NCTM Conference

Come see us in April!

March 25, 2019 by Cassy Turner Leave a Comment

We’ll be presenting at the following conferences in April. Stop by and say “I’m a Math Champion” to get one of our cool buttons!

NCSM Annual Conference 2019 | San Diego
April 3 | 1:45 – 2:45 pm

No More “Menacing Multiplication” and “Laborious Long Division” – Understanding Procedures through Number Sense in Grades 3-5

As a mathematics leader, how many times have you heard teachers ask “My students are struggling, can’t I just teach them a procedure?” Teachers recognize the need for students to develop both procedural fluency and conceptual understanding but are often unsure of how to do so. Explore strategies focused on numeracy, sense-making, and fostering a conceptual understanding that will help even the most struggling student understand the abstract algorithms for multiplication and division

NCTM Annual Meeting 2019 | San Diego

We’ll be presenting regular and exhibitor sessions for Singapore Math, Inc. as they’re releasing their new Singapore Math Series Dimensions Math. Come meet the authors!

#133.4 Empowering Algebraic Thinkers
April 4 | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Experience how mental math strategies for grades 4–6 build confidence and understanding for future algebra students. Fill up your teaching toolbox with Singapore math strategies that prepare elementary students for advanced math.

#255 Using Mental Math to Deepen Number Sense
April 4 | 3:15 pm – 4:30 pm Beth made some awesome short videos!

#360.3 Ready, Set, Play: Practicing Number Sense with Games
April 5 | 9:30 am – 10:30 am

NCEA 2019 Convention & Expo

Understanding Procedures through Number Sense: Grades 3-5
April 23 | 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Join us as we work with manipulatives to understand and practice multi-digit multiplication and long division algorithms for whole numbers and decimals. Learn how to help all learners master the move from concrete to pictorial representation to the ultimate abstract algorithm with a deep understanding of regrouping and place value.

Strategies First: Teaching Fact Fluency with Hands-on Activities and Games
April 24 | 2:00 pm – 3:00 p.m.
If we can’t teach memorization, then what do we do? Participants will learn how to develop hands-on lessons that promote deep conceptual understanding and strengthen students’ number sense. We will explore strategies for teaching and learning addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts to make mathematics accessible to all students. Participants will engage in activities and games that promote automaticity with math facts, leaving with the tools needed to take what they learned and apply it immediately in their classrooms.

MCTM Spring Conference 2019
April 25-26, 2019

Ready, Set, Play: Practicing Number Sense with Games
Day/Time TBA

Come see us at NCEA and NCTM

March 27, 2018 by Cassy Turner Leave a Comment

Spring educators’ conference season is upon us and we are thrilled by several opportunities to speak at upcoming events. The descriptions below are from conference programs.

NCEA 2018 Convention & Expo (April 3 – 5 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, OH) is the largest private-education association gathering in the nation!

Strip Models, Tape Diagrams, Bar Models, Oh My!
Presenters: Cassy Turner and Beth Curran
Date: Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Time: 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Room: 251

Improving students’ problem-solving abilities is a major focus of mathematics education. Model drawing is a powerful tool that students can use to attack complex problems. In this hands-on, minds on session, presenters will investigate methods of teaching and assessing tape diagrams for those persnickety word problems, and explore interactive model drawing technology. Walk away with strategies for guiding student learning that you can use tomorrow!

Using Mental Math Strategies to Deepen Number Sense
Presenters: Beth Curran and Cassy Turner
Date: Thursday, April 5, 2018
Time: 11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Room: 251

Number sense = mental math. Participants will actively explore mental math strategies used throughout the elementary grades. Engaging in mental math activities allows students to develop a relational understanding of numbers and their magnitude. Students begin to see numbers as being made up of parts and develop an understanding of how numbers can be composed and decomposed for mental calculations. Discourse around mental math allows students to expand their toolbox of strategies for solving problems and to evaluate strategies and answers for efficiency and reasonableness.

NCTM Annual Meeting and Exposition 2018 (April 25 – 28 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.) is the premier math education event of the year!

Do Not Invert and Multiply! Building the Bridge to Algebra Through Fractions Tasks
Date: Friday, April 27, 2018
Time: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Room: 159 AB

Join Cassy Turner, Beth Curran, and Allison Coates as they work through hands-on tasks for fractions. We’ll investigate how the progression of fractions problems helps students build mastery of algebraic concepts such as naming unknown quantities, writing expressions, and laying the foundation for solving for x.

