Dana Center Presents at CAMT Conference

Join the Dana Center at the annual Conference for the Advancement of Mathematics Teaching (CAMT), on July 16-18, 2018, in Houston. We’ll be presenting throughout the conference on a variety of topics, including growth mindset, effective professional learning techniques, addressing learning gaps, and leveraging social and emotional learning.

Meetup for Teachers of Struggling Algebra Students

Date: July 16, 2018
Time: 10-11 AM CST
Room: 371B
Presenters: Anne Joyoprayitno, Kathi Cook
Session Description: Do you teach struggling Algebra I students? If so, come network and learn with fellow educators who are interested in supporting struggling Algebra I students, including those in double-block classes. This highly interactive gathering will start with a basic discussion of emerging trends in the field. You'll then have a chance to focus on practical application of various support strategies in classrooms, schools, and more. Bring your ideas and questions! We provide a structure for participation and conversation. Participants will be encouraged to add their own stories and wonderings to the discussion. Leave with inspiration, fresh ideas, and new collaborators. Optional: bring contact information or business cards to share.
Session Materials: PDF

Teaching Middle and High School Students to Speak the Language of Math (Part One)

Date: July 16, 2018
Time: 11:30-12:30 PM CST
Room: 371B
Presenters: Denise Thornton, Mary Davis
Session Description: Back by popular demand! After the overwhelming participation at CAMT 2017, come join part one of this two-part series about teaching kids to speak the language of math! Although it can seem daunting, both middle and high school students can learn to participate in meaningful discussion when they have the instructional support they need. In this session, come see "math talk" in real classrooms and explore a set of principles that provide support for young mathematicians as they learn to articulate their own ideas, consider the perspectives of peers, and construct mathematical understandings.
Session Materials: PDF

Growth Mindset Meetup

Date: July 16, 2018
Time: 2:30-3:30 PM CST
Room: 351C
Presenters: Lisa Brown, Susan May
Session Description: Network and learn with educators who are interested in, or excited about, applying growth-mindset strategies in education. This highly interactive gathering will start with a basic discussion of emerging trends in the field, and then focus on practical application of growth-mindset strategies in classrooms, faculty teams, and more. Bring your ideas and questions! We provide a structure for participation and conversation. Participants will be encouraged to add their own stories and wonderings to the discussion. Leave with inspiration, fresh ideas and new collaborators. Optional: bring contact information or business cards to share.
Session Materials: PDF

Lights! Camera! Principles to Action!

Date: July 16, 2018
Time: 2:30-3:30 PM CST
Room: 352C
Presenters: Mary Davis, Denise Thornton
Session Description: In Principles to Actions, NCTM introduced a set of research-based actions for all teachers, coaches, and specialists in mathematics; all school and district administrators; and all educational leaders and policy makers. These recommendations are based on the Council’s core principles. We have developed Innovation Configuration (IC) maps to provide clear pictures of what an ideal state would look like in each of these principles and descriptions. In this session, we will explore the IC map developed for "Using and Connecting Mathematical Representations."
Session Materials: PDF

Developing the Whole Teacher with Social Networks

Date: July 17, 2018
Time: 11:30-12:30 PM CST
Room: 350C
Presenters: Ryan Timmons, Michael Greenlee
Session Description: Like students, teachers have social and emotional learning (SEL) needs that are key to their development. School and districts have begun work around student SEL, but little has been done to look at teachers' SEL needs within professional development. This session will examine just how important these needs are for teachers, as well as ways social media can provide support. Let’s use the full potential of social networks to develop and change teaching practices for greater student achievement!
Session Materials: PDF

The HB5 College Prep Math Course—Challenges and Opportunities

Date: July 17, 2018
Time: 11:30-12:30 PM CST
Room: 352E
Presenters: Kathi Cook, Susan May, Josh Recio
Session Description: As colleges continue to implement mathematics requirements that better align with students' careers, College Algebra may no longer be the default entry-level mathematics course. Instead, depending on their majors, students may be required to complete courses in quantitative reasoning or statistics. Additionally, research indicates that academic skills are not sufficient to prepare students for college; rather, building college readiness requires us to also address certain "noncognitive" knowledge and skills, as well as expose students to college norms and expectations. For the past two years, the Dana Center has been collaborating with a number of Texas districts and their higher-education partners to implement a HB5 College Prep course that supports multiple pathways to college mathematics and also addresses crucial non-academic knowledge and skills. In this session, we will share an overview of the course materials as well as emerging findings from its implementation.
Session Materials: PDF

Building Computational Fluency with Focused Practice Sets

Date: July 17, 2018
Time: 1-2 PM CST
Room: 361C
Presenters: Lisa Brown, Anne Joyoprayitno
Session Description: What assignments do you provide that help students develop fluency? How effective are your computational fluency practice sets? If you are finding that the practice sets you’re using are not getting the hoped-for results, you may benefit from a different approach to selecting or designing them. This session will share the latest research on developing computational fluency and provide sample assignments that apply these recommendations. In our remaining time together, you’ll team up to use these new strategies to create your own problem sets.
Session Materials: PDF

Developing Statistical Literacy in High School Students

Date: July 17, 2018
Time: 1-2 PM CST
Room: 352B
Presenters: Josh Recio, Kathi Cook
Session Description: "Torture numbers, and they'll confess to anything." (Gregg Easterbrook) Being statistically literate involves critical thinking and awareness, but more importantly, the ability to determine the truth behind the data. From middle to high school, students are required to demonstrate statistical reasoning. This session will provide the tools necessary to teach foundational statistics in an engaging and meaningful way.
Session Materials: PDF

