Higher-Level Training: Using Gizmos with the Common Core State Standards

Description

Participants will develop a deeper understanding of the Common Core's Content Standards and the Standards for Mathematical Practice and learn to develop effective lessons around the new standards. These lessons will allow students to go beyond memorizing facts, formulas and mnemonics, and instead will focus on enabling students to develop a deep conceptual understanding of underlying principles. Once teachers complete this course, they will be prepared to set up classrooms that resemble mathematics laboratories, using Common Core centered lessons where students can more easily think and reason mathematically.

Format

The course is designed as a six-hour* onsite session. The session time will be devoted to selected modules from the list below. Please select two of the following modules:

  • Common Core Overview: Teachers will become familiar with the learning progressions of the Common Core State Standards and the differences from their current state standards. Teachers will also identify Gizmos that have wide applicability to the Common Core, and they will create and share lesson ideas using these Gizmos.
  • Common Core - the Balance between Skills and Understanding: Teachers will build skills to engage students and advance mathematical understanding through the Mathematical Practices. Participants will review grade appropriate Common Core Content Standards and collaborate on potential teaching strategies to achieve student understanding. Participants will also work collaboratively to identify mathematical tasks to develop students' capacity to meet the Standards of Mathematical Practice.
  • Troublesome Topics in Math: Teachers will focus on appropriate mathematical content - fractions for elementary grades, ratios and proportions for middle grades, and functions for high school. Teachers will leave with specific strategies for leading students to a conceptual understanding of their focus topic. The Troublesome Topics for Math modules use Vertical Progression Guides for the Common Core, from Battelle for Kids, which help teachers differentiate instruction for students within mathematical topics that often are problematic for learners.

Participants will need to bring their own computer and will need access to the website via internet.

* Three-hour workshops are also available. These workshops provide more limited time for instruction, so only one topic from the list of available modules should be selected.

Expected Outcomes

Course participants will:

  • Understand the Common Core's Mathematical Practices and the implications of using them in the classroom.
  • Learn best practices for using Gizmos to teach the Common Core State Standards that allow students to experiment, visualize and draw conclusions about mathematics.
  • Investigate and understand Common Core learning progressions.
  • Plan Common Core mathematics lessons with the learning progressions and Gizmos, and share lesson ideas with colleagues.

Typical Customer Profile

Using Gizmos with the Common Core State Standards is intended for teachers who have completed Initial Training and would like to further their knowledge on using Gizmos to address the Common Core's Content Standards and Standards of Mathematical Practice.

To learn more about ExploreLearning's Higher-Level Training courses, contact ExploreLearning Sales at 866-882-4141, Option 2 or email ExploreLearning