Why Pi Matters – Steven Strogatz
The beauty of pi, in part, is that it puts infinity within reach.
Happy Pi Day!
February 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Who to see at National Math Educators Conferences this year?
February 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Me!
As a full-time trainer and instructional coach, I know the importance of professional development and continuing education. Since embarking on this career path seven years ago, I’ve attended annual meetings of both the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and NCSM (formerly the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics). Attending NCTM, NCSM and other regional, national and international math conferences and educational events fulfills my personal ongoing learning goals.
In 2012, I was thrilled to have a proposal to present at NCTM accepted! (Here are two posts on that presentation: tools and thoughts).
For 2015, I submitted similar proposals to both NCTM and NCTM…and BOTH were accepted. Woot! And good news, my co presenter will be Lauri Susi of Conceptua Math.
Here’s the description:
Strip Models, Tape Diagrams, and Bar Models, Oh My!
Lead Speaker: Cassandra Turner
Co-Speaker: Lauri Susi
These visual components sit at the intersection of Common Core, Singapore Math®, and now technology! Learn why this visual model for word problems is so powerful, try some problems from the simple to the complex, and investigate web-based programs and iPad apps that will help anyone incorporate this effective strategy into their classrooms.
The NCSM Presentation is on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.
The NCTM Presentation is on Thursday, April 16, 2015, from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (details here).
But that’s not all!
This year, Singapore Math Inc. asked me to present an NCTM workshop to address some practical considerations schools face when implementing the curriculum.
Filling Knowledge Gaps with Critical Singapore Math® Approach Across Grade Levels (Gr. 3-5)
One of the biggest challenges during a Singapore Math® implementation can be the gaps in student knowledge. Upper elementary students frequently lack the foundation provided by the 1st-3rd grade Singapore curriculum. In this direct from the classroom session, you’ll learn the critical lessons and concepts students must master before jumping into their grade-level content.
This NCTM Workshop is on Friday, April 16, 2015, from 12:30 – 1:30 PM
When the complete conference schedules for both NCTM and NCSM are available, I’ll publish an overview of Singapore Math® presentations along with recommendations for session at each conference as I have done every year since 2010.
If you are headed to Boston in April, please consider attending one of these sessions. I’d love to connect with you!
2015 NCSM Annual Conference – April 13-15, 2015
SHINING THE LIGHT ON LEARNING:
A Vision for Mathematics Leaders
2015 NCTM Annual Meeting & Exposition – April 15-18, 2015
Effective Teaching to Ensure Mathematical Success for All
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
It can’t all be Singapore Math…
December 29, 2014 by 4 Comments
This tweet posted by the National Council on Teacher Quality (@NCTQ) caught my eye:
Now, I’ve heard decomposing called “branching” but can’t remember ever seeing this in a Singapore textbook. Where did this problem come from?
It’s nice that NCTQ recognizes Singapore’s Math as “tops in the world.” But it’s discouraging to see methods and terminology that are not a part of the Singapore curriculum attributed to it. Especially in the context of the nasty debate about CCSS. And especially since Singapore’s math curriculum–with its rigor, coherence, and focus–is often cited as a basis for more rigorous standards, including CCSS.
The problem posted is based on the concept of “Number Bonds,” which calls for students to decompose numbers (this is the term used in Singapore and in all major Singapore Math® textbooks distributed in the U.S.). Below, I’ve posted some examples of how this concept is presented in Singapore Math® series available in both the U.S. and Singapore.
This matter points to my BIG concern: As publishers and others adapt Singapore’s Math for the American market, new approaches creep in. These often are not based on the curriculum that helped Singapore’s students go from mediocre to best in the world in a dozen years. I’ve written about this in my comparison of Singapore math textbook series available in the United States.
So my plea to NCTQ: please use examples from an actual Singapore mathematics text when citing the components that make it so successful. And feel free to ask if I can help you find those examples.
Number Bonds problems in Singapore Math® textbooks
Here are some materials covering Number Bonds and “decomposing” numbers from actual Singapore textbooks:
From My Pals are Here, the most-used materials in Singapore:
From the U.S. Edition of Primary Mathematics, available in North America since 2003:
From the Common Core Edition of Primary Mathematics, released in the U.S. market in 2014:
And finally, from Math in Focus:
UPDATE:
Ugh! One more similar tweet from NCTQ.
You Can Bar Model Anything!
December 22, 2014 by 1 Comment
Giving Thanks — Looking Back on 2014
December 11, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I’ve just returned from my tenth consecutive week of travel and welcome the arrival of Thanksgiving. A brief break from out-of-town training and coaching jobs affords the opportunity to once again take stock and reflect on the past year, both personally and professionally. (Past Giving Thanks posts are here: 2013, 2012 and 2011)
As I enter my eight year as a Singapore Math® trainer, consultant and coach, I continue to be amazed by the wonderful opportunities that continue to come my way.
