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-Lectores Legere

Explore with the Geoboard at Hathaway Brown School

Explore  with  the  Geoboard  at  Hathaway  Brown  School  

Please join us on December 2nd at Hathaway Brown School with Dr. Mike Mikusa

from Kent State University. You do not need to bring anything with you except the

willingness to explore some problems which are fun and help your students

explore important ideas in Geometry and Measurement. Participants in this

session will be working together on problems and sharing both solutions and how

these can be adapted for students in their own classes. Dr. Mikusa is well known

throughout Ohio for his work with classroom teachers. This will be an evening of

professional growth and an opportunity to network with other teachers from

northeastern Ohio.

CHECK THESE OUT:

The Ohio Resource Center: http://Ohiorc.org Get ideas for lesson, problems, connections to children’s literature, technology hints and much, much more. If you haven’t been there... WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???

Common Core Standards: http://corestandards.org Ohio has officially adopted the common core standards for mathematics education which will be in full implementation by academic year 2014-15. You can download a copy of these standards by visiting this website. Ohio Department of Education: Comparison of the current OACS and the new Common Core. To reach this website google “Ohio Department of Education mathematics crosswalk” You may have to click on a few of the listings but it is easier than typing in the entire URL! National Council of Teachers of Mathematics: http://nctm.org Current information on our national professional organization for anyone who teaching mathematics (K-16). In addition to its regular journals, NCTM has a plethora of educational materials for all mathematics teacher K-16. Illuminations: http://illuminations.nctm.org/ This website has activities, lessons, web links and information on the NCTM standards for teachers of mathematics at all grade levels. You do not need to be a member of NCTM in order to access this information (but it would be nice if you were:)  

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President’s Message November 2010 Dear GCCTM Members, First off, congratulations to Kim Yoak, the OCTM Board, and the many GCCTM members who helped to put together the Akron conference. From the many comments that I heard, it was a smashing success. Congratulations, too, to GAMES, our colleagues in the Greater Akron area, for their tireless efforts to show Ohio mathematics teachers the quality and hospitality of the emerging “Polymer City”. Hats off to all who were involved. This year’s GCCTM theme focuses on the importance of Geometry, a human endeavor with over 5000 years of history. Some of the first records of people attempting to measure the Earth and skies go back to civilizations in Babylonia and India, then later in Egypt. Manuscripts have been found that show the use of right triangle trigonometry more than 1500 years before Pythagoras. So why this history lesson? Because those inquiring minds five millennia ago realized that numbers, measurement and methods of calculation were needed for them to answer the questions they had about how their world worked. Geometry is a topic that connects human curiosity and invention across the centuries. It connects the human need to know with the empowering value of mathematical learning. I fear, though, in many of today’s classrooms, that Geometry is declining into lists of terms and definitions that students need in order to answer multiple-choice questions on the

OAAs. To me, Geometry is a story about a powerful tool invented and refined by people across many ages. It is a 21st-Century Skill 5000 years in the making. During my career have been fortunate to be able to learn mathematics from some of the best people our profession has had to offer – Kenneth Cummins, Kenneth Hoffman, Gail Burrill, Glenda Lappan, Richard Little, Johnny Hill, Hank Kepner, Mike Shaughnessy, Jaime Escalante, and so many others that it is impossible to list them all here. Most of those opportunities came to me from belonging to groups like GCCTM, OCTM, and NCTM. People today are carrying on that human endeavor of using mathematics as a tool to learn about our world, and they continue the history. My message this month is that we should all endeavor to tell that story in our classrooms. Help students connect mathematics to its rich history and its utility in the search for understanding. Help them see that it is more than memorizing and replicating exercises. I hope you will attend our December meeting, and bring a colleague. It is a chance to connect with the expertise and care for mathematics that all of GCCTM’s talented members bring to the organization. That collaboration is the strength and the legacy that we should contribute as our part of the story. George Viebranz GCCTM President

Contest News  

Sites are being secured for the 7th -8th grade contest to be held Saturday, April 30th. If your school is willing to host the contest, please contact Valerie Cooper at vcooper@berea.k12.oh.us. Even if your school cannot host the contest, please consider putting a team together and join the fun. Any other questions can be forwarded to Teresa Graham at tgraham@bw.edu.

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GCCTM    Presents

Geometry  and  Measurement    with  a  GeoBoard  

Presented  by  Mike  Mikusa,  Ph.D.,    Kent  State  University  

Thursday, December 2, 2010 5:00-5:45 light dinner and networking 5:45-6:15 business meeting 6:15-7:30 presentation

Hathaway Brown School (Dining Hall)

19600 North Park Boulevard Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122

For map and directions go to: http://www.hb.edu/page.cfm?p=313

Cost: $10 for GCCTM members and $20 for non members (includes a one-year membership) RSVP: email William Adler at wadler@hb.edu. In your email, please include the number attending, your name and phone number.

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OCTM 60th Annual Conference

The Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics held a very successful 60th Annual Conference in Akron, Oct. 14-15. The two-day opportunity for professional development was provided for about 1100 eager in-service and pre-service mathematics educators with 170 sessions for grades PK – college. 54 exhibitors displayed their products, giving conference goers a chance to see what is new in materials for mathematics education. Six nationally recognized mathematics educators gave keynote sessions: Gail Burrill, Doug Clements, Carole Greenes, Susan Jo Russell, Brad Findell and Melendy Lovett. ODE math consultants gave information about the Common Core Standards.

