Self-Assessment of Core Competencies

Student self-assessment of the Core Competencies has sparked great interest and discussion across the province.  Over 90 Surrey teachers and 50 Richmond teachers came to learn more about the work of a group of fabulous Surrey Primary teachers. 

I had the honour of sharing their stories, experiences and students’ examples about reflecting and self-assessing the Core Competencies. We have met several times over the last few years to network, discuss, and develop a story that we wanted to share with our colleagues to help with this journey.

This is an incredible team!  Thanks so much.

I have attached the Power point that shares the journey of this team.  It walks you through the following questions:

1. How did we start?
2. What did we do?
3. How did it evolve?
4. Where are we now?

We focused on setting the stage by getting  to know your students, developing a community of learners and using explicit Core Competencies language with the students (at a developmentally appropriate level).

The comparison of ‘reflection and self-assessment’ was such a rich discussion.  We landed in the place with the following:

Here are our thoughts about introducing the Core Competencies to young learners:

Please refer to the Power point to see the wisdom of these teachers and how they bring the Core Competencies alive in their classroom and allow their students to reflect and self-assess.

These are valuable links for additional resources:

Surrey Schools CSL – all videos and resources are found on this link

https:/sd36csl.com/

Surrey Helping Teachers Support

bit.ly/curriculum36

Stay tuned for additional support in the New Year!

Foundational Keys to Success

We were thrilled to meet with close to 40 new teachers, new to Kindergarten or Grade 1 on October 10, 2017.  It is always amazing to see the energy in a room for an after school session.  These teachers were eager to learn about the foundational pieces (Self-regulation, Literacy and Numeracy), network and think about ways to establish a firm foundation with their learners.  We shared the essential Literacy and Numeracy foundations and routines that can be used daily to provide opportunities for the learners to make connections.

The Power of Ten Frames

I was thrilled to share ‘The Power of Ten Frames’ with over 40 wonderful teachers at Lord Byng Elementary school in Richmond on January 16, 2017.  The teachers were enthusiastic to learn about how by using ten frames will help their students develop number sense and computational fluency.  The importance of using the visual tools of five and ten frames was explored.  We looked at the developmental sequence of using five/ten frames, as well as, authentic practice, provocations, and practical applications in classrooms. The teachers appreciated the reminder of how to use ten frames to develop the core competencies in their math classes.

Linking Assessment and Curriculum

I want to thank all the amazing people who attended the two sessions I presented at the B.C. Primary Teachers Association in beautiful Nanaimo, B.C. on October 21, 2016.  Kudos to the wonderful BCPTA executive for organizing a great conference.  Faye Brownlie started off the day with an inspiring keynote.  The selection of presentations and speakers was outstanding. Thank you all for your hard work and massive amount of time and effort.

In my sessions we discussed the ‘Knowing, Understanding and Doing’ model of the revised curriculum.  We ‘dug a little deeper’ into how all the pieces fit together.  We looked into the 6 practices of Formative Assessment and the importance using assessment to inform instruction.  The questions we need to ask ourselves for each student (Where is the student in their learning? Where do they need to go?  How are they going to get there?)  were explored.  By using developmental continuum’s, rubrics (co-created with students), and performance standards, everyone will be able to answer these questions (students, teachers and parents).

We explored viewing Communicating Student Learning as an on-going, communication process, versus a ‘one time’ event report card.  Times have changed, curriculum has changed, and how we communicate the learning needs to change. We are the conductors of the learning in our classrooms and need to provide learning opportunities that allow students to explore their passions and interests through an inquiry approach.  Please find the power point presentation and supporting resources that I shared at the sessions on my blog.  I look forward to continuing the conversation about ‘linking assessment and curriculum’ with you in the future.

Big Results in a Small Amount of Time

On May 17, 2016 over 150 teachers gathered to explore, discuss and make connections.  After a long day at work, these teachers eagerly investigated and shared ideas regarding how to use ‘5 Mathematical Routines’ (Quick Images, Counting, Number Talks, Number Lines and Which One Doesn’t Belong) in their classrooms.   These 5 – 15 minute routines help to develop a mathematical community, provide regular practice on mathematical concepts, develop number sense and computational fluency with the students.

“The ultimate goal is that students make connections over time, build an understanding of relationships among numbers and operations, and ultimately apply their number sense understanding to problem solving.”                                                                                ~Jessica Shumway

These routines are directly connected to the B.C. revised curriculum.  The focus on curricular competencies to ‘show what you know’ (the content) is embedded in all of these routines. Each routine has a slightly different emphasis and purpose, but all of them focus on communicating, thinking and working together (the Core Competences). The structures of routines may include being part of a ‘warm up’, daily math investigation, mini-lesson, guided math group, or a ‘reflect and share’ session.