Using Anchor Tasks to Engage Learners: Deepening Understanding through Exploration and Discourse
Date: Saturday, April 28, 2018
Time: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Room: 146 B

Participants will engage in active math lessons and learn how to use learning objectives to create anchor tasks that spark student interest and allow students of all levels to build on prior knowledge, explore concepts with concrete materials and engage in productive discourse to deepen conceptual understanding with a focus on problem-solving. Cassy Turner and Beth Curran will lead this interactive workshop

Beginning Bar Model Boot Camp: Getting Started with Model Drawing
Date: Saturday, April 28, 2018
Time: 9:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Room: 144 ABC

Improving students’ problem-solving abilities is a major objective of Common Core and state standards, and model drawing is a powerful tool that students can use to attack complex problems. Join Cassy Turner and Beth Curran to investigate methods of teaching and assessing tape diagrams for those persnickety word problems, and explore interactive model drawing technology.

Filed Under: Math Events Tagged With: NCEA Conference, NCSM Conference, NCTM Conference, Professional development

Previewing 2017 NCTM Conference Singapore Math Sessions

March 20, 2017 by Cassy Turner Leave a Comment

The NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) Annual Meeting & Exposition program 2017 is now online and it’s time for my annual review of Singapore Mathematics sessions.

I’ve included sessions on Tape Diagrams and Strip Models because there are no sessions this year citing Singapore Math® strategies. This is because the Common Core progression documents cite many of Singapore’s visual models. My hope is that many of the visual strategies are modeled throughout the conference – because good math is just good math!

See you in San Antonio!

Email us if you’d like a tour at NCTM through materials or to just talk all things math: Cassy (at) MathChampions.com or Beth (at) MathChampions.com

Thursday, April 6:

11:00 AM – 9:00 AM

#128 Supporting Students as They Work with Bar Models

Lead Speaker: Sue McMillen

Bar models (also called strip or tape diagrams) are a powerful visual tool for representing and solving math problems. But they can be challenging for students. Come to this hands-on session to explore a variety of strategies for scaffolding students as they learn to effectively work with bar models. Familiarity with bar models is assumed.

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

#261 Visual Models to Solve Routine Word and Non-Routine Algebraic Problems: Lessons from Singapore

Lead Speaker: Andy Clark

Many students struggle with word problems, whether in elementary grades with a variety of whole number and fraction operations or the middle grades with ratio, proportion, and algebraic problems. This session will demonstrate how visual models help students see mathematical relationships and solve even the most complex problems and applications.

Friday, April 7

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

#420 Using Tape Diagrams to Solve Ratio/Proportion Problems

Lead Speaker: Connie Laughlin

See how tape diagrams can be used to foster algebraic thinking. We will examine and illustrate how tape diagrams can be used to develop and support proportional and algebraic reasoning. Tape diagram solutions will be compared to traditional solutions to illuminate the usefulness of this tool.

12:30 AM – 1:30 PM

#476.1 Motivating Students through High-Level Problem Solving Using Models in a Collaborative Setting

Lead Speaker: Kelly Barten, Singapore Math, Inc.

Sarah Schaefer will explain how to use models and other strategies to solve challenging word problems from the original Singapore Math® program: Primary Mathematics. Workshop participants will learn how to increase student achievement while persevering and making connections between mathematical content and NCTM’s Mathematics Teaching Practices.

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

#529.2 Hands-On Operations: Using Manipulatives for Understanding of ALL Four Operations

Lead Speaker: Kelly Barten, Singapore Math, Inc.

I’m delighted to joining Kelly to present this hands-on session at the invitation. I hope you can make it to this one.

Join Cassy Turner and use place-value manipulatives to understand and practice addition, subtraction, multi-digit multiplication, & long division algorithms for whole numbers. Learn how to help all learners master the move from concrete to the representation to the ultimate abstract algorithm with a deep understanding of regrouping and place value.

3:30PM – 4:30 PM

#565 MMMMM (Making Math More Meaningful with Models) in Pre-K–2

Lead Speaker: Duane Habecker

Too often we push our students directly to abstract algorithms without first giving students the prerequisite experience with models such as empty number lines, number bonds, arrow method, area model, etc. Teachers will learn how to use these models to make math meaningful for their students.

Filed Under: Math Events Tagged With: NCTM Conference

Visit us at Upcoming Math Conferences

February 27, 2017 by Cassy Turner Leave a Comment

Beth and Cassy are attending and presenting at the following educational conferences this spring. Please email if you’d like to schedule a time to chat!

