PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
SUBJECT-SPECIFICThe professional development resources posted here include a 6-session mathematics series and several stand-alone sessions in English, social studies and science. Materials are provided in editable form to be adapted for local contexts.
SUBJECT
MATH
This 6-session math professional development series is designed to help teachers adapt their instructional practice in ways that will increase the initiative, perseverance, and eagerness of their students to engage in mathematical reasoning and solving problems.
SESSION 1: TEACHING AUTHENTIC PROBLEM SOLVING
The goal of this session is to show teachers how they can increase the initiative, perseverance, and eagerness of their students in tackling application problems and help their students develop and apply more sophisticated mathematical reasoning in formulating and solving problems.
SESSION 2: MATHALICIOUS WORKSHOP
The goals of this session are to:
- Connect teachers to the Mathalicious curriculum
- Experience a Mathalicious lesson
SESSION 3: RICH MATERIAL TASKS
The goals of this session are to:
- Discuss the various mathematical competencies that are required to “do mathematics” successfully
- Have teachers reflect on how much opportunity they are currently providing to students to develop in each competency
- Expose teachers to mathematical tasks that foster multiple forms of mathematical growth
- Present and model student group roles that allow for teachers to implement mathematical group work effectively
SESSION 4: PROBLEMS IN CONTEXT
The goals of this session are to:
- Discuss the differences between a task that is removed from, and a task that is grounded in, an authentic context
- Have teachers work through a real-world task
- Workshop/plan a future lesson that incorporates an authentic context
SESSION 5: PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
The goals of this session are to:
- Present the project-based learning process, learning outcomes of project-based learning, the teacher’s role in project-based learning, and variations of project-based learning
- Connect teachers with online resources for math projects
- Show project-based learning in action, via the documentary Most Likely to Succeed
SESSION 6: SUPPORTING ACADEMIC TENACITY IN MATHEMATICS
The goals of this session are to:
- Look back on the full PD series – providing context to mathematical content: the how and why
- Have teachers reflect on how much opportunity they are currently providing to students to reflect on their learning and track their progress
- Expose teachers to mathematical tasks that support academic tenacity
Handouts
~ M6.1 Authentic Problem Solving
~ M6.2 Supporting Academic Tenacity
~ M6.3 Problem of the Month
~ M6.4 House Prices and Payments
~ M6.5 MARS/MAC Tasks Descriptions
USING ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
Teachers will learn more about linking overarching essential questions to more specific “guiding questions” for each lesson and how to translate abstract content and skill standards into engaging lesson objectives that communicate how the intended learning is relevant to students’ lives.
~ Linking Essential Questions for English
Handout
GROUP WRITING ACTIVITY
Teachers will experience a collaborative writing activity as a model of a motivating small group instructional strategy that they can use with students in their own classrooms.
Handouts
~ Collaborative Writing Exercise Directions
~ Group Writing Asssignment Sheet with Hughes Poem
~ Paragraph Graphic Organizer
~ Role Cards
~ Teacher Modeling Suggestions for Group Writing
~ Teacher Personal Reflection Form
TEACHING STUDENT TO ASK GOOD QUESTIONS
The session provides teachers with a framework that guides both students and teachers in asking and answering questions that will increase and elevate student classroom discourse about texts.
~ Teaching Students to Ask Good Questions PPT
Handouts
~ Question-Answer Relationships Lesson Plan
~ Question-Answer Relationships Handout
~ Question-Answer Relationships Blank Framework
~ Question-Answer Relationships Graphic
~ Teacher Personal Reflection Form
~ “Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes
~ “QAR: Enhancing Comprehension and Test Taking Across Grades and Content Areas” by Taffy E. Raphael and Kathryn H. Au
USING ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
Teachers will learn more about linking overarching essential questions to more specific “guiding questions” for each lesson and how to translate abstract content and skill standards into engaging lesson objectives that communicate how the intended learning is relevant to students’ lives.
~ Linking Essential Questions for History PPT
Handout
USING PRIMARY SOURCES
USING ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
Teachers will learn more about linking overarching essential questions to more specific “guiding questions” for each lesson and how to translate abstract content and skill standards into engaging lesson objectives that communicate how the intended learning is relevant to students’ lives.
~ Linking Essential Questions for Science PPT
Handout
ENGAGING STUDENTS IN CRITICAL READING SKILLS
Teachers will consider how they can leverage high-interest science news stories to increase student motivation to engage in rigorous science learning. They will critique a lesson plan and consider how they might use what they have learned in their instructional practice.
~ Engaging Students in Critical Reading Skills PPT
Handouts
~ Zika Lesson Plan
~ Protocol for Discussing Critiquing Zika Lesson Plan
~ Teacher Reflection Questions