

Science Department Phone: 305-995-1939

Fax: 305-995-4188

http://science.dadeschools.net

Science, Technology, Engineering, and

Mathematics (STEM) Phone: 305-995-1939

Fax: 305-995-4188 http://stem.dadeschools.net

DCCTM DCCTM Annual Miami-Dade Math

Extravaganza Belen Jesuit Preparatory School Campus

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 3:45 P.M.- 8:00 P.M.

Middlemenatry Math Bonanza John A. Ferguson Senior High School

Saturday, November 21, 2015

8:00A.M. – 3:30 P.M.

Follow us on Twitter: @MDCPSMath

Ms. Perla Tabares Hantman, Chair

Dr. Lawrence S. Feldman, Vice-Chair

Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall

Ms. Susie V. Castillo

Ms. Lubby Navarro

Dr. Wilbert “Tee” Holloway

Dr. Martin Karp

Dr. Marta Pérez Wurtz

Ms. Raquel A. Regalado

Mr. Logan Schroeder-Stephens

Student Advisor

Mr. Alberto M. Carvalho Superintendent of Schools

Ms. Maria L. Izquierdo Chief Academic Officer

Office of Academics and Transformation

Dr. Maria P. de Armas Assistant Superintendent

Division of Academics

Mr. Cristian Carranza Administrative Director Division of Academics

Department of Mathematics and Science

Ms. Michelle R. White Executive Director

Department of Mathematics and Science