Course Overview
This course guides the teacher towards information that will help in the successful preparation, implementation and evaluation of a classroom lesson that fulfills mathematical practice #1 (Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.)
Course Objectives:
Relating to the Common Core Mathematical Practice Standard #1, the teacher will be able to:
- explain the standard to people of varying abilities, ages & education
- use different materials to teach the standard
- develop an effective time line within a teaching plan
- create assessment processes that evaluates the ability of the students to grasp the standard
- analyze this class experience as to how well it helped prepare to teach the mathematical standard
Course Relation to CCS or other Professional Standards
CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP1 Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
Mathematically proficient students start by explaining to themselves the meaning of a problem and looking for entry points to its solution. They analyze givens, constraints, relationships, and goals. They make conjectures about the form and meaning of the solution and plan a solution pathway rather than simply jumping into a solution attempt. They consider analogous problems, and try special cases and simpler forms of the original problem in order to gain insight into its solution. They monitor and evaluate their progress and change course if necessary. Older students might, depending on the context of the problem, transform algebraic expressions or change the viewing window on their graphing calculator to get the information they need. Mathematically proficient students can explain correspondences between equations, verbal descriptions, tables, and graphs or draw diagrams of important features and relationships, graph data, and search for regularity or trends. Younger students might rely on using concrete objects or pictures to help conceptualize and solve a problem. Mathematically proficient students check their answers to problems using a different method, and they continually ask themselves, “Does this make sense?” They can understand the approaches of others to solving complex problems and identify correspondences between different approaches.
Register NowInstructor
Julie Sweetman
B.S., B.A., M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction, PDC in MA.With more than 25 years of experience in the classroom, I have had the privilege of teaching mathematics at both the middle and high school levels. My career has been driven by a passion for making math accessible, engaging, and fun for students of all ages.
Beyond the classroom, I am deeply committed to the growth of the profession, serving as a mentor to fellow educators to help them find their footing and flourish in their teaching journeys. When I’m not solving equations or collaborating with colleagues, you can find me at the beach with a good book in my hand and my dog by my side. I believe the best way to stay sharp in the classroom is to find balance and inspiration in the world around us.