Here is a description of the 5 routines focused on during the session:

Quick images

• Students are shown pictures displaying groups of objects or symbols, viewing each for only a few moments.
• Students are encouraged to take a ‘picture’ and visualize the image in their head.
• Students are asked to share their thinking about the images shown (i.e. How do you see it?)

Counting

• Counting Around the Circle – Whole class participation. Each student says a number as you count around the circle.
• Counting Collections – Partner work. Each pair is given a collection of objects to estimate, count and record the count.
• Choral Counting – Whole class participation (or small group). The teacher decides on a number to start on and then a number to skip count by.  The teacher records the number, pausing the count at a strategic moment and ask questions. The goal is not just practice rote counting, but to engage the children in reasoning, predicting and justifying.

Number Talks

Conversations with the whole class that are usually about 5 – 10 minutes in length.

• Intended to help develop conceptual understanding and efficiency with number.
• The teacher presents a mental math problem.
• Students are asked to think about the problem and then share solutions and explain thinking.
• The teacher acts as a facilitator to guide the conversation.

Number Lines

• Numbers are represented as points and distance on a line.
• They provide representation of the relationships of number and the spatial sense of quantities and magnitude.
• Teachers use number lines to represent numbers and support reasoning about them.
• Open number lines provide flexibility in thinking. Students are asked where they might place a number in relationship to another number.
• Open number lines are also used to help students add and subtract numbers and demonstrate their reasoning.

Which One Doesn’t Belong – wodb.ca (see examples on this website)

• Students are presented with four different numbers, objects or shapes (that are alike and different in many ways)
• Questions are asked:
  • What do you notice?
  • What makes all the items alike?
  • What makes them different?
  • Which one doesn’t belong?
• Students explain and justify their choice

Each of these routines only take a small amount of time but when used consistently…they will help to build your students’ understanding, confidence and ability to communicate their thinking. Are your students able to make connections, communicate their thinking and see themselves as competent and confidence mathematicians?

Please see the PowerPoint presentation and resources connected to this post on the Big Results in a Small Amount of Time page for more examples and clarification.

Take the time out of your day to use one of these 5 routines and let me know how it goes!

Reggio-Inspired Mathematics in Surrey

Over 125 Primary Teachers from Surrey gathered on Thursday, January 28, 2016 in our new Resource and Education Centre (REC) to explore and discover elements and ideas of Reggio-Inspired Mathematics.  Many teachers have become more aware of the highly regarded early learning program from Reggio Emilia, Italy.   In Surrey, there is a growing interest in how Reggio-Inspired practices might enhance mathematical teaching and learning. After teaching all day, these teachers eagerly explored direct provocations focusing on Number, Pattern, Geometry and Measurement.  There was enthusiasm as they used ‘loose materials’ and ‘mathematically structured’ materials to investigate the mathematics.

We explored the practices that would help develop our students’ mathematical understanding:

• To see the image of the child as capable and creative, and responsible for their own learning
• To create an aesthetic environment that is a place for wonder
• To focus on the ‘Big Ideas’ and an emergent curriculum
• To use ‘loose parts’, nature and mathematically structured materials to build understanding
• To use documentation to make learning visible

The role of the teacher was discussed:

• To create an inquiry based environment
• To listen and ask questions
• To ‘toss the ball’ back to students
• To help students uncover the curriculum
• To document the learning
• To enable students to build on their understanding

Bringing the outdoors indoors is an important principle of Reggio.  Children are so interested in learning through nature.  Providing natural materials for the students to explore mathematics increases engagement and wonder.  Mathematically structured materials like pattern blocks, ten frames and Cuisenaire rods are often provided to discover concepts.

With the revised curriculum it is so important that teachers have a deep understanding of mathematics.  Janice Novakowski and myself have created ‘concept’ summaries for essential understandings involving; Subitizing, Counting, Patterning and Place Value.  These often help teachers to build on their own understanding of the concepts.

Teachers explored and made connections to the revised curriculum by focussing
on ‘Big Ideas’, curricular competencies, and content.  The idea of ‘Direct prompts,
Implied prompts and Open exploration’ was investigated during the session.

Thanks to all the amazing teachers that attended the session.  Hopefully, you took away some ideas to use in your classroom.  Remember the important message… ‘One
Step at Time’!

What Really Counts?

In April I was extremely lucky to attend the NCTM conference in Boston Massachusetts. I listened to a fabulous session titled ‘Counting Matters: Why We Should Pay More Attention to Counting’. The presenters (Elham Kazemi, Allison Hintz, Kassia Omohundro Wedekind, Teresa Lind, and Angela Chan Turrou) were so enthusiastic and engaging. I knew I had to return to my district and try some of the routines presented from Jessica Shumway’s book ‘Number Sense Routines’.