I say this every year, but it continues to be true: I am so grateful to be able to champion elementary math education and GET PAID to spend time in classrooms with teachers and students. I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has played a part in making the year so special.
2014 has been my busiest year ever. I’ve spent more than 30 weeks traveling across North American (and Germany for a week)
to work with schools and present seminars. I’ve been to Denver International Airport so much that Google recognizes it as my office. Don’t get me wrong: I love to travel, especially when the end result is helping teachers hone their skills to make students more competent and confident math learners.
Changing Role and 2014 Highlights
This year, more than half of the schools I visited were repeat and long-term clients where my role often was that of an instructional coach. I still love to present introductory workshops and lead implementation trainings (the Ah Ha! moments are truly priceless), but it’s been especially rewarding to spend time with teachers working at a deeper level. At these schools, I’ve also hosted lots of parent education events, including hands-on bootcamps, to help ensure that Singaporean methods are reinforced at home. Best of all schools are achieving remarkable results (more on that to come).
There are many highlights from 2014, including:
- Working with 28 school clients in 9 states and Germany, where I had the opportunity to work with teachers at the International School of Hamburg!
- Acceptance of proposals to present at the 2015 Annual Conferences at Annual Conferences of both the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM, for the second time!) and NCSM (for the first time). Lauri Susi of Conceptua Math is my co-presenter;
- Presenting Singapore Math Workshops for the Bureau of Education of Research (for the sixth consecutive year!);
- Presenting at the Tennessee Conference on Singapore Math Strategies hosted by SDE.
- Meeting my personal “continuing education” goals by attending:
- Annual conferences of NCTM and NCSM (for the 6th consecutive year);
- The National Charter Schools Conference (for the first time);
- SDE’s National Conference on Singapore Math Strategies (for the second consecutive year); and
- Earning A-list Preferred status on Southwest Airlines (didn’t I say I love to travel!).
Cassy (2nd from L) with teachers and staff at the International School of Hamburg
2014 by the Numbers
2
Continents visited (I’ve now conducted trainings on four continents; c’mon South America and Asia…I’d love to visit there, too)
9
States visited to work with school clients
19
States visited to conduct Singapore Math seminars or trainings
20+
Singapore Math presentations conducted for parents
25
Seminars presented for BER
97+
Days working directly with teachers
Hundreds
of inquiries from teachers, administrators and parents with questions about Singapore Math curriculum responded to
103,448 and counting
Miles flown
Special Thanks
My sincere thanks to all the administrators, teachers and support staff I worked with in 2014. ( You know who you are!) I so appreciate your dedication to students and your trust and confidence in me! A hearty thank you as well to my other long-time partners and supporters:
- Singapore Math Inc.
- Bureau of Education of Research (BER)
- EAI Education
- Staff Development for Educators (SDE)
One of my favorite evaluations from 2014
Singapore Math Source
Now in its seventh year, SingaporeMathSource.com continues to be an authoritative resource for those seeking information about the curriculum. This year, I completed a long-planned, thorough comparison of the two leading Singapore Math® curricula available in the US: Primary Mathematics and Math in Focus. (Quite a few of my school clients are using Math in Focus). I also updated my popular page on Singapore math iPad apps.
Personal
2014 has been personally gratifying as:
- We celebrated our youngest son’s high school graduation. It’s hard to believe we have two students at Colorado State University. It’s not hard to believe one is a math major!
- I once again reached my goal of reading 50 books in the year. As of this date, I am at 89!
- I continue to serve on the Board of the Middle School Math Institute, a non-profit dedicated to helping students succeed at algebra.
- I continue to serve on the District Accountability Committee for the Poudre School District.
Looking ahead
2015 promises to be just as busy and exciting. I’m really looking forward to:
- Continuing to work with many schools that have retained me on a long-term basis;
- Visiting teachers, administrators and parents at schools that hire me for the first time (believe it or not, my fall 2015 schedule is starting to fill up);
- Presenting at the 2015 Annual Conferences of NCTM and NCSM in Boston (and hopefully other events);
- Presenting BER workshops for a seventh consecutive year;
- Sharing news about the successes some of the schools I work with are achieving — please let me know if you want to be a part of this series; and
- Other opportunities that are, as yet, unknown. I can’t wait to see what is ahead!
Once again, my sincerest thanks to my clients, colleagues and partners for making 2014 such a wonderful year. If I may be of service at any time, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.
As passionate as ever about Singapore Mathematics!
-Cassy
