Dates & Location:
March 21 LAPDA Meeting Space
March 27 Williamstown Elementary School

Times: 8:30 - 3:30pm
(Lunch is included)

Cost: $500 for LAPDA members and $625 for non-members.

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?
What strategies can math teacher leaders and principals utilize to give teachers quality feedback regarding their mathematics instruction?
 

Course Goals/Objectives:

In this two 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. The first day’s workshop session will be held here at LAPDA. On the second day we will travel to the Orange North Supervisory Union for a field based experience as we observe a real mathematics classroom in action. 
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 observers 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.