A) Read the Following Before Our Next Class Meeting

ED 411/518

Fall 2005

WEEK #4 ASSIGNMENT
Complete tasks #1 - #4 in your notebook before our next class meeting.

1. Mini-problem
Finish planning your mini-problem and teach it on the date you selected. (Please be sure to let me know if you’d like any help planning your problem –– I would be happy to discuss your ideas with you!) When you teach your problem, remember to audiotape and collect any artifacts.

2. Strands of Mathematical Proficiency

a) Read the following before our next class meeting:

Kilpatrick, J., Swafford, J., and Findell, B. (2001). The strands of mathematical proficiency (pp. 115 – 155). Adding it up: Helping children learn mathematics. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
This reading is available online at:
Note: It takes a long time to print this chapter off the internet; you have to print one page at a time. I therefore recommend reading it online. However, if you prefer a hard copy, you can check one out from Study Hall.

b) In our next class, we will be using the strands of mathematical proficiency as a framework for examining student thinking. To prepare for this work, paste or copy the table below into your notebook, and record some preliminary notes about each strand. First, explain what each strand of proficiency is about –– in your own words. Then, for each strand, provide one or two examples – from your field placement, from the readings, or from our work in class – where you see that strand in play (expected, supported, enacted).

3. NCTM’s Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (PSSM)

a)Register for a free 90-day trial access to NCTM’s Principles and Standards at You will also use this link each time you log in to the electronic version of PSSM.

b)Read the overview of the Problem Solving Standard, as well as the Problem Solving Standard for the grade level band you are currently teaching. In addition, read one of the content standards for your grade-band (e.g., number and operations, algebra, etc.) that relates to your mini-problem. Consider these readings as you finish planning your mini-problem.

Directions for accessing the Problem Solving Standard: After logging in, you will be directed to the “Table of Contents.” Click on the link to “Chapter 3.” Once you are on the Chapter 3 main page, you will see a menu listing the Standards on the left side of the screen: Click on “Problem Solving.” This will take you to the overview of the Problem Solving standard. To access your grade-band, select the appropriate colored tab (e.g, “Pre-K – 2,” “3 – 5,” etc.) near the top of the screen.

A hard copy of the PSSM document is available for browsing at Study Hall.

4. Modeling an alternative addition algorithm with bundling sticks

a)One the next page you will find two examples of addition algorithms taught in the Everyday Mathematics curriculum. Read about both methods and try using them on a few different addition problems.

b)Use bundling sticks to model adding 246 + 489 with the Column-Addition Method. Draw each step in your notebook, making sure you show the correspondence to the written form of the algorithm. Your goal is to make a careful map between the physical materials and the symbols. If you’d like to use actual bundling sticks, they will be available in Study Hall. (In step #3 of the method, you should proceed from right to left. Why?)

For additional practice, you might want to also try modeling the Partial-Sums Methods.

Mathematics Methods Planning GroupPage 1 of 3

University of Michigan