Cassy will be attending:

2017 ASCD Annual Conference & Exhibit Show
March 25–26, 2017 | Anaheim, California

Beth and Cassy will be presenting:

2017 NCSM (National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics) Annual Conference
April 2-5, 2017 | San Antonio, Texas
Using Anchor Tasks to Ignite Learners: Coaching Teachers to Facilitate an Inquiry-Based Learning Model
Wednesday, April 5
Session Time: 5 2:15 – 3:15

Cassy will be presenting:

2017 NCTM Annual Conference and Exposition
April 5-8, 2017 | San Antonio, Texas
Hands-On Operations: Using Manipulatives for Understanding
Friday, April 7
Session Time: 2:00pm – 3:00 pm

Beth and Cassy will be presenting:

2017 NCEA Convention & Expo
St. Louis, MO
April 18-20, 2017 | St. Louis, Missouri
Using Anchor Tasks to Ignite Learners: Facilitating Inquiry-Based Math Lessons
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Session Time: 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM

Cassy will be presenting:

SDE’s National Conference on Teaching Math
July 10-14, 2017 | Las Vegas, Nevada
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
9:15 – 10:30 Understanding ALL Operations: A Hands-On Manipulative Tool Kit
11:00 – 12:15 The Best iPad® Apps for Singapore Math!
1:45 – 3:00 Filling in Knowledge Gaps
3:30 – 4:45 Strip Models, Tape Diagrams, Bar Models…Oh My!

Filed Under: Math Events Tagged With: ASCD Conference, NCEA Conference, NCSM Conference, NCTM Conference, SDE Conference

Previewing NCTM 2016 Conference Singapore Math Sessions

March 18, 2016 by Cassy Turner Leave a Comment

The NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) Annual Meeting & Exposition program 2016 is now online and it’s time for my annual review of Singapore Mathematics sessions.

I’ve included sessions on Tape Diagrams and Strip Models because there are no sessions this year citing Singapore Math® strategies and only one using Number Bonds. This is because the Common Core progression documents cite many of Singapore’s visual models. My hope is that many of the visual strategies are modeled throughout the conference. The number of overall choices addressing Singapore strategies is down from the number offered last year .

As usual, most of the sessions overlap. Below are my thoughts on which session to choose, if you have a conflict.

See you in San Francisco! Email me if you’d like a tour at NCTM through materials or to just talk all things math: Cassy (at) SingaporeMathSource.com

Thursday, April 14: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM – Four sessions conflict

#23 MMMMM (Making Math More Meaningful with Models) in Pre-K–2

Lead Speaker: Duane Habecker

Too often we push our students directly to abstract algorithms without first giving students the prerequisite experience with models such as empty number lines, number bonds, arrow method, area model, etc. Teachers will learn how to use these models to make math meaningful for their students.

#26 Problem Structures for Tape Diagrams

Lead Speaker: Nirmala Nutakki

Tape diagrams can model relationships in a wide variety of problems involving the arithmetic operations, fractions, ratios, and percent. We will examine the problem structures most amenable to tape diagram solution and illustrate how tape diagrams can be used to develop and support proportional and algebraic reasoning.

#34 The Front Lines of Modeling: Bar/Tape Models from Real Classrooms

Lead Speaker: Dr. Kevin Mahoney

Tried your hand at bar modeling? Examine common errors, misunderstandings, and dispositions in actual student work. Leave with a deeper understanding of how children use (and misuse) models

#34.3 Exhibitor Workshop – Bar Modeling with Math Buddies, the Singapore Math® Online Resource

Lead Speaker: Marshall Cavendish (Probably Chris Coyne)

Discover how students learn and use the Singapore Math® bar model in kindergarten–grade 5. The foundations set in kindergarten with number sense and number bonds develop into meaningful links in the problem-solving process. Math Buddies, a K–5 digital resource will take your students through the Singapore Math® bar model approach to problem solving.

Recommendations:
Not familiar with Nirmala Nutakki, so can’t comment. Math Buddies is a great digital resource for Singapore Math, and it will also be modeled at their booth. I’m intrigued by the MMMMM, but will probably be in Kevin Mahoney’s session – he wrote his doctoral dissertation on bar modeling in the classroom!

Friday, April 15: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

#332 Tape Diagrams . . . NOT Just for Early Elementary Grades

Lead Speaker: Jodelle S. W. Magner
Co-Speaker: Sue McMillen

Participants will examine the use of tape diagrams throughout CCSSM and solve questions from first grade through algebra. Participants will leave with knowledge of where tape diagrams apply in many types of mathematics. Some tape diagram solutions will be compared to traditional solutions to illuminate the usefulness of this tool.

Recommendations:

I’m sure these presenters are wonderful, but I’ll be attending session #323 Insights and Practical Suggestions for Making Coaching for More Effective with Steve Leinwand. If you are a math coach, this one is mandatory.

Friday, April 15: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

#464 Using Tape Diagrams to Foster Algebraic Thinking and Problem Solving

Lead Speaker: Bill Jackson
Co-Speaker: Makoto Yoshida

See how tape diagrams can be used to foster algebraic thinking to help young children solve addition and subtraction problems involving unknowns in all positions. Video footage of a lesson study cycle on teaching through problem solving and students sharing and discussing multiple solution methods will be shared.

Saturday, April 16: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

#589 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. Participants will learn how to use “math talk” as a powerful way to provide consolidation and purposeful practice of essential skills and concepts.

Filed Under: Math Events Tagged With: NCTM Conference