Although officially hosted by GAMES (Greater Akron Mathematics Educators Society), there was much collaboration with GCCTM. Laura Anfang co-chaired the conference with Linda Hallenbeck, Caroline Borrow co-chaired the program with Joanne Caniglia, Jerry Moreno chaired registration, Judie Melillo and Teresa Graham chaired exhibits, Annemarie Mockler and Dave Newhouse co-chaired program book and Bill Adler made the signs.

Two innovations of the conference were the Flash Dance sessions and the Teachers’ Technology Tutoring Tent. Four Flash Dances per session gave exhibitors an opportunity to demonstrate their products in a fast paced, focused presentation. The Ohio Resource Council ‘danced’ in each session to show teachers what can be found on their website. The Teacher’s Technology Tutoring Tent (T^4) provided teachers with a special place in the exhibit hall to try the technology-hands-on and get their questions answered by tutors. Both of these efforts were supported by the exhibitors, especially Texas Instruments and SMART Technologies.

Laura Anfang

The Hospitality Committee planned the Awards Reception and Dinner where district and state awards were presented to outstanding Ohio teachers of mathematics. The two district winners from the northeast, Carole Katz and Laura Brabant were also selected for the Buck Martin and Myrtle Miller/Maryjane Werner awards. Congratulations to two GCCTM members!

PSSTTTTT....

*Missed the OCTM Conference in Akron?

**Looking for information on Ohio’s implementation

of the Mathematics Common Core Standards?

***Need to spruce up that dusty, boring old mathematics lesson?

****Want to see the latest in technology, mathematics programs and materials.?

*****Mark your calendar NOW for PRIME TIME in TOLEDO: October 13-14, 2011

For more information go to Ohioctm.org

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Organizing Your Classroom Calculators

As school districts seek to provide access to technology for all students, many schools are providing class sets of calculators for student use. Some teachers feel grateful to acquire new tools, but are overwhelmed at managing school property. Calculator manufacturers provide the first layer in loss control by selling calculators in identifiable case colors—yellow is popular—that distinguish school calcs from student-owned calcs. There are also several classroom management strategies which will increase calculator accessibility while minimizing loss.

The most effective way for teachers to prevent calculator loss is to assign a numbered calculator to each student for each math period of the school day. If a teacher has 32 graphing calculators in her classroom, she may choose to number them one through 32. Using her electronic gradebook or a spreadsheet she can generate a numbered list of students in each class. (Her gradebook software may call this feature a “roster”.) The teacher may keep these roster lists with the calculators, and update them as rosters change.

Your calculator set may already be imprinted with a school district security bar code. Use a permanent marker or preprinted label to clearly mark the calculator numbers on the calculator cases AND bases. You can also choose to store calculators without case covers, but the chance of damage increases.

A popular—and accessible—arrangement is to store the numbered calculators in clear plastic shoe pockets on a classroom wall or door. Some school districts provide specially designed locking cabinets or carrying cases for school-owned calculators.There are several ways to distribute, and then collect, the numbered calculators, but all of them are time-consuming. The loss of instructional time causes many mathematics teachers to abandon using the classroom calculators. However, there are significant benefits to teaching with technology, as detailed at the website http://education.ti.com/educationportal. Therefore, many educators have worked on minimizing calculator distribution and collection times.

The most time-consuming method of calculator distribution and collection is teacher-directed. If you can’t delegate collecting calculators, at least consider collecting them in groups of five or ten. You might announce, “I’m collecting calculators 15 thru 20 now.” Students can bring their calculators to you.Some math teachers prefer to utilize student helpers in the distribution and collection of calculators. This method increases efficiency, and minimizes loss of instructional time. Ideally, the same trusted student or student aide will distribute calculators on a daily basis. Students can follow this routine when there is a substitute teacher, as well.A few classrooms employ table captains to pass out materials. If you choose this method, remember to monitor loss at the end of each period by scanning the shoe pockets or calculator storage case for empty spots.

One eighth-grade teacher numbers student desks at the start of the school year, assigning students alphabetically from the numbered roster. This streamlines calculator distribution during a period of time when everyone is learning names, and simplifies collection as well.

With a permanent marker and a little planning, you can make the most of your classroom set of calculators. Put that technology into the hands of your students!

By Valerie Cooper, Math Coach, Berea City School District

 

         

 

Contest  Problem  

Grade  7:    Fifty  percent  of  a  number  is  added  to  the  number.    The  resultant  number  is  reduced  by  40%  and  this  number  is  8  less  than  the  original  number.    What  is  the  original  number?  

 

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Greater Cleveland Council of Teachers of Mathematics CMSETT/John Carroll University 20700 North Park Blvd. University Hts. OH 44118

Have you expired? Check your mailing label to see the expiration date of your membership to GCCTM. If you want to

remain among the “living” members, go to www.mygcctm.org for a membership form.

RENEW TODAY!

RENEW TODAY

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our

thanksgiving.

WT Purkiser