Math+Breakout+Session+11-12

November 8th and 9th

 * Lots of great freebies
 * Very worthwhile - Very well attended
 * PLE found an interesting software package to investigate - may be connected to Investigations
 * Friday sessions were better than Thursday's
 * Some technical difficulties interfered with some of the presentation
 * Christie's comments
 * We need to update Geometer's SketchPad (Pat will check on this)
 * GPS units with math applications
 * Daily Dose of Data (related to achievement data)
 * Using Benchmark Data - analyzing formative assessment
 * the common assessments we are creating will be along this line
 * student self assessment was part of their model
 * Coaching session - tips on being an effective coach
 * PSSA strategies - Phila has a PSSA review online that might be worth looking at
 * Holly's comments (Sherry, Mary and Lynn attended)
 * First Week of School to Transform your Classroom
 * rethinking the way that topics are taught
 * starting concrete (patterns, etc)
 * Skip Fennell
 * don't push Algebra sooner
 * develop Algebraic thinking instead
 * should read the book __Adding It Up__ published by NCTM
 * Mobious
 * Modules of instruction
 * Spec Ed had looked at this last year
 * Math Forum
 * great web site
 * Math Olympiads
 * games and enrichment
 * Using Algebra Tiles
 * manipulative to reinforce basic facts
 * builds to many algebraic concepts (factoring, especially)
 * College Preparatory Mathematics - should look at their resources
 * Kate's comments (AGI Math Lead Teachers attended as well)
 * This group discussed the need for follow up to figure out how to implement what they learned
 * Problem Solving (old info...)
 * Math Family Night
 * do's and don't
 * decided to implement at some level this year
 * help to promote the idea that math is fun and meaningful
 * Differenciation - Yay or Nay
 * Danielson - centers vs stations
 * Stations focus on the same concept with differenciated activities
 * Math Games - played games for two hours
 * Kate has handouts of color coded games
 * Shared how to work together to develop ideas
 * Investigations vs Everyday Math
 * presenter was from Slippery Rock
 * promoted thought process of teaching math - not a program
 * The information will be shared with other math teachers at the building level.
 * Margie would like to find a good speaker who would address a content-area and our practice.
 * We should look to be presenters at the conference for next year.