Overview

In this course, you will build your own math content knowledge as you learn strategies for teaching topics conceptually, not just procedurally. This four-session series consists of full-day trainings over several months, and between sessions you will be expected to try out what you learn in your own classroom. Activities will be hands-on and exploratory. Teachers must commit to all four sessions. Teachers with students at a variety of levels are encouraged to attend.

    Audience

    This professional development activity/course is designed for:

  • Any teacher, with or without any math background, who is interested in teaching to all aspects of rigor (conceptual understanding, application, and procedural skill and fluency) using the College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education (CCRSAE) for Mathematics.
Description

Building a Solid Foundation (BSF) focuses on developing conceptual understanding of math topics. Conceptual understanding is the ability to represent mathematical situations in a variety of ways and representations for different purposes and contexts, and is necessary for successful mathematical learning (National Research Council, 2001). The CCRSAE for Mathematics and its supporting elements (the Standards for Mathematical Practice and key instructional shifts) will be used as a foundation from which to explore what should be taught when, and how it should be taught. These elements will be illustrated through activities that will build your content and pedagogical knowledge.

The concepts addressed in this course cover the following domains of the math CCRSAE: Number and Operations, Operations and Algebraic thinking, Geometry, and Data with a focus on Levels A-C. Content covered: Number and Operations Base 10 and Fractions; Ratio and Proportional Reasoning; Operations and Algebraic thinking; Geometry; and Measurement and Data.

BSF is the first in a series of sequential offerings focusing on math content and pedagogy, and is a prerequisite for those who wish to take the second course in the series (Math Concepts).

  • To receive a certificate of completion, participants must attend all sessions (August 10, September 17, October 12, November 2).
  • PDPs are available for teachers who complete a final project in addition to the required coursework.

For more information, please contact Sherry Soares (sherry_soares@terc.edu). 

    Learning Objectives

    Upon completion of this professional development activity/course, you will be able to:

  • Use your conceptual understanding of traditionally taught math topics (such as the algorithm for multiplication) to explain the why behind the how 
    Apply new pedagogical strategies for teaching core foundational topics, such as operations with whole numbers and algebraic reasoning 
    Reflect on your own teaching practice vis-à-vis research on teaching and learning math 
    Use the CCRSAE to inform instruction 
Presenter(s) / Facilitator(s)
Connie Rivera
Prerequisites

N/A

Date
08/10/2018 - 9:00 am to 08/10/2018 - 4:00 pm
09/07/2018 - 9:00 am to 09/07/2018 - 4:00 pm
10/12/2018 - 9:00 am to 10/12/2018 - 4:00 pm
11/02/2018 - 9:00 am to 11/02/2018 - 4:00 pm
Location

Mount Wachusett Community College
27 Jackson Road, Room 129
Devens, MA 01434
United States

PD Center
SABES Mathematics and Adult Numeracy Curriculum and Instruction PD Center
Topic Area
CCRSAE (College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education)
High School Equivalency (HiSET/GED)
Learning Disabilities / Differences
Mathematics and Adult Numeracy
PDP Eligible
Yes
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