Content Specifications and Other Resources from Sue on March 21st

Sue shared the revised Content Specifications that were completed on March 20th.  These will be helpful for us as we move forward for our MSP Empowering Teachers Grant.

Content Specifications Document 1
Content Specifications Document 2

Sue mentioned several resources today during our session.  Below you will find several of these links.

Teaching Channel - Great way to see mathematical practices in action through videos in the classroom.

Ohio Department of Education- Several Math resources  and model currciulumns that have been developed by Ohio.

Kansas-DOE developed these self-assessment tools that will provide information regarding where are students are in specific domains and clusters.  May be helpful in determining what professional development our teachers would benefit from and where our own gaps are currently.
Common Core Teacher Content/Confidence Self-Assessments for various grade levels.



Learning Progressions- In our conversation as a group, it was discussed that the learning progressions are key in getting teachers to see the "Big Picture" and how specific topics are taught throughout the grade levels in a way that develops a deep understanding of these topics.  Click on the link and scroll toward the bottom of the page to access these learning progressions. (Note: Number Systems was an area that we see in our data that  students are currently struggling with.  It will be important that teachers understand this progress.  Sue suggested that we have teachers engage in the related learning progression in PLC, trainings, etc...so they understand the progression.)

Bill McCallum's info on Progressions

Education Northwest- May be a good place to look for Focus and Coherence resources that we could use with our teachers. (And LOTS of other great resources here.

Hung-Hsi Wu's Homepage -This was mentioned in the a.m. session.  Fractions and Geometry curriculums.

Bill McCallum's site- He is instrumental in Common Core development.

Number System- WOW!  Great information relating to the Number System.  Good be a good resource for us.

Note:  Here is a great link relating to Ratios and Proportions from Granite that I wanted to share.

Gizmos: Interactive Simulations for Math and Science

Sue mentioned Gizmos, which allows students to solve math and science simulations.  Click here to access the Gizmos website.  There is a free 30 day trial.

Sue's Presentation from Nov. 10-11th

It is very exciting to see so many of us coming together today to continue this Common Core journey together. Many of you have been asking for Sue's presentation from her workshop on Nov. 10-11. Click here to access this presentation.

Persistence in Problem Solving-Choose 3 Ways

Here is the Choose 3 Ways problem solving tool/strategy that Kim Samuelson mentioned in our Dec. 14th meeting.  The video shows how it looks in the classroom and the template can be downloaded from this link also (right hand frame).

Mathematical Practices - The KEY to Mathematically Proficient Students

The Common Core Mathematical Practices are the "Habits of Mind" for math. Engaging students in the Common Core Mathematical Practices when teaching our content standards will be key in creating mathematically proficient students. During the afternoon of Nov. 11th, Sue Gendron shared the Math Practices Rubric and the Supplemental relating to this rubric. This provides a way to analyze where students and teachers are performing in each of these practices.


Another great resource that you might find valuable is the Common Core Math Practices Posters from Jordan District.

At our last Empowering Teachers MSP Meeting, you created posters based on the mathematical practice videos that you watch. This was a very valuable activity - and it was based off of the videos from the Inside Mathematics Website.

Welcome to Our Empowering Teachers Blog

As BPS teachers came together on Nov. 11th, 2011, the Empowering Teachers MSP Grant participants voiced their desire to have a place to share projects, ideas, and questions as we embark on this journey to improve student achievement in math by providing math teacher’s professional development to focus their instruction and engage students in learning and understanding.


Sue Gendron, from the International Center for Leadership in Education provided relevant research relating to what our students need to know and do in order to be career and college ready.  She provided valuable information relating to the Common Core State Standards and a vision of the Next Generation Assessments. The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium in which Montana is a part of is focusing on assessments that will provide immediate information and relevant reports that will drive instruction.