The Principal's Toolkit: Math Strand
Dates: 8:30 - 2:00pm
Math Strand for Teams
2:00 - 3:30pm
Facilitated Group Discussion
Dates: TBD
(Lunch is included)
Location: LAPDA Meeting Space, Montpelier
Cost: $675 for LAPDA members and $780 for non-members. Discount $50 each for teams of three or more.
Registration: http://www.lapdavt.org
Call (802) 224-9110 for more information
Course Description
Mathematics is the study of patterns in quantity and
space. It is human nature to look for patterns; children
and young adults love to observe, extend, create,
and apply patterns. Teachers can engage children in
mathematics if they can integrate content and pedagogy
appropriately. In a nutshell, quality mathematics
instruction is the integration of content, and pedagogy
creatively applied to challenging and authentic problems.
An effective teacher knows their content, has empathy
and concern for the learners and is an able and effective
communicator of that content to students.
But what does sound practice in mathematics look like
and how can we support it in our schools? How do
we create results-oriented classrooms? What does a
developmentally appropriate results-oriented classroom look like?
Course Goals/Objectives:
In this three part series, we will carefully examine these
issues and provide strategies to broaden the expertise
and skills professionals must have to bring an exemplary
mathematics instructional program to our schools. We will
explore examples of model lessons in key content area
of mathematics development to illustrate the elements of
an effective and cohesive lesson and to ascertain if the
classrooms we are visiting actually promote mathematical
thinking. We will examine the strengths and weaknesses
of some of the standards-based curricula in use today. We
will also examine a framework for classroom observations
to help principals and peer-coaches to make informed
observations and provide specific and constructive
feedback.
About the Instructor
Mahesh Sharma is known for his groundbreaking work in mathematics education, he is an author, teacher and teacher-trainer, researcher, consultant to public and private schools, as well as a public lecturer. He is the Chief Editor of Focus on Learning Problems in Mathematics, an international, interdisciplinary, research mathematics journal with readership in more than 70 countries, and the editor of the Math Notebook, a practical source of information for parents and teachers devoted to improving teaching and learning for all children.
