Transcript IME_March_07_workshop_Virginia.ppt

Virginia’s Mathematics
Specialist Initiative
Virginia’s Mathematics Specialists:
Building from Past Initiatives

NSF: V-QUEST Lead Teacher Program

SCHEV Eisenhower Professional
Development Grant Projects

ExxonMobil Leadership Projects

Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition
Task Force
Strong Statewide Collaboration
Virginia Mathematics and Science
Coalition
 Virginia Institutes of Higher Education
 Virginia Department of Education
 Virginia Council of Teachers of
Mathematics
 Virginia Council of Supervisors of
Mathematics

Overarching purpose for
Mathematics Specialists
To increase the mathematics achievement
of all the students in their schools.
.
What Mathematics Specialists Do

Provide leadership and content expertise for practicebased and job-embedded professional development

Collaborate with school-based administrators to
coordinate the school’s mathematics program

Co-plan and co-teach with classroom teachers

Coach teachers

Mentor novice teachers

Collaborate to assess student learning and to plan
for remediation or extension

Facilitate parent workshops
Classroom Teacher’s Quote
“I think of a Math Specialist not so much
as a resource but as a mentor. I am
being coached on math delivery. This is
my first year teaching Investigations.
Without the Math resource teacher, I
honestly would be fumbling.”
5th Grade Teacher 2006
Classroom Teacher’s Quote
“There are more math phobic teachers out there than
you realize. I know because I was one of them. I never
made it to the top of multiplication mountain myself.
Last year when I moved from grade 3 to grade 5, I was
particularly scared about teaching a higher level of
math. By supporting my mathematics instruction,
(mathematics specialist) has made me enthusiastic
and confident about the challenge. I am able to share
my excitement about math in the classroom.”
Classroom Teacher 2005
Elementary School Principal’s Quote
Having a Mathematics Specialist in my building has
enabled me to gain valuable insight into how children
process math concepts.
More importantly, this knowledge has facilitated a
process in which I can confidently provide instructional
guidance that is necessary for teachers to effectively
differentiate instruction in a manner that acknowledges
the very best practices necessary to impact student
achievement.
Elementary School Principal May 2006
A K-8 Mathematics Specialist is
A teacher who has interest and special preparation in
mathematics content, scientifically based research in
the teaching and learning of mathematics, diagnostic
and assessment methods, and leadership skills. The
school-based mathematics specialist will serve as a
resource in professional development, instructing
children who have learning difficulties in mathematics,
curriculum development and implementation,
mentoring new teachers, and parent and community
education.
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE VIRGINIA
LICENSURE REGULATIONS FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL
Virginia’s
Mathematics Specialist Endorsement
Graduate from an approved mathematics
specialist preparation program (master’s
level); or completed a master’s level program
in mathematics, mathematics education, or
related education field with 30 semester hours
of graduate course work in the competencies
listed, including at least 21 hours of
coursework in undergraduate or graduatelevel mathematics.
Current Grant Projects

VaDOE MSP: The Virginia Mathematics
Specialist Project

NSF-TPC: Mathematics Specialists in
K-5 Schools: Research and Policy Pilot

NSF-MSP: Institute: Preparing Virginia’s
Mathematics Specialists
Statewide Master’s Degree Programs
University of Virginia
 Virginia Commonwealth University
 Norfolk State University

George Mason University
 University of Longwood
 Virginia Tech

Core Courses in Virginia’s
Mathematics Specialist M.Ed. Programs
The courses are specifically designed to develop competencies in the proposed mathematics specialist
endorsement…..
Required Leadership Courses (9 Credits)



Leadership I: Standards and Standards Based Instruction
Leadership II: Working with Teachers Centered Around
Coaching
Leadership III: Curriculum and Assessment Centered Around
Lesson Study
Elective Courses (6 Credits)


