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Northshore K-12 Math Newsletter

September 2019

Vol. 7, Issue 2

Welcome back! 

 

Please forward this newsletter to any new math teachers at your school who may not be on this mailing list. Click the link at the top of this newsletter to subscribe. Thank you!

- Patty Stephens, K-12 Math TOSA

In This Issue

 

NSD Math Toolbox


Math information and resources can be found on the NSD Math Toolbox. On each grade band page you will find the following resources:
  • district scope & sequences
  • online access information
  • Algebra Readiness resources
  • Special Education resources for Moving with Math
  • information about the Common Core State Standards for high school mathematics
  • information about the grade 10 SBA Assessment for mathematics
  • iReady resources
  • recommended math sites
Information about PD opportunities will be posted regularly in this newsletter and on the PD page of the Math Toolbox.

If you are not able to find what you are looking for, please email Patty Stephens.

High School Math Updates


AGA Math Curriculum Adoption 

Last year a team of NSD math teachers reviewed instructional materials for  Algebra, Geometry and Algebra 2 and made a recommendation for piloting during the 2019-2020 school year. I know teachers are anxious to know the status of this recommendation, but right now the process is on hold. As soon as I receive word, I will pass the information along!  

6-8 Math Updates


Core Focus and EdGems

6-8 math teachers and 4-5 EAP teachers are in Year 2 of implementation of our new instructional materials from Core Focus. The EdGems online platform was updated over the summer and the process for creating courses has changed. Please see the 6-8 page of the NSD Math Toolbox for teacher directions to sign in and create classes in EdGems. 

Unfortunately, the EdGems update has broken links to the Teacher Gems through the online textbook. Teacher Gems can still be accessed through EdGems. 

I created a screencast that shows how to access the student online text. The link to this video is available on the Math Toolbox and can be shared students and parents but please let parents know that for copyright reasons, students must login using their district Google account to watch the video. I am not able to share or give access to non-NSD email addresses.

K-5 Math Updates

 

NSD Proficiency Scales for K-5 Math 

Last year the K-5 Math Leadership Team created proficiency scales for each cluster of standards in K-5 mathematics so we now have proficiency scales for kindergarten math through Algebra 2. These scales describe the performance levels typical of a student who performing at standard, approaching standard, or beyond standard. Our hope is that these proficiency scales will help elementary teachers with standards-based grading. 

Get Ready for iReady!

This year, K-8 teachers will begin using iReady to assess and monitor student performance and growth in reading and math. i-Ready was designed to support teachers in the challenge of meeting the needs of all learners. In a single program, i-Ready:

  • integrates powerful assessments and rich insights with effective and engaging instruction in reading and mathematics to address students’ individual needs

  • empowers teachers every day to make more informed instructional decisions

  • provides students with access to their own personalized path to growth

  • creates a historical record of student growth and progress over time.

This comprehensive K-8 assessment tool for reading and math is new for us. It will allow educators in the Northshore School District to systematically capture student performance and monitor growth. This will help us be more efficient, objective, and responsive as a whole. Remember that the goal is to get 1) the right information, 2) in the right doses, 3) at the right times without adversely affecting our students, teachers, and instructional time.

K-8 teachers who will be administering iReady assessments this fall received initial training in August. The follow-up session provided in October will focus on interpreting results and using data to make more informed instructional decisions. 

The iReady Login Guide can be accessed from the K-5 and 6-8 pages of the NSD Math Toolbox. As always, remember that your TOSAs are available to answer questions or meet with grade level teams or departments. Let us know how we can help!

2019-2020 Professional Learning Opportunities 

 

NSD Math PD Opportunities

Several math PD sessions, including STEM opportunities, will be available for NSD teachers during the 2019-2020 school year:

Classroom Support

  • Engaging Students in Mathematics Learning Through 3-Act Math Tasks (STEM)
  • Engaging Students in Mathematics Learning Through Desmos (STEM)
  • Engaging Students in Mathematics Learning Through Mathcasts (STEM)
  • Engaging Students in Mathematics Learning Through Number Talks

Online Courses

  • Ensuring Mathematical Success for All With Effective Math Teaching Practices (free through NSD)
  • How to Learn Math - For Teachers ($99 payable to Stanford University)
  • Mathematical Mindsets ($99 payable to Stanford University)

PLCs

  • Desmos-ify your AGA Classroom (STEM)
  • Desmos Computation Layer (STEM)
  • Don’t see a PLC that suits your interests or needs? Create one! That’s how the two Desmos PLCs got started last year. :) 

More Info

For more information about these sessions and a link to register, please visit the PD page of the NSD Math Toolbox. If you are interested in PD on a particular topic but don’t see something here that suits your interests or needs, make a request or suggestion! 

 

Northwest Math Conference, October 2019

The 2019 Northwest Mathematics Conference will be held Thursday, October 10th through Saturday, October 12th, 2019 at the Tacoma Convention center and the neighboring Hotel Murano.

The Northwest Mathematics Conference brings together mathematics teachers from all levels of primary, secondary, and undergraduate education to learn and share about mathematics and pedagogy. This year's featured speakers include Julia Aguirre and Dan Meyer. I am also honored to be presenting a 3-hour Desmos workshop on October 10th!  

Registration is now open and STEM hours are available for attendees. Click here for more information. Hope to see you there!
 

WAETAG Conference, October 2019

The Washington Association of Educators of the Talented and Gifted (WAETAG) will be holding the WAETAG 2019 Conference on Friday & Saturday, October 18th-19th at The Hilton in Bellevue, WA. The mission of WAETAG is to empower educators and communities to support and champion for the educational and social emotional development of talented and gifted students. This year’s featured speakers include Dr. Diane Heacox and Dr. Richard Cash. I am also honored to be presenting a 90-minute session, Making Learning Visible Through Mathcasts, where we will learn how to use Screencastify and other tools to capture student mathematical thinking.

Registration for the WAETAG 2019 Conference is now open. Clock hours, including STEM clock hours, are available through the conference.

Classroom and School Support


Please contact me if I can help support you. Last year I had the opportunity to:
  • meet with groups of teachers at several elementary schools to learn about the priorities in the CCSS,
  • teach model lessons from our new middle school math curriculum in EAP and middle school math classes,
  • participate in math department planning sessions at several middle schools as they move toward increasing the number of 8th graders enrolled in Algebra,
  • plan 3-Act Math Tasks with teachers, 
  • help teachers plan and implement Desmos activities in several classrooms
  • participate in STEM PLCs with teachers. 
If I can support your work with students or your department, please don't hesitate to ask! 

Links & Resources


Things I'm Checking Out...
This newsletter comes to you by:
 

Patty Stephens

K-12 Mathematics Curriculum Specialist
Northshore School District
Email: pstephens@nsd.org
Copyright © 2019 Northshore School District, All rights reserved.


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