1. Teaching the Common Core Using the Math Practices
Why Math?
An Introductory Unit
By: Arin Belden

2. Outcomes for today….
Review Common Core math practices/instructional methods
Understand the importance of the math practices & how they connect to meaningful, deeper understandings in student learning
See examples of lessons and activities that support the Common Core math practices
Brainstorm ideas that will work for you and your team
Begin to develop math practice unit/lessons

3. The Common Core What we teach? Shifts in Content/Curriculum
Shifts in Instructional Practices
What we teach?
Common Core standards
NYS Modules
Programs/textbooks aligned
Online resources
How we teach?
Common Core math practices
Nature of tasks regularly used in our classroom
Meaningful, engaging
Promote high-level thinking
Deeper & enduring understanding
“Mathematically proficient students…”

4. Common Core Math Practices
Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
Model with mathematics.
Use appropriate tools strategically.
Attend to precision.
Look for and make use of structure.
Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

5. Why the math practices are important?
What’s the purpose of the mathematical practices?
Which mathematical practices do you think you do well in your room? School?
Which mathematical practices do you feel you could improve on?
Which of the math practices do you think are most important for student success?

6. What practices do you notice in this video?

7. Set the Stage Starting with the practices should…
Set the tone for the year & classroom culture
Establish classroom expectations, routines and procedures
Introduce key vocabulary
Become familiar to students & build
good habits
Apply to other content areas
Increase classroom efficiency
& effectiveness throughout the
the rest of the year

8. Our Team
Why Math?
Recognized many students do not like math & lack confidence in this area
Students don’t understand how their learning relates to their lives (why have to learn math?)
Saw problem solving & persevering through difficult problems as a common area of need for all students regardless of academic level
Wanted to introduce expectations, procedures, routines & skills that would be continued through the entire year

9. Why Math? Enduring understandings Guiding Questions
Math Practices focused on within this unit #1 #3 #4 #6
Enduring understandings
Students will see math as a means to solving problems.  
Students will recognize the key components to math.   
Guiding Questions
Why is math worth learning? 
What makes a good mathematician?
What are the key components to math?
What is precision? Why is it important? 
Is math all about the answer? 
What does it mean to persevere through a problem?
How can you solve a math problem?
Can math be used to solve real world problems?  How?
How is math used throughout your life? 

10. Why Math unit cont… Knowledge Skills The students will be doing...
The students will understand...
math is comprised of numbers, symbols, letters, pictures 
a good mathematician needs to possess certain qualities, skills and habits
the math process incorporates many steps
there are multiple ways to solve problems
how math is used/connected to the real world and how it applies to their own life
their strengths and areas of need in math 
The students will be doing...
representing math problems using multiple methods of presentation
developing their own purpose for math 
identifying real-world math situations
make observations to sort/classifying information 
developing/modeling classroom routines for good math practices
setting math goals

11. #1 Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
Problem solving is one of biggest student need areas (getting started)
Vocabulary
Trial & error
Unpacking difficult/complex problems
Problem of the day template
Classroom resource (visual)
“Close reading” of math word problems
Connect perseverance as important skill to other content areas & students lives

12. #3 Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
Differentiation
Multiple ways to solve problems
Create discussion/debate
Verbal & written explanations
Importance of showing work/process to get solutions
Evidence, reasoning & support for answers

13. #4 Model with mathematics.
Ways to show math
Ways to do math
mental math
pencil & paper
use of math tools
Promoting finding answer multiple methods
Strategies & tools for student choice
Decisions best for specific problems given context
How to attack/unpack complex problemssimplify/break into steps

14. Analyze problems & work closely Vocabulary Examples/non-examples
#6 Attend to precision.
Analyze problems & work closely
Vocabulary
Examples/non-examples
Importance of precision (accuracy) in math
Working carefully & neatly
Building good math habits
Gauging reasonableness of answers
Precision vs. Estimation
Checking work
Labeling answers

15. What do you notice about the math practices presented in the videos
What do you notice about the math practices presented in the videos? Can we draw any conclusions about effective use of math practices in the classroom?

16. Practices throughout the year
Math
Other Content Areas
T-P-S
Problem of the day
Fluency practice
Small group work
Asking for evidence/reasoning & support
Math buddies
T-P-S
Debate/support ideas
Supporting details in ELA
Perseverance with difficult text/questions
Precision in writing
“I can” statements/student work/portfolios

17. From my experience, students were….
Willing to take risks within the classroom
Willing to challenge others ideas
Engaged in meaningful discussions
Able to carry over skills/practices to other content areas
Able to use specific vocabulary correctly
More creative problem solvers
Able to defend their reasoning/answers with verbal & written explanations
Able to see & respect other ways to solve problems
Active participants & more accountable for their work

18. Developing a unit Make it valuable/worthwhile
Identify student weaknesses across grade level
Be concise to not take away from instructional time
Are there practices that can be intertwined with other content areas or classroom procedures?
Increase efficiency & effectiveness remainder of school year
Apply to students mathematical lives (carry over)
Work on meaningful skills & aim for consistency across grade levels within the school (year-to-year)

19. Goal for your group
Identify what you already do to address the math practices.
Identify the math practices you feel most important for student success. Any simultaneous?
Brainstorm activities/classroom procedures that you could use to address a mathematical practices.
Keep in mind the purpose of the math practices is to instill good mathematical habits that allow student to be proficient and strong mathematical thinkers.