Northshore K-12 Math Newsletter

SBA Resources 

for Grades 3-10

As SBA Testing season approaches, many teachers have been asking for resources that can help them review with their students prior to testing. Here are some things you may find useful. 

• ccssmathactivities.com: many of you have used this site to access templates for Shannon McCaw's Engaging Math Activities, but you'll also find Smarter Balanced resources here including slide shows with sample SBAC items that you can easily incorporate as warm-ups and in-class review.
• SBA Prep Packets for grades 6-8: In our Core Focus Trainings earlier this year, 6-8 math teachers were provided with SBA prep packets which are available in this Google folder.
• Smarter Balanced Practice and Training Tests: These can be accessed through the WCAP Portal.
• Interim Assessments: The interim assessments provide an opportunity for students to practice problems like those on their grade-level SBA. Interim Assessment Blocks (IABs) assess a particular topic or cluster of standards, while the Interim Comprehensive Assessment (ICA) mimics the full grade-level SBA. Teachers can access these in two ways:
  • Digital Interims on the WCAP Portal: These are administered similar to the actual SBA. In the WCAP Portal, Choose Test Administration and then expand the pop-up menu to choose the appropriate interim assessments you wish to administer. 
  • Paper/pencil interims: Some of the interim assessments are available for classroom use as paper/pencil tests in this Google folder.

Math Curriculum Adoption 

for Algebra 1 - Geometry - Algebra 2

On March 18-19, publishers for four programs were invited to present their instructional materials to the Math Curriculum Adoption Team. 

• Agile Mind
• CPM
• Math Techbook
• enVision AGA 2018

At this time, the team has recommended enVision AGA 2018 for piloting. The team continues to consider Agile Mind and CPM for further research and review before making a recommendation regarding these programs.

For details about our process or our adoption time line, please visit High School Math Adoption on the NSD Math Toolbox. 

Curriculum Implementation 

for Middle School Mathematics
 

Core Focus Quarterly Implementation Meetings

During this first year of implementation, teachers will meet each quarter to plan implementation of Core Focus instructional materials and give feedback on the NSD Scope & Sequences. Grade 4-5 EAP teachers met on March 20 or and 6-8 math teachers met March 26; please see 6-8 Math Implementation PD for meeting agendas and resources. Our final quarterly meeting for 6-8 math teachers will be on June 6, and our final meeting for 4-5 EAP teachers will be on June 11.

Core Focus Math Training with Shannon McCaw

On April 29, Shannon McCaw will be here again to work with NSD teachers who are implementing Core Focus instructional materials in the classroom this year. Please mark your calendar! More details will be coming in the future when this PD opportunity is available for registration. 
 

TOSA Support

I would love to meet with you, your department, and/or your PLC to help support the implementation of these new instructional materials in your classroom! If you would like to collaborate to plan a lesson or unit, co-teach a lesson, or use an Engaging Math Activity with your students, please don't hesitate to ask. :)

For more information about the 6-8 Math Implementation, please visit 6-8 Math Implementation on the NSD Math Toolbox.

Classroom and School Support

• 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. 

Links & Resources

Things I'm Checking Out...

• Time.com: There is a Better Way to Teach Students with Learning Disabilities by Jo Boaler and Tanya Lamar
• Robert Kaplinsky:
  • Mathematical Modeling: Do We Need Better SPIES or ANALYSTS?
  • Math Modeling Can...
  • More About Mathematical Modeling
• Ditch That Textbook:
  • Tech Like a PIRATE
  • #QRBreakIN: A game-changing approach to old-school centers 
• EDrenaline Rush: 
  • #QRBreakIN
  • Digital Escape Room
  • Clothespin Bumper Cars
  • Attack the Barracks
• Breakout EDU
• Achieve the Core: Math Coherence Map
• March 2019 Newsletters
  • PSESD Math News You Can Use 
  • WA State Mathematics Council
  • NCTM Summing Up