Suh, J.M., Birkhead, S., Baker, C., Frank, T., Seshaiyer, P. (April, 2017) Examining Coaching Structures that Supported Mathematics Teacher Learning. Presented at National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, San Antonio, TX.
Suh, J.M. & Matson, K. (April, 2017). Mobilizing Teachers as Researchers to Promote an Innovative Classroom Practice of Implementing Mathematical Modeling in the Elementary Grades. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association Conference, San Antonio, TX.
Gallagher, M.A. & Suh, J.M. (April, 2017) Learning to Notice Ambitious Mathematics Instruction Through Cycles of Structured Observation and Reflection. AERA, San Antonio, TX.
Modeling Mathematics Ideas to Enhance Productive Disposition towards Mathematics- New! – “Family of Problems” This session will focus on implementing Modeling Mathematics Ideas to develop students’ math understanding and productive disposition towards mathematics. The workshop will engage teachers and math leaders in meaningful mathematical tasks called a “Family of Problems” that focus on algebraic and proportional reasoning, data analysis, and problem solving. Participants will also discuss the important teaching and assessment strategies that are used with this problem-based learning approach. We will share our framework for building Strategic Competence and Productive Dispositions through Modeling Mathematical Ideas including the application of mathematics for 1) problem solving; 2) problem posing; 3) mathematical modeling; 4) the flexible use of representational models, tools, technology and manipulatives to solve problems and communicate mathematical understanding; and 5) the deep understanding of conceptual models critical to understanding a specific mathematics topic. We will also share a series of classroom tested teacher-designed problem tasks called the “Family of Problems” which are rich tasks that have a related mathematics concept. • Jennifer Suh, jsuh4@gmu.edu, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Padhu Seshaiyer, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Patti Freeman • Linda Gillenillen
Making Instructional Shifts: Targeted Professional Development on Coaching Mathematics teacher leaders will share their experiences as co-facilitators with George Mason University instructors for lesson study with small teams of K-12 teachers enacting rich mathematics tasks. Participants will draw from the coaches’ challenges and celebrations as they engage in activities to envision instructional shifts in their schools. • Courtney Baker, cbaker@gmu.edu, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Terrie Galanti, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Alyson Eaglen • Jenny Clovis • Bonnie Krajeski • Amy Miknis • Jennifer Suh, jsuh4@gmu.edu, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Padmanabhan Seshaiyer, pseshaiy@gmu.edu, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Toya Frank, tfrank4@gmu.edu, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yHgwihCqeSzXGdM6HX66euuV6haihvJrUvNNWXbZhSw/edit?usp=sharing
Broadening Participation for English Learners in Mathematics We will present an assets-based approach for teaching mathematics to English language learners (ELLs) that was the guiding framework of a summer workshop and follow-up lesson stud for teachers’ grades 5-9 on rational numbers and proportional reasoning. This approach challenges educators to broaden their understanding of what it means to communicate mathematically. It also challenges the idea that vocabulary acquisition must precede deep mathematical thinking. Teachers in the session will have the opportunity to experience instructional scaffolds for ELLs based on contemporary research from experts in ELL and mathematics education. These scaffolds help to reduce cognitive overload while maintaining high cognitive demand as students productively struggle with challenging mathematical tasks. All examples will be presented in the context of rational numbers and proportional reasoning. The faculty, teachers, and coaches from the summer/fall workshop and subsequent lesson study will present how they used this approach in their schools, the instructional shifts they observed, the challenges they faced, and the advantages of teaching mathematics to ELLs using this approach. • Toya Frank, tfrank4@gmu.edu, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Rachelle Farmer – Fairfax County PS, VA • Abhilasha Tripathi – Prince William County PS, VA • Jennifer Suh, jsuh4@gmu.edu, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Courtney Baker, cbaker@gmu.edu, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Padmanabhan Seshaiyer, pseshaiy@gmu.edu, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Ducks & Sheep to Minotaurs & Pegasi: Algebraic Thinking Grades 2-11 Participants in this session will have the opportunity to look at how a single problem was modified and implemented across grades 2 through 11 to promote students’ understanding of algebraic reasoning. Presenters will be classroom teachers who collaborated to modify the task for use at each grade level and who implemented the problem in diverse settings. The vertical nature of this rich task will provide participants the opportunity to see how this task fits into their grade-level content. We will look at teachers’ implementation, students’ strategies, as well as the vertical articulation of content acquisition within the Patterns, Functions, and Algebra strand. Participants will have the opportunity to experience several versions of the task presented at multiple grade levels and analyze the progression of student work in algebraic reasoning. Presenters will also share online resources that we call “Family of Problems” with rich tasks at all grade levels. • Padmanabhan Seshaiyer, pseshaiy@gmu.edu, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Jennifer Suh, jsuh4@gmu.edu, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Courtney Baker, cbaker@gmu.edu, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Toya Frank, tfrank4@gmu.edu, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Sara Birkhead, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Terrie Galanti, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Emily Burrell, Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, VA • Liz Taylor, evtaylor1@fcps.edu, Fairfax County PS, VA • Brain Wiseman, Fairfax County PS, VA
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1g5JT5lskwkwQefDVuqekIDn_rxxjwKZnSm-7MNVzqcM/edit?usp=sharing
Mathematical Modeling in General Education and Advanced Academic Classrooms Is Mathematical Modeling (MM) equally successful in General Education and Advanced Academic settings? Elementary teachers designed and implemented a MM task engaging students in authentic problem posing and solving while addressing grade-level standards. We compare student responses and strategies and the development of 21st century skills. • Kathleen Matson, kmatson@masonlive.gmu.edu, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Jennifer Suh, jsuh4@gmu.edu, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Kim Fair – George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Samara Green – Fairfax County PS, VA • Christine Onide – Fairfax County PS, VA • Atifa Kuraishi – Fairfax County PS, VA • Spencer Jamieson, spencer.jamieson@fcps.edu, Fairfax County PS, VA • Carol Cockerill, Fairfax County PS, VA • LyndaLea Furtado, Fairfax County PS, VA • Padhu Seshaiyer, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Mathematical Modeling Inspiring our Students to Love Math Mathematical modeling is an important topic of study and mathematical practice in grades K-12. This session will engage the participants in considering Mathematical Modeling tasks in the early grades. Teachers and university collaborators will share Math Modeling Units taught in 3-6th grades and share how MM enhanced the teaching and learning of mathematics by bringing in the real world context to students and enriched the learning environment. We will launch the task called “America in a Day” to inspire the audience with the authentic MM task of designing a family outing for their summer vacation and two 6th grade lessons called “Food for Thought” and “Running a School Store” that bring in number sense, algebra and data analysis . • Liz Taylor, evtaylor1@fcps.edu, Fairfax County PS, VA • MaryAnne Rossbach, Fairfax County PS, VA • Spencer Jamieson, spencer.jamieson@fcps.edu, Fairfax County PS, VA • Kathleen Matson, kmatson@masonlive.gmu.edu, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Padhu Seshaiyer, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA • Jennifer Suh, jsuh4@gmu.edu, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA