At the end of a typical school year, districts and schools are in the throes of assessing for student growth, planning teacher professional development, and laying the groundwork for a successful school year.
But 2019-20 was no ordinary school year.
District leaders need to look back and reflect on what happened, how it impacted instruction and learning, and how they can prepare teachers to make up learning loss next year through equitable instruction, keeping in mind that learning could continue remotely.
Our parent organization, Pivot Learning, and their partner UnboundEd have developed an easy-to-implement, customizable Equitable Learning Recovery Toolkit that includes everything you need to conduct surveys with all stakeholders about teaching and learning this spring and synthesize that data to guide professional development and lesson planning for next fall. (more…)
The CORE Mathematics team has put together this list of free resources — covering lessons and activities, building fluency and number sense, and assessments — to support remote math instruction. Even once classrooms open again, these will continue to be go-to resources to enhance your lessons.
Lessons and Activities
- Mathematics Assessment Project (MARS Tasks): The Mathematics Assessment Project provides lessons and tasks to engage students in applying math knowledge through problem-solving and reasoning at the middle and high school levels.
- EngageNY: EngageNY provides a full K-12 curriculum for math and ELA including lessons, activities, practice, and how-to videos. (more…)
As we all continue to navigate COVID-19 school closures, we are aware that many of you are faced with an increased challenge to provide equitable access to learning for all of your students. We wanted to share a few free resources we’ve curated from our trusted partners that can support your own professional learning around equitable instruction and that can help your educators and parents with the transition to at-home learning.
If we can be of assistance during this time, please reach out. We are here to provide support and advice as you continue to serve our students. (more…)
CORE’s Director of Mathematics, Dean Ballard, was in Las Vegas Feb. 25 – 28 for this year’s NABE conference. If you missed his session or just missed getting the handouts, we’ve got them here for you!
Twenty Techniques to Increase Access to Solving Math Word Problems
Fractions are typically one of the most challenging topics for both students and teachers. During this one-hour webinar, CORE’s Director of Mathematics, Dean Ballard, will share techniques for making fraction concepts and operations understandable, increasing retention, and building fluency.
Regardless of grade level, there are four fundamental things educators must do for their students to experience math success.
1. Apply explicit instructional techniques effectively to both direct and inquiry-based instruction
2. Develop student use and understanding of mathematical vocabulary
3. Differentiate instruction easily and appropriately
4. Promote the active use of discourse strategies to deepen mathematical understanding
During this hour-long webinar, CORE’s Director of Mathematics, Dean Ballard, examines all four requirements and share tips and techniques to ensure they are all incorporated into math instruction.
WATCH NOW
When teachers have a range of evidence-based solutions at their fingertips, and a solid plan to effectively use them, they can better meet the needs of students who struggle with math.
Watch this on-demand webinar to learn best practices and practical advice to support these students from CORE’s Director of Mathematics, Dean Ballard.
Dean reviews:
- How to plan for and use time for intervention
- What the focus of intervention time should be — foundational knowledge, today’s lesson, and/or tomorrow’s lesson?
- How and what types of assessments to use
- What materials to use for Interventions
- Daily fluency work
Help accelerate math achievement with resources and strategies that ensure students receive instruction and supports appropriate to their individual needs.
Each school year, many students fall further and further behind in math. Often they don’t have solid number sense nor mastery of important grade level fluencies. Consequently, valuable time must be spent addressing these gaps rather than focusing on new concepts.
It is critical that educators possess the knowledge and skills to ensure that all of their students move to the next grade level with the necessary foundation in numbers and operations, so they can successfully master more challenging concepts.
During this webinar, CORE’s Director of Mathematics, Dean Ballard, discusses the importance of mathematical fluency and number sense in ensuring all students can meet rigorous mathematical standards.
Watch the webinar to learn:
- What are number sense and fluency, how are they related and why are they important?
- What are different paths toward fluency and number sense?
- What are important look-fors in the classroom?
- What role does developing fluency and number sense play with intervention and special education?
Dean provides recommendations for coaching teachers and specific activities to develop students’ mathematical fluency and number sense.
CORE’s Director of Math, Dean Ballard, delivered a presentation, “Implementation of ELD Standards in Math Classrooms,” at the CMC (California Mathematics Council) South on October 28, 2017. Download his presentation below.
