District PLC MeetingElementary

December 3, 2013

2:30 – 3:45pm

Agenda – Kindergarten2:30pm Welcome, Reminders, and Logistics2:35pm Mathematical Practice Standard #1“I am excited about the practice standards!”“It was challenging because we did not have enough time to dig deeper.”3:15pm Science: Weather and Seasons3:40pm Wrap-Up and Exit Slip3:45pm Dismissal

REMINDERS AND LOGISTICS

The Purpose of the District PLCs

• Support the implementation of our common district initiatives

• Provide teachers with an opportunity to share ideas and collaborate with colleagues from around the district

Questions?

• We want to make an effort to deliver deep, meaningful professional development to you each and every session.

• Time is limited and we want to make good use of the 75 minutes.

• Today – If you have questions about what is presented – please write them on a notecard. If you would like a personal response – please write down your name and school.

Norms

• Be on time – every time• Be prepared – bring back requested materials• Be present – No side conversations– Avoid using your computer or cell phone– Avoid working on other tasks – stay focused on

the topic at hand• Be respectful of your peers and the facilitator• Participate!

MATHEMATICAL PRACTICE STANDARD

#1:MAKE SENSE OF PROBLEMS AND

PERSEVERE IN SOLVING THEM

Problem SolvingFeedback: “I would like more information on solving open-ended

problems.”

Problem solving is not an algorithm to be practiced or a fact to be memorized. Effective problem solvers decide…

1. What is the problem asking?2. How should I begin?3. Where is the necessary data?4. What should I do with the data?5. Did my plan work?6. Does my answer make sense?7. Do I need to go back and try a

different strategy?

Practice with Problem Solving – Kindergarten Feedback: “I would like more information on how to

match MPS with our current unit.”

Trimester 2The number shows how many basketballs in all. The Red Team has 10 basketballs. How many basketballs does the blue team have?

1. What is the problem asking?2. How should I begin?3. Where is the necessary data?4. What should I do with the data?5. Did my plan work?6. Does my answer make sense?7. Do I need to go back and try a different

strategy?

2 min. – Independent Work

5 min. – Group Discussion

*Attempt to solve multiple times using different strategies.

Solve the way your students would solve this

problem.

Problem Solving – Strategies

To support our students: we identify, we discuss, and we move toward making the process automatic.

Students need

strateg

ies in

their back

pockets.

• Choose an operation• Draw a picture• Find a pattern• Make a table• Use manipulatives• Guess and Check• Make an Organized List• Use Logical Reasoning• Work Backward• Use a Formula• Eliminate Possibilities• Use a number line• Write an equation

Problem Solving – Strategies“I would like more information on how to align my teaching

with problem solving.”• Choose an operation• Draw a picture• Find a pattern• Make a table• Use manipulatives• Guess and Check• Make an Organized

List• Use Logical

Reasoning• Work Backward• Use a Formula• Eliminate

Possibilities• Use a number line• Write an equation

Strategy teaching is a blend of student exploration and direct teaching. • Highlight and discuss students’ approaches at every

opportunity.• It is also okay to introduce students strategies.• Students need ongoing experience in applying strategies.

Video: Persistence in Problem Solving

- The Teaching ChannelQuestions to consider:• How does the graphic organizer help scaffold problem solving for

students?• Why does Ms. Saul choose to have students work alone without

help?• How do “Heads Together Butts Up” and “Student-led Solutions”

contribute to the class culture around problem solving?• Do you do similar/different problem solving techniques in your

classroom? • Something you are interested in trying might be…

Building a Problem-Solving Disposition

Many students become easily frustrated with solving math problems. • Am I able to do this? • What if I get stuck? • What if it takes me too long to get the

answer?• What if my idea doesn’t work? • What if my answer is wrong? Believing it is possible to solve a problem, recognizing that

confusion is part of the process, and discovering that persistence pays off and are components of the positive

problem-solving disposition.

Math Practice Standard #1: Make sense of problems and persevere in

solving them.

Building a Problem-Solving DispositionFeedback: “It is fun talking to and learning from people from other

schools.”

Independently – read this article about Math Practice Standard #1 (3 minutes)

- Make notes- Underline- Highlight

Making Sense of Problems and Persevere in Solving Them

Feedback: “The wording in the math standards can be confusing!”

I Can Statement PostersFeedback: “I am excited about getting I Can Statements and not having to create them by myself!”Feedback: “I enjoyed writing I Can Statements.”Feedback: “I am excited about access to the MPS posters.”

