Final Task 2:

Go to:
http://nixthetricks.com/


Go to the tab "Resources" and choose one of the 4 articles listed to read.

For this task, we are going to use a new Thinking Routine from Harvard's Project Zero. This one is called "I used to think...but now I think..."

Comment on the following:

1. Which article did you choose and why?

2. Reflect on what you read. Give further insight, clarifications and how this impacts your instruction. 

3. Based on this everything you have read and discussed these past two weeks, what did you used to think about tricks? What do you now think?

4. What do you envision as your first steps in implementing what you have learned?

5. Lastly, is there a "Trick" that you currently use or were taught that hasn't been read about that you would like to share and open up to comments? 

Final Task 1:

Visit the following site devoted to this book and further publications:

http://nixthetricks.com/


Go to the tab "Draft Sections" and choose Tricks Open to Commentary

Take some time to explore this document and comments that were added with a Notice, Think, and Wonder frame of mind. 

1. Notice: What jumps out at you as important information?

2. Think: What connections can you make to previous learning?

3. Wonder: What questions do you have about what your reading/experiencing?

Comment on the folowing:
1. What did you Notice, Think, or Wonder about what you read?
2. Please respond to others as the comments come in

Chapter 8: Conclusion

Read the Conclusion


Reflect on the following questions and comment below:

1. What are your thoughts based on what you just read? Do you have any further questions?

2. What is one small change that you can make in your math instruction going forward?

2. Comment on a colleagues post to engage in a meaningful conversation.

Chapter 7: Functions

Skim Read Chapter 7 ( I know most of this is above the level of math that you teach)


Reflect on the following questions and comment below:

1. When you were in school did you ever learn these tricks? What is the effect of learning these tricks on higher level learning/understanding and rigor? 

2. Comment on a colleagues post to engage in a meaningful conversation.

Chapter 6: Equations and Inequalities

Read Chapter 6


Reflect on the following questions and comment below:

1. This is one of my favorite chapters because I think I am guilty of using almost everyone of the tricks :-(  What are your thoughts of the fixes of this chapter? Will you change your instruction? 

2. Think back to your instruction, how does teaching tricks affect what they will learn in the future? Can you give an example?

3. Comment on a colleagues post to engage in a meaningful conversation.

Chapter 5: Number Systems

Before reading Chapter 5, think about some tricks you have used in the past to teach number systems. (Im sure you will find that trick in this chapter!)

Read Chapter 5


Reflect on the following questions and comment below:

1. This will be an open reflection to your past practices and what you just read in this chapter. Will you make changes? Have the tricks you have taught in the past harmed conceptual understanding? What are your overall thoughts?

2. Can tricks still be used to help Special Education and AIS students learn mathematics???

3. Comment on a colleagues post to engage in a meaningful conversation.

Chapter 4: Geometry and Measurement

Read through the entire Chapter 4 


Reflect on the following questions and comment below:

1. Have you ever been guilty of the Tricks in this chapter? If so which ones? Will you change the way you teach it in the future and if so, how?

2. Give an example of an effective way to teach vocab in the Geometry Unit of Math that you currently teach.

3. Comment on a colleagues post to engage in a meaningful conversation.

Chapter 3: Proportional Reasoning

Read through the entire Chapter 3 about Ratios and Proportions


Reflect on the following questions and comment below:

1. Pick one or two tricks that relate to the grade level that you teach. Reflect on what is being said (you may agree or disagree) and offer further insight into how you currently teach or will teach this concept in the future and why. 

2. Comment on a colleagues post to engage in a meaningful conversation.

** This is a pretty hefty chapter, so please feel free to offer additional comments about what you have read. 

Chapter 2: Operations

Read through the entire Chapter 2 devoted to tricks involving operations

Visit the following YouTube Page in order to watch videos that will clarify certain tricks discussed in this chapter: CLICK HERE (you can watch only the ones you wish too "see")




Reflect on the following questions and comment below:

1. What are your thoughts on teaching key words as discussed in the beginning of this chapter? Do you agree or disagree?

2. Pick one trick and discuss your thoughts on it and the fix that is suggested. Offer further insight, clarifications or a new fix.

3. Comment on a colleagues post to engage in a meaningful conversation.

Let's Begin! Chapter 1: Introduction

In order to start our initial discussions, please visit the following link to download the book that we will be discussing:
CLICK HERE

Task:
Please begin by reading the Preface and Chapter 1: Introduction


Reflect on the following questions and comment below:

1. What are your initial reactions to the beginning of this book?

2. How can you relate your own experiences the past few years in regards to teaching "tricks"? What is your favorite math trick?

3. Comment on a colleagues post to engage in a meaningful conversation.

Introductions

Blog Conversations will all be done in this forum. In order to respond to my post you must comment at the bottom of the conversation. In order to reply to other people's comment you will hit "reply" under their comment.

To begin, please share with everyone your name, school district, title, background in education and math instruction, and what you hope to accomplish by attending this online workshop. 

Welcome!

Welcome to the Online Professional Learning Community Talk on:
 Nix the Tricks by Tina Cardone

This online Professional Learning Community talk is designed to engage you in meaningful educational conversations about avoiding shortcuts that tend to cut out math concept development needed to succeed in Common Core Math. 

My name is Jessi Toepfer and I will be your facilitator for this online workshop. I currently work at O/N BOCES as a PD Specialist and I am here to help in any way I can.
My work contact information:  Jtoepfer@onboces.org      (716)-731-6800 ext. 3758
My email for this Blog is: Jccheer26@gmail.com
Please dont hesitate to contact me for anything that you may need!

Throughout this two week online study please feel free to share anything you have learned thus far and ask any and all questions so that everyone can learn together! The benefit of learning online is the flexibility of being able to learn and explore at your own pace, but it is expected that you stay on track each week in order for meaningful conversations to be had. 

The last date of this workshop is Monday, May 9th, 2016  I will submit all names for 12 credit hours upon completion of all your posts on Tuesday, May 24th, 2016. If you have any required forms that need to be filled out for your district I will be happy to get those sent back to you ASAP. It is your professional responsibility to participate in the workshop to the best of your ability in order to receive the 15 credit hours of PD. I ask that you comment at least once on your own for each post I create and respond to a minimum of one other persons comment per post if needed and never fall beyond one week.

To create a profile you can click on comment and then "comment as" to choose a google sign-in, this will also connect you through your Gmail account so that your name will be shown. In the past school issued Gmail accounts will not work so you will have to use your personal or comment as anonymous and sign your name with each post. 
Before beginning class  please create your account by signing in to post in the Introductions field  to make sure you can get it to work before the workshop begins.  


Please feel free to give any feedback to me throughout this course and there will be a final course evaluation given in order to help us better help you! Thank you in advance!
Jessi Toepfer