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Middle School Mathematics Standards (MS)2 Project Summer Institute

published: 09/05/2002
posted to site: 09/05/2002

Middle School Mathematics Standards Project
(MS)2
Summer Institute

Day 1 (Spring Intensive) | Day 2 (Spring Intensive) | Day 3 (Summer) | Day 4 (Summer) | Day 5 (Summer) |

Our (MS)2 Summer Institute is five days long. This year we experimented with a two-part format. Instead of five consecutive days in August, the first two days, called the Spring Intensive, occurred just before the end of the school year on June 17 and June 18. These sessions were scheduled from 8:30 to 3:00.

The second part of the workshop occurred during three days in August - the 12th, 13th, and 14th, from 8:30 to 4:00. A total of 31 teachers participated within our Summer Institute.

Our math theme for Year IV of our project is measurement. This theme was evident in all of our sessions for participating Teacher Leaders.

    Teacher Leaders received professional development on:

  • NSF sponsored programs-Math in Context and the Connected Math Project.
    Math in Context modules - Made for Measure and Measure for Measure
    Connected Math Project modules - Covering and Surrounding, Filling, and Wrapping, and Looking for Pythagoras
  • The Use of graphing and scientific calculators in middle school (Teachers worked with the TI83 plus and the TI-30Xa)
  • Classroom management - strategies to support new and returning teachers at the start of the school year
  • Language - Teaching fractions in Middle School
  • Improving questioning skills of teachers and students (MiC and CMP videos were used during this session)
  • Teacher Leaders working in small groups and examined assessment, parent outreach, language, study groups - improving an understanding of math content, equity, and pedagogy.
  • Demonstration classrooms
  • Problem Solving - not listed on the agenda. We posted problems around the room and asked teachers to add solutions and comments. This led to active discussions during our breakfast and break time.

The goals of the summer institute included strengthening teachers' understanding of and use of curricula mentioned. Participating Teacher Leaders are those who teach math in the four lowest performing school districts in New York City. Since this is the last year of our five-year project one of our main objectives was sustaining study groups beyond the life of the project.

(MS)2 Year IV Spring Intensive
Monday, June 17, 2002

Agenda

8:30-9:00 Breakfast, Welcome, Introductions, Ice-Breaker
9:00-10:15 Equity
Language use in the math classroom
Dr. Rita Kabasakalian, (MS)2 Project Consultant
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-12:00 Mathematics
Measurement
Frances Stern, (MS)2 Academic Director
12:00-12:50 lunch and video
12:50-1:45 Leadership
Making study groups a vital, helpful part of teachers' lives
Selma Bartholomew, (MS)2 Project Director
1:45-2:45 Pedagogy
The teacher's use of questions in the classroom
Barbara Lawrence, (MS)2 Project Consultant
2:45-3:00 Reflections on the day

(MS)2 Year IV Spring Intensive
Tuesday, June 18, 2002

Agenda

8:30-9:00 Working Breakfast
9:00-10:45 Mathematics
Measurement
Frances Stern, (MS)2 Academic Director
10:45-11:00 break
11:00-12:00 Leadership
Building leadership capacity in your school
Selma Bartholomew, (MS)2 Project Director
12:00-12:50 lunch and video
12:50-1:45 Assessment
Assessment that teaches students and teachers
Frances Stern, (MS)2 Academic Director
1:45-2:45 Pedagogy
The teacher's use of questions in the classroom
Dr. Judith Kerekes, (MS)2 Project Consultant
2:45-3:00 Reflections on the day

(MS)2
Summer Institute 2002
AGENDA
Monday, August 12, 2002

8:30-9:00 Breakfast and Opening Discussion
9:00-11:15 Pedagogy and Standards: Measurement
  • Connected Math-Room 3-224
  • Math in Context-Room 3-225
11:15-11:30 Break
11:30-12:30 Pedagogy: Management Strategies
12:30-1:30 Lunch
1:30-3:00 Technology
  • Graphing and Scientific Calculators
3:00-4:00 Processing, Reflecting on and Adapting Today's Activities.
  • Focus: Use of Standards Based Curriculum and Management Issues with regard to:
    • Pedagogy
    • Language
    • Equity
    • Assessment
    • Parent Outreach
    • Study Groups

(MS)2
Summer Institute 2002
AGENDA
Tuesday, August 13, 2002

8:30-9:00 Breakfast and Opening Discussion
  • Written Reflections
  • Problem of the Day
9:00-11:15 Pedagogy and Standards: Measurement
  • Connected Math
  • Math in Context
11:15-11:30 Break
11:30-12:30 Pedagogy: Language in Fractions
  • Who is the Mighty Magician of Mathematics?
12:30-1:30 Lunch
1:30-3:00 Technology
  • Graphing and Scientific Calculators
3:00-4:00 Processing, Reflecting on and Adapting Today's Activities.
  • Focus: Use of Calculators in considering issues in:
    • Pedagogy
    • Language
    • Equity
    • Assessment
    • Parent Outreach
    • Study Groups

(MS)2
Summer Institute 2002
AGENDA
Wednesday, August 14, 2002

8:30-9:00 Breakfast and Opening Discussion
  • Written Reflections
9:00-11:15 Pedagogy and Standards: Measurement
  • Connected Math
  • Math in Context
11:15-11:30 Break
11:30-1:00 Technology
  • Graphing and Scientific Calculators
1:00-4:00 Lunch and Community Meeting
  • Presentations by Focus Group
  • Next Steps
  • Evaluation of Meetings