Summing It UpTeaching problem solving is more than assigning problems to our students. It is a balance of guided experiences in which we support the development of our students’ thinking skills, as well as investigate experiences in which our students develop skills through trial-and error experiences.

Today we…• Practiced solving a problem collaboratively for our current

grade level unit.• Watched a video of elementary students working through the

problem-solving process and discussed with an elbow partner how this was similar or different from the problem solving in your classroom.

• Read an article about Practice Standard #1 and collaborated with a teacher from another school around your Aha’s and questions.

• Were provided with teacher action steps and probing questions to ask our students during the problem solving process.

Next Time We Will…• Take a self-assessment about problem solving in our individual

classrooms.• Make a list with a partner of what problem solving looks like

and sounds like.• Collaborate with multiple teachers outside of my school on how

they engage their students in solving problems. • Write a personal goal for implementing MPS #1 into my

classroom.

Elementary Math: Frequently Asked Questions

Are we receiving new math materials next school year?• Currently, there is a 19-member committee with teachers and

coaches from 17 schools around the district evaluating math materials that are highly aligned with the Iowa Core, rich in technology, supportive of an RTI structure, organized, and strong in problem solving strategies.

• If you would like more information about this process please visit the math website to view committee members and evaluation rubrics. • PD Resources > Instructional Materials Upgrade.

• Our current two finalists include:• Go Math – Houghton Mifflin• My Math – McGraw-HillFeedback: “I would like more information about the new math

materials for next year.”

Elementary Math: Frequently Asked Questions

What is Smarter Balanced Assessment and when do our students take this new assessment?• Smarter Balance Assessment is an assessment that the state has

informally began evaluating to replace the Iowa Assessment. • It is a balanced, high-quality assessment system to which

includes formative, interim, and summative components that are aligned to the Common Core.

• SBA is computerized and therefore schools, students, parents will receive results in weeks, rather than months.

• Smarter Balance assessments include:• Multiple Choice • Short Constructed Response• Extended Constructed Response• Performance Tasks

Feedback: “Smarter Balance is vague.”

Elementary Math: Frequently Asked Questions

What is Smarter Balanced Assessment and when do our students take this new assessment?• It is not official that Iowa will be implementing this

assessment. The very earliest we would be using this assessment is the 2015-2016 school year. We will keep you informed.

• We will continue to discuss performance tasks and problem-based instruction through our District PLC time in order to support our students in the area of problem solving.

• If you would like more information and/or to view sample items and tasks for grades 3 – 5, please visit the elementary math website. • PD Resources > Early Out PLC > Smarter Balanced

AssessmentFeedback: “I would like more information on how we are preparing for Smarter Balance.”

KINDERGARTEN SCIENCE

WEATHER AND SEASONS UNIT

Unit Outline• 6 weeks in length to correspond with literacy unit

3 (120 minutes/week)I Can Statements (student outcomes for the unit)• I can name the 4 seasons. • I can identify the changes in weather from season to season in

Iowa.• I can use various tools to gather data about the weather.• I can recognize the sun as the source of heat and light for the

Earth. • I can identify seasons, day and night as events that are repeated

in regular patterns. • I can explain that the sun can only be seen during our daylight

hours. (We are unable to see the sun at night because of the rotation of the Earth)

Resources• Foss Trees Kit, Observing Weather section

(in the front of the manual) only• Lots of other resources listed on the

curriculum guide and online. • Science website

http://science.dmschools.org

Contact Kim O’Donnell if you need any supportkimberly.odonnell@dmschools.org

Other Ideas For Teaching Weather and Seasons

• Record student generated weather vocabulary on an ABC framework and uses those words to create a matching game for students to learn weather vocabulary.

• Students explore correlations between dress and weather. They write weather dress codes to be adopted by the elementary grades.

• Invite a meteorologist from a local television station to speak to your students about weather.

• Make your own weather instruments (barometer, anemometer, thermometer and vane) to collect weather data as a class: http://ciese.org/curriculum/weatherproj2/en/lesson1.shtml

Collaboration Time!• Form small groups (3-4) and discuss how

you plan to teach weather and seasons with your students, and integrate science concepts with literacy and math.

• Add your lesson ideas to the weather and seasons page on the elementary science wiki! (you’ll need to become a member to add to the page.) Your facilitator has the directions! www.dmpsscience.wikispaces.com

WRAP UP & EXIT SLIP

Exit Slip

Use a notecard on your table to complete one of the following sentence starters:• I am excited about…• Something I find challenging…• I would like more information about…• I really enjoyed…