Thursday, September 12, 2013

It's all a big pile of knowledge

I had the opportunity to walk the halls today talking to teachers fighting through the learning process of a new curriculum.  Mostly great reviews, "just a lot of really good options to choose from and not sure which to choose."  However, as I talked to more teachers and updated a few Principals it became more evident how vital PD is.  

This may seem obvious but PD time is extremely hard to come by.  In math, especially in Elementary we are always working with ELA for PD time.  But can we do it better?  We need to teach everyone (teachers and administration) what it really means to have a standards based assessment.  That math assessments aren't always correct or incorrect,  that there are degrees of accuracy within those ranges.  That if teachers don't expect a specific level of quality in students mathematical writing they won't see the growth in writing they are looking for and with the new assessments students scores will be sacrificed.  That learning math doesn't just mean fluency, it means thinking in a manner that allows students to understand how to become fluent.  That enrichment should happen to all students, not just the those performing well.  That projects are not designed to be an end of topic item but something that students can slowly work on throughout an entire topic or set of topics.  

Is this just Math PD?  Absolutely not.  This is just high quality instruction at its best.  Too often we get stuck in a manner of teaching that tends to be how we were taught.  It is doubtful that we were instructed through the lens of the mathematical practices, yet that is exactly what we have to do.  The CCSS has changed the game for the better.  It is up to districts to find a way to give teachers the time to catch up.  

In reality, math is easy.  Teach to the mathematical practices while assessing to the standards and meeting the needs of our students through remediation and enrichment.  

Sounds easy...to bad it isn't.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Mark
    Going thru my e-mails to reduce percentage of mailbox in use...wish some of my students could get their math scores this high!!! :)...thought I would read at least one of the blogs posted.
    What a coincidence that it was about time!!!
    Keep up the good work!!!

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