Increasing Equity: Structures and Strategies that Promote Productive Conversations

Date: July 17, 2018
Time: 1-2 PM CST
Room: 351C
Presenters: Katey Arrington, Shelly LeDoux
Session Description: Do you want to advance equity and improve achievement for each student in your school or district? How do you set the stage for discussions around challenging the status quo and advocating for change? Purposeful action is needed to identify, acknowledge, and overcome disparities in access to high-quality instruction and instructional resources by demographic. Come explore structures and strategies that promote honest and reflective conversation about the reasons achievement gaps exist and the need for high-quality instruction that allows each student to maximize their potential.
Session Materials: PDF

Supporting Success in AP Calculus—A Vertical Approach

Date: July 17, 2018
Time: 4-5 PM CST
Room: 370A
Presenters: Susan May, Kathi Cook
Session Description: How does what you teach in your mathematics class put students on a path to success in AP Calculus? Success in Advanced Placement courses begins well before the first day of the actual AP class. Teachers of mathematics courses prior to AP Calculus play a critical role in developing the foundation for success in AP Calculus. In this session, we will analyze the vertical progression of key concepts in AP Calculus as they develop across earlier mathematics courses. Come explore how what you do in your class opens doors to Advanced Placement opportunities for more students.
Session Materials: PDF

Supporting Success in AP Statistics—A Vertical Approach

Date: July 18, 2018
Time: 10-11 AM CST
Room: 370A
Presenters: Josh Recio, Anne Joyoprayitno
Session Description: How does what you teach in your mathematics class put students on a path to success in AP Statistics? Success in Advanced Placement courses begins well before the first day of the actual AP class. Teachers of mathematics courses prior to AP Statistics play a critical role in developing the foundation for success in AP Statistics. In this session, we will analyze the vertical progression of key concepts in AP Statistics as they develop across earlier mathematics courses. Come explore how what you do in your class opens doors to Advanced Placement opportunities for more students.
Session Materials: PDF

Dana Center/Agile Mind Course Program Users Meetup

Date: July 18, 2018
Time: 10-11 AM CST
Room: 352B
Presenters: Kathi Cook, Susan May, Lisa Brown, Sherri Jones
Session Description: Have you been teaching with the Dana Center/Agile Mind middle school or high school mathematics course programs for a year or two? Are you planning for your first year of implementation? Are you currently teaching with other resources, but want to learn more about what Agile Mind has to offer? Network and learn with educators who are using the Dana Center/Agile Mind middle school and high school mathematics programs. This highly interactive gathering will start with an overview of what’s new in the course programs, and then focus on how you and your students can get the most out of Agile Mind. Bring your ideas and questions for the designers and developers of the courses! Participants will be encouraged to share their own success stories, strategies, and challenges. Leave with inspiration, fresh ideas, and new collaborators!
Session Materials: PDF

A Deeper Look: Teaching Middles and High School Students to Speak the Language of Math (Part Two)

Date: July 18, 2018
Time: 10-11 AM CST
Room: 350F
Presenters: Denise Thornton, Mary Davis
Session Description: Come join part two of this two-part series about teaching students to speak the language of math. Although it can seem daunting, both middle and high school students can learn to participate in meaningful discussion when they have the instructional support they need. In this session, explore a set of principles that provide support for young mathematicians as they learn to articulate their own ideas, consider the perspectives of peers, and construct mathematical understandings.
Session Materials: PDF

#PD2C: Connect and Capitalize on Social Media as a Professional Learning Tool

Date: July 18, 2018
Time: 11:30-12:30 PM CST
Room: 351B
Presenters: Michael Greenlee, Denise Thornton
Session Description: Given the undeniable prevalence of social media, it makes sense to utilize the power of virtual platforms to extend professional learning in mathematics beyond the traditionally passive sit-and-get style. By intermingling professional learning into social and personal communications, educators can develop and share ideas in real-time, making important connections among instructional content and authentic contexts in short and manageable bursts. When used effectively, Mobile Learning and Social Media allows for longer and deeper thinking and discussion about critical mathematical content. The Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at Austin will share how we are capitalizing on these unique learning formats and the research that supports these practices. Through the use of memes and short videos, participants will engage in rigorous tasks and thought-provoking questions that entice discussion and encourage professionals to make immediate changes in their practice.
Session Materials: PDF

Developing Statistical Literacy in Middle School Students

Date: July 18, 2018
Time: 11:30-12:30 PM CST
Room: 360B
Presenters: Josh Recio, Kathi Cook
Session Description: “Torture numbers, and they'll confess to anything." (Gregg Easterbrook) Being statistically literate involves critical thinking and awareness, but more importantly, the ability to determine the truth behind the data. From middle to high school, students are required to demonstrate statistical reasoning. This session will provide the tools necessary to teach foundational statistics in an engaging and meaningful way.
Session Materials: PDF

Got Innovative Assessments?

Date: July 18, 2018
Time: 11:30-12:30 PM CST
Room: 371C
Presenters: Sherri Jones, Susan May
Session Description: Technology is changing the landscape of formative and summative assessments. While Texas still uses multiple choice items for our high-stakes exams, should we be considering more innovative, technology-enhanced items for student assessment at the classroom level? How can these types of items help teachers engage students in conceptual understanding? In this session, we will look at a variety of innovative item types and analyze what the items tell us and don’t tell us about student understanding. We will consider how these items allow students to be more engaged with the mathematics and teachers to better assess conceptual understanding.
Session Materials: PDF