With great excitement I collected materials and ventured out to several schools to try out my new discoveries. Thanks to all my wonderful colleagues (Sarah Schnare, Carrie Donahue, Cara Johns, and Amanda Crawford) for sharing their students with us. My wonderful friend and ‘partner in crime’, Lillah Martin, joined me on the journey. We learned so much from the students that we needed to share the experience with others.

On May 12 an amazing group of around 80 teachers met and uncovered the power of two ‘counting routines’ in the Primary classrooms (counting collections and choral counting). I am always astonished by the devotion of teachers who attend after school workshops. The group explored counting collections, and choral counting while making connections to important math concepts and seeking out patterns.

Learning to count while simultaneously developing a sense of quantities and number relationships is an important foundation for students. Counting is more than repeating a rote sequence and recognizing the numerals. Counting has proven to be important to lay the foundation for understanding of the base-ten system, operating on numbers and problem solving. When students develop competence, they not only count with accuracy and ease, but will also develop the sense of the quantity of numbers they are working with. The focus moves from knowing the number they landed on to making reasonable estimated and noting the reasonableness of the outcome of the counting.

I challenge you to try out these routines with your students to uncover the important math concepts and rediscover the joy of counting.

Please check out this link http://tedd.org/ for additional information. Again, thanks for the amazing presenters and Twitter friends of the NCTM Boston session.

Read a Story, Explore the Math

I feel honored to have spent time with over 90 amazing Primary teachers at the BCPTA conference in beautiful Victoria B.C. on October 24, 2014. What a wonderful group of dedicated teachers who love to learn some different ways to support their learners.

Everyone loves a good story. Teachers love reading them and students love hearing them. What better way to set the stage for a math lesson. Last May 2014 Carole Fullerton and I collaborated together to create a new resource Read a Story: Explore the Math.

This resource promotes the teaching of important math concepts through the exploration of delightful children’s books. Many of these books are newly published and all have the potential for students to engage in math and provide opportunities to explore in meaningful ways.

At the conference we shared most of the books, some of the activities and tried a few for ourselves. We explored the tasks with Cuisenaire rods, dominoes, two sided counters, ten frames and dice. By using the manipulatives the students are encouraged to make connections to the concepts and represent their thinking in concrete ways.

Stories allow us a shared experiences. They engage us emotionally, and make us curious about the world. Carole and I hope that this resources will provide ideas for possibilities to pair stories with mathematical investigations that will inspire rich mathematical thinking in your students.

Basic to the Basic ~ A Better Way – Part 2

Report cards, snow, flu and tired bodies didn’t stop over 50 teachers from attending the second part of ‘Back to the Basics’.  It always amazes me that these dedicated teachers attend after school workshops to network, share and learn together.  Thank you all for caring so much about your students and helping them to make sense of mathematics.  We all agreed that we want our students to understand the basic addition and subtraction facts by applying strategies that make sense.  Please continue the conversations and building the important foundation with our young learners.

Now I Know My ABCs

blog post by Lillah Martin

This afternoon over 70 teachers gathered to hear Sandra and I talk about the basics of teaching the alphabet.  Most children come into our classrooms “knowing” the alphabet because of the ABC song, or TV shows that showcase the alphabet but they do not have an alphabet awareness that makes sense to becoming writers and readers.  We have many little learners that think “lmnop” is one “thing”!

We revisited a very old program based on Anna Ingham’s blended sight sound method, with some adaptions of our own, and shared a story for all 26 letters, that gave the explicit sound as well  the letter formation. Using this “method”, the letters are introduced in groups of 2 or 3, selected by the way they are voiced, common usage, or sometimes the shape they have.  We spent time noticing where the tongue is in relation to the roof of the mouth, or the teeth, what shape the lips take and analyzing how the sound “feels”.   Many children need to have this pointed out to them.  The letters are introduced quickly, explicitly, and with an engaging little story that the children can easily remember .

By the nature of this method, all letters are introduced within a month, left on display, referred to in meaningful ways that build connections, allowing for each learner to take their next steps in a developmentally “makes sense” way.

The “what next…” in the classroom was also shared with ideas for using children’s names, alphabet books and  embedding letters/sounds at every opportunity.  With small group explicit instruction and meaningful activities to target specific  areas you will see a joyful explosion of confident writers and readers.

The alphabet song does still have a very important place in our classroom—it should be visible in the room and sung at least 3 times a day as it lists the letters in order, is a great strategy tool for learners to go to when they are looking for a letter they need BUT every time it is sung, someone needs to be tracking and touching the letters in the song.  Sing it fast, sing it slow, sing it high, sing it low, sing it with stops at specific letters, and try to sing it using the sounds.  Play with it asking questions like “how many letters have holes in them, straight lines, or curvy lines?”  Notice which ones are tall, which ones hang down, which ones are in your name, your friends name, which ones “are easy for you” etc.  Make it so familiar that all learners feel success with the 26 keys to our language!