Math+Committee

Karen Tignor, 10/13/10:

I met with the Math Committee on 10/12/10. I've been asked to get your feedback, as a grade level, by Friday, 10/22/10, regarding the following:

Our school is planning to have a Math Incentive Program, similar to our Reading Incentive Program. The program will take place during January, February, and March of 2011. I need to give suggestions from the First Grade Team as to what we should focus on during each month. (For example, in January, we will be in the third six weeks; and we could suggest subtraction facts from 18.)

Also, our committee looked at K-3 Math Trends for our school. We need to suggest, as a grade level, what areas in math we would like to start focusing on as a school. For example: # and # sense; computation and estimation; measurement and geometry; probability and statistics; and patterning, functions, and algebra.

I hope I'm making sense. Please let me know if you need more information. I really appreciate your input.

Thanks, again!

I feel that additon and subtraction practice would be great to focus on as much as possible, as well as number sense because those areas seem to be the "hardest" for students when it comes to assessments. The more practice, the better! Estimation is also tricky for the kids. I think incentives would be fabulous! I'm not sure if this is helpful at all but it's all I got at this point! :) Rachel

Tammy: Addition and subtraction would be easy for us to manage. Number order and number sense have been a weak area for our students so I think if we focus on this area the gains would be greater on SOL tests. Before we decide, I would like to have a look at the SOL 3rd grade data to see the weak math areas.We might even need a 3rd grade teacher to share how the questions are asked for those skills/areas. Any idea how this program is going to be run? The reading program was a home program. Would this be a home program? If it is a school run program, I have a few ideas. I'll wait for your answers first.

Michelle-I think we should focus on addition and subtraction too but I wouldn't even mind focusing on money. That is a difficult concept for most of them and it kinda goes along with adding and subtracting. I agree with Tammy that maybe we should see what was low for 3rd grade SOL's but I think number sense would be a great focus point because some of the children really struggle with that.

Jennifer- I agree with all that has been said: addition, subtraction, money, and number sense...will we have to pull stuff together for this program or will it be handed to us like the reading one?

Karen - Thanks so much for your comments. I will be meeting with the Math Committee on 10/26 and will attempt to get answers to your questions.

Karen - I attended our Math Committee meeting today and this is what I found out: The Math Incentive Program will be a home incentive program (ie, families will log whether their child completed the task we pick.) Teachers will need to turn in calendars for prizes, like the Reading Incentive Program. The PTO is funding the prizes, and volunteers/Watch Dogs will be in charge of distributing prizes to classrooms. If we decide to focus on addition/subtraction facts, classroom teachers will need to put together a master list of facts and make copies. I mentioned the ideas of money and estimation. (It was stated in the meeting that estimation may be hard to do at home.) We still need to make a definite decision for each month (ie, Jan-addition facts, Feb-subtraction facts, Mar-both). I have until 11/30 to respond to Melissa Arnold. Also, I need to get the3rd grade SOL data from Melissa Foltz to help us pick a math strand on which to focus. As soon as I get that info, I'll let you know. Our response regarding the math strand is also due by 11/30.

I attended our Math Committee Meeting today (11/30). I dropped the ball on getting the data Tammy requested from Melissa Foltz so we can determine what concepts we need to focus on for the Math Incentive Program and for the school. Melissa is going to meet with me as soon as she checks her calendar. Tammy, are you willing to attend this meeting if it suits your schedule?

I found out more information about the Math Incentive Program. We, as teachers, only have to come up with the concepts that the children need to practice and provide suggestions as to how the parents can practice at home. We can also include websites. We need to determine how long the children need to practice each night.

As a school, we will be focusing on number sense. I have been asked to get a list of manipulatives found in each of your classrooms. I also need a "wish list" of what you'd like to have. This is due by my meeting on 1/11/11. I'll send you a reminder before then.

Thanks for your patience.

1/8/11 - The materials were prepared and distributed for the math incentive program. Sorry your reminder note about the manipulatives list went out yesterday. I wish I had done it sooner. Please have your lists to me by 1/11/11. I have a meeting after school that day. :]

1/11/11 - I met with the Math Committee today and turned in our list of manipulatives. I still need to get Lori's and Rita's. Our Committee is going to be working on a list of math verbs and nouns that we all will use as a school. This is to help students understand the vocabulary better on the SOLs and to create a common language for all grades. When our Committee meets again on 2/15/11, we will be discussing fifth grade verbs and nouns. We will be looking at Essential Knowledge on the Math SOLs Curriculum Framework. I will take the Framework for first grade, and provide you feedback as we start at our next meeting. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Also, I have a poster that was given to our grade level from David Hindgardner. It has the aligned math SOLs for K thru 8th grade. It is really interesting to look at it because it gives an overall view of the math SOLs. It will be in the Taff/Tignor classroom if you'd like to see it.

Karen