Math

CORE Math Academy and Lesson Study

Math Academy

CORE offers a five-day Math Academy to help build a solid understanding of educators’ math concepts to enable students to achieve success in math. Consistent with the findings of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel, the CORE Math Academy: Improving Arithmetic and Algebraic Teaching and Learning focuses on the arithmetic that lays the foundation for success in Algebra I.

Connections will be made to participants’ math texts. Specific content areas include the following:

• Equality
• Subtraction
• Multiplicative reasoning
• Fractions through proportions

Participant Outcomes

The CORE Math Academy and subsequent Lesson Study follow-up will enable your coaching and teaching staff to meet state and district mathematics standards more effectively.

Format of the CORE Math Academy

The following components will be incorporated into each day's session:

• Warm-ups designed to provide an adult mathematics experience. They will challenge thinking as well as model the strategies that have proved effective in the classroom.
• Journal writing to help to make thinking clear and reflecting on learning.
• Math Content that focuses on those areas that we know are problematic for success with in-depth understanding of arithmetic and algebra.
• Mental Math that will allow students to use the structures and properties of mathematics to solve problems.
• Across the Grades opportunities to examine how ideas develop and grow from Kindergarten through Algebra I.
• Research articles to provide background information on what student struggles are and what we know about how to prevent and/or rectify them.
• Interviews to connect research to the classroom.
• Closing time to reflect and process the information.
• Homework that includes examining the adopted textbook, readings, and conducting student interviews.

Math Lesson Study

Following the Math Academy, CORE will provide on-site Lesson Study sessions to help implement the academy content and teaching strategies. This implementation work reflects best practices for professional development. It will be planned according to local needs and to what works best for students and teachers.

During Lesson Study sessions, the CORE math expert will guide participants to analyze their own materials and prepare robust instruction. Lesson Study sessions will include in-class coaching as well as out-of-class feedback and practice. Podcasts will also be available to enhance and support ongoing learning.

Audience: K-8 teachers and administrators.*

* Content of the CORE Math Academy and Lesson Study is designed for flexibility of grade-level configuration (e.g., K–4, K–6, 3–6, 5–8).

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