Rethinking Math Curriculum

by Olga LaPlante

I am very interested in math, I love it, in fact, but have no intimate knowledge of the ways it's taught in the US. What I have seen - quite superfluously - has done little to excite me (for one thing, your long division order is backwards, and ever more confusing) about the prospect of my son getting excited about it either. I have heard many a time from people of various levels of education that they "hate" math - around the world, not just in US - and have always been perplexed by it.

The talk I have highlighted here appeals to me - and resurrects the appeal of math to a wider audience. Given that in many schools, the wise solution to "raise test scores" is simply longer hours of teaching math using the same textbook in the same classroom of kids with the same teacher using the same strategies, I wonder if the success is guaranteed.

I have also read a number of posts on this blog about the math curriculum (Everyday Math being one of the most memorable) and math core standards (somehow, Everyday Math was mentioned in that post, too, hmmmm...) and wonder if the more experienced and knowledgeable persons would kindly offer their insight about Dan Meyer's attempt to teach kids about math.

Featuring the Work of Gregory Landry

Mr. Landry's Online Math Learning Center at Deering High School

GeoGebra

Dynamic Mathematics for Schools



WebStart
Download to Your Desktop
Wikipedia: GeoGebra



David Bowie explains how to use it on Maine iTunes

Judy Chandler presents Mathematics in Design - An Investigation Using GeoGebra at the 2009 Online Spring Institute on Tuesday, May 5, 3:45 - 4:45 PM.

David Bowie presents GeoGebra - Redefining Math Instruction & Learning at the 2009 Online Spring Institute on Thursday, May 7, 3:45 - 4:45 PM.

MLTI Spring Math Training

Brief Description of Session:

This workshop is designed to introduce participants to a range of online applets, tools, and web-based resources that utilize content centered technology application to support mathematics teaching and learning. The primary focus will be on the use of high quality yet freely available resources to support teaching and learning goals in mathematics at the middle and high school level including the use of the OER tool GeoGebra.

Additionally, the content will include the use of formative assessment and activities with interactive applets specific to areas of known student misconception and errors as informed by research. This is an interactive, hands-on workshop that engages participants with tools and activities that can be used directly with students.

Please bring your laptops!!

Facilitator: Pam Buffington

Times: 8:00 - 2:30

Date/Location:

• April 27 - Lewiston High School
  
• April 29 - Jefferson Village School
  
• May 15 - Wiscasset High School
  
• May 22 - William Cohen School
  
• June 4 - Noble High School

MISTM
MISTM Math Portal
Online Registration

MARTI - Using Online Math Resources

Today I'll be working with teachers in the College Transition Program at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School on making use of the wealth of math resources and activities online.

Agenda

TelstarToo Session: Wikis and Math

Today the participants of the TelstarToo PLC will be gathering resources for specific math skills and themes . . . and then adding them to a wiki resources page using LIM's Resources Wiki.



Maine Learning Results for Math
K12 Station Math Search
42eXplore Mathematics
eMINTS eTHEMES for Math
Curriki for Math
Math from OER Commons
Math at LIM Resources
Custom Google Search for Math
Online Interactive Math Resources
Online Math Games
Problem Solving Strategies
Using Music with Math
Mathematics and Music
The Mathematical Magic of Music

Anyone else care to add a page relating to math?

The Tool: Dominoes

What can we learn from a set of dominoes?






Wikipedia: Dominoes
Domino Math Printable: Activities and Worksheets
(Can create templates from this site)
eHOW: How to Play Dominoes
Illuminations: Do It with Dominoes
The Mathematics of Dominoes
Math Games: Domino Graphs

Pi Day

by Deborah White

I know it's early to be thinking about Pi Day (March 14) but I stumbled upon these two songs - one about pi and one about friction that I just had to share.

Enjoy!

Mathematical Pi Animated Video

Mathematical Pi Lyrics and guitar chords

Mathematical Pi Audio

Sound of Friction Lyrics and guitar chords

Sound of Friction Audio

Online Math Manipulatives

Having physical hands-on manipulatives to work out problems is very helpful. The web gives us a wealth of virtual manipulatives that can carry the ideas to a different level of abstraction. Here is a list of possibilities:

Virtual Manipulatives
Online Interactive Math Resources
MISTM Math Portal

Math Wars

Check out the varying perspectives of videos on math education on the sidebar. What are your thoughts?

NCTM Standards
The Objectivist Point of View
MISTM Math Portal
Math Resources
Online Interactive Resources
Math Games
Problem Solving Resources in Math

Algebra

What do you think? Should all students take Algebra in high school?

Algebra Resources