Ensure Sense Making and Success in Math, and Life, with a Rich Problem-Solving Culture - Held Virtually

NASA and the SSEF Present:

Ensure Sense Making and Success in Math, and Life, with a Rich Problem-Solving Culture

Held Virtually

ONE WORKSHOP OVER THREE NIGHTS FROM 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Monday, June 10, 2024

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Thursday, June 13, 2024

Due to Washoe County School District (WCSD) salary advancement requirements, WCSD participants will be asked to submit a brief written summation of how this professional learning event will transfer learning into practice before a certificate is issued. WCSD participants: please use the link provided on the Guidance/Link sheet for each event to submit. Lastly, when completing events that are (1) or more credits, please submit your tracker to the PGS Department in Washoe and to ahendersonnasa@gmail.com

THIS WORKSHOP IS FREE TO ANY EDUCATOR CURRENTLY WORKING IN A SCHOOL IN THE CITY OF NORTH LAS VEGAS (NLV)

*** NASA's foundation, The Silver State Education Foundation (SSEF), is in recipient of a grant from the City of North Las Vegas (NLV), which requires this workshop being offered FREE to any educator currently working in a

school within the City of NLV

(school location listed at check out will be verified after registration)!***

REGISTRATION COSTS:

$0 for Educators working in North Las Vegas Schools

$25 for Support Staff - Non-Licensed

$50 for NASA Members

$75 for Non-NASA Members

Michele Lynch, M.Ed.

Veteran Educator

Michele Lynch, M.Ed., is a highly experienced classroom teacher, school founder and leader with a remarkable career spanning over twenty years. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to making a significant impact in the lives of children within education in service to advancing equity and fostering innovation within education.

Michele’s passion for education is evident in her unwavering commitment to empowering teachers and improving student outcomes by supporting schools and districts nationwide. Her dedication, expertise, and ability to connect with educators make her an invaluable asset to any educational institution or district.

Michele's career in education began in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she taught elementary school for 11 years in a diverse range of settings, including low-income public schools, high-performing charter schools, and an all-girls' independent school. Her exceptional teaching abilities were recognized when she was awarded Teacher of the Year for New Orleans Parish Schools in 2004, a testament to her commitment and passion for her students' success.

In 2012, Michele embarked on a new venture by founding Bricolage Academy, an open enrollment school with a mission to advance equity and create innovators. Under her leadership, Bricolage Academy quickly became one of the most sought-after public charter schools in New Orleans. Michele's role as a coach and principal allowed her to shape the school's curriculum, oversee a dedicated team of teachers, and ensure the academic and cultural vision of the school.

Continuing her commitment to educational excellence, Michele later served as the principal of Foundation Preparatory Charter School, a K-6 institution that prioritizes a student-centered experience enriched with literacy and social- emotional development.

Michele Lynch is a highly respected educator and instructional leader. Her extensive experience as a teacher and principal, coupled with her commitment to equity and innovation, have made her a driving force in the field of education. Michele's dedication to empowering students and educators alike is evident in her remarkable contributions to the schools she has served and the broader educational community.

Workshop Description:

The workshop will be for K-12 teachers and for those who support math teachers. The sessions will focus on making connections to mental math and patterns. Participants will emerge with a clear understanding of the patterns within mathematics and how to bring them to life for their students.

Course Description:

Problem solving is more than a math skill, it’s a life skill.  How can a rich problem-solving culture ensure sensemaking and success in math, and in life?  This course will provide teachers across K-12 with research-based strategies for building and integrating an effective problem-solving culture in their classrooms. We’ll create a shared definition of problem solving, what the research says about it, and what that means for today’s classrooms.

This will include a study of the standards of math practice and how they support and connect to mathematical content regardless of curriculum, content, or grade level.  Particular focus will be given to the following

Common Core Standards of Mathematical Practices:

• Standard 1-Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them K-12
• Standard 2- Reason abstractly and quantitatively K-12
• Standard 3- Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others K-12
• Standard 4- Model with mathematics K-12

Learning Outcomes- By the end of this professional learning institute, participants will be able to:

• Communicate a shared definition of problem solving.
• Assess our own experiences with and practices related to mathematical problem-solving.
• Unpack the research and standards of math practice relevant to problem solving and what that means for our instruction.
• Understand and be able to incorporate a problem-solving process for their learning environment (elementary, middle, and high school).
• Know the qualities and benefits of a problem-solving culture and how to create them in their learning environment (elementary, middle, and high school).
• Develop strategies for leveraging mathematical discourse and productive struggle for deep mathematical thinking.

How Do We Ensure Sense Making in Math with Problem Solving?

Two key criteria:

• Make problem solving an integral part of the mathematics program.
• Develop a problem-solving culture in the classroom.

Make problem solving an integral part of the mathematics program.

ACTIVITY 1

Define problem solving.

• Mathematical tasks that have the potential to provide intellectual challenges for enhancing students' mathematical understanding and development.
• Problem solving does not equal word problems.
• Explore problem solving across various grade bands.
• Explore ways to enhance/create rich problems for students to solve.

Determine the benefits of integrating Problem Solving

• See examples of great problems
• Engage in problem solving
• Debrief and name the benefits
• Navigate a multi-step process
• Choose a strategy that works for them
• Make decisions
• Think like a problem solver
• Ensure math makes sense

ACTIVITY 2

Unpack the Standards of Math Practice

• 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
• Explore the Standards of Math Practice within the context of math problems from Activity One-1.

ACTIVITY 3

Define a process.

• Use work from ACTIVITY 1 to codify a process
• Understand the problem
• Identify needed information
• Choose a strategy
• Test and check
• Go back and adjust as needed
• When help is needed.  Discuss strategies for navigating the problem solving process to support all learners.

Develop a problem-solving culture in the classroom.

ACTIVITY 4

• What does a problem-solving culture look, feel, sound like?
• See it in action
• Name key features
• Explore strategies for supporting student decision making with problem solving
• Explore the roll of math discourse to a problem solving classroom culture

ACTIVITY 5

Define Productive Struggle.

• Productive Struggle can be defined as working hard at something that is difficult to do, persevering when the going gets tough, and making progress.
• Determine the benefits of integrating Productive Struggle
• Explore ways to teaching through and with productive struggle

ACTIVITY 6

• Reflect and Make a plan of action for:
• Making problem solving an integral part of the mathematics program.
• Developing a problem-solving culture in the classroom

ALL are welcome, including anyone in a non-administrative position!

Participants will earn .5 credit (7.5 hours) toward license renewal!

This workshop ALSO counts for step advancement in Clark and most Nevada School Districts!

&

In CCSD, those in non-administrative licensed positions may count this workshop for license renewal AND ALSO 2.5 CUs - THOSE IN NON-ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS EARN BOTH!

CCSD licensed employees should be aware that professional development activities must be related to the educator/licensed professional’s assignment. CCSD teachers with any questions or concerns should reach out to the PGS Department at pgs@nv.ccsd.net

In CCSD, administrators and professional-technical administrators may count this workshop for license renewal OR 2.5 hours toward step-advancement - not both for administrators.

Washoe County participants will be required to also register for this course in "MyPGS" in order to receive in-service credit toward salary advancement.

Become a NASA Member and register at a lower rate!

Anyone can become a NASA Member!

To become a NASA Member go to:

WWW.NASANV.ORG