The NCTM Conference program book is now online and choosing which workshops and sessions to attend continues to be a challenge. If you’d like to check out some sessions on Singapore Mathematics, there’s good news and bad.
Good news? There are 12 sessions involving Singapore-style math this year but you need to look at the session descriptions to really know it. The number of overall choices is slightly more than the number offered last year.
Bad news? Anything listed below in pink is an overlapping session. Below are my thoughts on which session to choose, if you have a conflict.
FYI – Five (!) of the twelve sessions are Exhibitor’s Workshops:
Exhibitor Workshops (60 minutes) are designed to allow exhibitors more time to showcase their products and services away from the Exhibit Hall.
Thursday, April 10: 8:00 AM-9:00 AM – No conflict
#29.2 Singapore Math: Common Core Connections
Exhibitor Workshop: Marshall Cavendish Education
Problem-solving is central to Singapore’s mathematics education. The first Common Core standard for mathematical practice states: “Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.” This talk addresses connections between the Common Core and Singapore Math; with focus on the standards for mathematical practice and numbers and operations.
Thursday, April 10: 9:45 AM-11:00 AM – No conflict
#92 Putting Students on the Fast Track to Better Problem Solving
Lead Speaker: Darlyne de Haan
Come and discover how to efficiently and effectively teach students how to solve and model word problems using simple brain-based strategies and bar modeling. These strategies will transform your students into excited, motivated and successful problem-solving pros. You and your students will never see or solve word problems the same again!
Recommendations:
Not sure on this one, but thought that if it includes some bar modeling, it might be worth checking into.
Thursday, April 10: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Two sessions conflict
#121 Ratio and Proportion: A Common Core Progression for Grades 6–7
Lead Speakers: Duane Habecker
Co-Speaker: Mary Anne Freitas
This session presents a two-year, flipped sixth- and seventh-grade ratio and proportion unit using instructional videos viewed at home and Common Core lessons in the classroom. Participants will be shown how to effectively use ratio tables and bar models to develop their students’ proportional thinking.
131.4 It’s here! Singapore Math® presents Primary Mathematics Common Core Edition!
Exhibitor Workshop: Singapore Math, Inc.
We will introduce our newest Singapore Math® program, Primary Mathematics Common Core Edition! Learn about the highly successful Singapore Math® elementary math series and the recent changes that have been made for the CCSS. This will be beneficial to those currently using Primary Mathematics and those considering implementing for the first time.
Recommendations:
-> Interested in bar modeling and ratios? Looks like they may be using bar models in the Ratio & Proportion session. (Or head to Richard Bisk’s session on Ratios on Friday; #452 at 12:30)
-> Interested in learning more about Singapore Math and how the Common Core Edition was developed? I’d go to session 131.4 and check that out.
Thursday, April 10: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM – Three sessions conflict
#170 Representation and Visualization in Middle School: Lessons from Singapore
Lead Speaker: Andy Clark
The Common Core State Standards emphasize the importance of representation in learning mathematics. In this session, we will share strategies for developing deeper understanding of rational numbers, ratio and rate, proportion, and algebraic expressions and equations with visual models from Singapore, with the goal of helping students make the challenging transition from arithmetic to algebra.
#182.2 Reaching and Teaching all Levels of Learners with Singapore Math
Exhibitor Workshop: Marshall Cavendish Education
This session will focus on strategies to reach the struggling student. Specifically, we will explore use of the CPA cycle, transition materials, and the analysis of student assessments in meeting the needs of underachieving students.
#182.3 Singapore Math® program for Middle School. Crossing the bridge to algebra!
Exhibitor Workshop: Singapore Math, Inc.
Middle school math often takes a backseat to elementary and high school mathematics. Dimensions Math Common Core Edition is a new series that is changing that trend. Picking up where our elementary series leaves off, this Singapore Math® middle school program fully prepares students for success in advanced high school math.
Recommendations:
-> Looking for secondary materials? Head to the Exhibitor session 182.3 and check out the Dimensions Math Common Core Edition.
-> Head to see Andy Clark, one of the authors of the Math in Focus series for a look at specific middle school concepts.
Thursday, April 10: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Conflicts with session starting at 2:45 PM
#220 Reasoning in the Middle Grades: It’s Easier Than You Think
Lead Speaker: Berinderjeet Kaur
Co-Speaker: Denisse R. Thompson
Mathematical reasoning is not only one of the NCTM process standards, but it is also an important practice in the Common Core. This session will share several strategies from both the Singapore and U.S. perspectives on modifying non-geometrical textbook tasks and questions to bring reasoning to the instructional forefront.
Thursday, April 10: 2:45 PM – 4:00 PM
#239 Fraction Fun: Games That Cement Critical Concepts
Lead Speaker: Ricky Mikelman
Frustrated that your students don’t retain fraction concepts? Do they make common errors? Singapore teaches us the importance of the consolidation phase of learning—playing games! When students play, they move learning into long-term memory. We’ll use dice, cards, and commonly found materials to reinforce concepts that align to the Common Core State Standards.
Recommendations:
Tough call – either way you’ll be well-informed.
->Ms. Kaur works with Singapore’s National Institute of Education and is always fascinating – I’ll probably be here.
->Ms. Mikelman works with Staff Development for Educators. She’s a great presenter and you’ll walk away with plenty of fraction games.
Friday, April 11: 8:00 AM-9:00 AM – No conflict
#310.2 Singapore Math and the Rigor of Common Core: Exploring Assessments
Exhibitor Workshop: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
In this session, participants will examine the requirements of the Common Core and the types of assessments that students will be asked to complete. The presenter will share how Math in Focus helps students to prepare for the rigor required in both Smarter Balance and PARCC assessments.
Recommendations:
HMH is the publisher of Math in Focus. I get oodles of emails about the MiF assessments from teachers and parents. I’ll probably check this out and see what they are doing to address these issues.
Friday, April 11: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM – No conflict
Many students struggle when asked to solve word problems involving fractions, ratio, & percent. Model drawing helps students visualize, understand, and solve complex word problems, and provide a bridge to algebraic techniques. Experience sample solutions and learn how to use this effective technique for helping students develop deep understanding
-> Go.
Friday, April 11: 3:30 PM- 4:30 PM – No conflict
#549 Math Talk: Teaching Concepts and Skills through Stories and Illustrations
Lead Speaker: Char Forsten
A young child’s understanding of the world is enlightened and expanded through stories and illustrations so it makes sense to use these resources when learning mathematics. Based on a method used in Singapore, you will learn to use “math talk” as a powerful way to provide purposeful practice through stories and illustrations.
Recommendations:
->Char is a very engaging presenter. She already has her handout on the NCTM web site, so you can preview her topics!
About Cassy Turner
[…] Due to Common Core and the progressions documents, I’ve included sessions on Tape Diagrams and Strip Models as well as those on traditional Singapore Math® strategies. The number of overall choices is one more than the number offered last year. […]