Research in Mathematics Education (3 Credits)
Working with Diverse Populations (3 Credits)
Overarching Goal for
Mathematics Content Courses
Programs to prepare mathematics specialists
must include the study of appropriate school
mathematics content linked to classroom
practice and model pedagogy essential for
teaching that content and for building and
sustaining communities of learners of
mathematics.
Overarching Goal for
Mathematics Content Courses
Mathematics specialists require a

deep understanding of K-8 mathematics and
knowledge of its connections to higher levels of
mathematics,

a comprehensive knowledge of the developmental
sequence of mathematics concepts to understand how
children make sense of mathematics,

and a command of various ways to assess students’
understanding of mathematics.
Core Courses in Virginia’s
Mathematics Specialist M.Ed. Programs
Required Mathematics Courses (15 credits)
Numbers and Operations (Prerequisite for all other courses)
Functions and Algebra
Rational Numbers and Proportional Reasoning
Geometry and Measurement
Probability and Statistics
Elective Mathematics Courses ( 6 Credits)
Algebra for Middle School Mathematics Specialists (3 Credits)
Geometry for Middle School Specialists (3 Credits)
Contact Information

NSF Institute: Preparing Virginia’s Mathematics Specialists
http://vamath.mspnet.org/index.cfm/

Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition http://www.vamsc.org/

Virginia Commonwealth University
http://www.math.vcu.edu/mathspecialistshome.html
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University of Virginia http://www.math.virginia.edu/teach/

Norfolk State University
http://www.math.vcu.edu/Statewide_Webpages/index.html
Contact Information
Loren D. Pitt
Dept. of Mathematics
University of Virginia
Charlottesville , VA 22904
[email protected]
William E. Haver
Dept. of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA 23284-2014
[email protected]
Vickie Inge
Mathematics Outreach
University of Virginia School of Continuing and Professional Studies
Charlottesville , VA 22904
[email protected]
Functions and Algebra Quote
“ I found that this Math Specialist Program placing (sp.) a
lot of emphasis on understanding why a rule is the
rule. In the beginning of this class I related the song “I
will survive” to my high school algebra experience.
During the beginning of this class, there was no doubt
that this was going to be my “theme song” this time
around as well. With all the emotional stress,
mathematical challenges, and mathematical talk I’ve
endured during this class I must say my theme song
has retired and a new one is in town---”I believe I can
prove, I believe I can justify.” {goes to the tune “I
believe I can fly” by R. Kelly]
Spring 2005
Functions and Algebra Quote
“This two week intensive algebra and
functions mathematics course was well
worth the time and effort. I have gained
a firmer understanding of algebraic
functions, patterns, and properties. I feel
more confident and competent with
working with all grade levels, K-8, on
mathematics.”
Summer Institute 2006
Functions and Algebra Quote
“During the reading I became totally
fascinated with tables and their
relationships with graphs and slopes. In
Chapter 3 I really enjoyed Drew. The
funny thing is as much as I HATE the
focus questions, if not for having to
answer I would not have understood
Drew’s thinking.”
Summer Institute 2006
Rational Numbers and
Proportional Reasoning Quote
“I gained more knowledge about how the
basic aspects of rational numbers may
be seen through illustration compared to
how I was taught with formulas and/or
computation.”
MSP Institute Participant 2006
Rational Numbers and
Proportional Reasoning Quote
“In proportional reasoning, I would have
solved most situations with a
proportion—and solved for the missing
value. Now, I can find other ways to do it.
It’s much clearer understanding.”
MSP Institute Participant 2006
Rational Numbers and
Proportional Reasoning Quote
“I think I will have students more actively
involved in solving and creating
problems and using manipulatives. I will
focus on teaching the underlying
meanings of rational numbers and the
relationships they have with other areas
of Mathematics.”
MSP Institute Participant 2006
Rational Numbers and
Proportional Reasoning Quote
“The resources we had were very good. I thought the
work we did from the Lamon book was excellent. I felt
challenged by the work we did from this book. The
Young Mathematicians at Work was a good book, but
we only did several problems from this and we
perhaps could have used this more. We also had the
CMP units on Rational Numbers. Overall, I think the
materials we had for this course were great, but I just
don’t think the class connected these three resources
all together.”
MSP Institute Participant 2006