NCTM New and Noteworthy

Rethinking the Role of the Elementary Classroom Teacher

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:15:57 GMT

Early in my career, the principal of my school shared The Animal School: A Fable, written in the 1940s by George Reavis, assistant superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools. At the time I was teaching in a fifth-grade self-contained classroom in a K–5 school. That story made a deep impression on me and strongly influenced how I thought about my students—their talents and interests. Read more.

Teacher Appreciation—EXTENDED!

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Mon, 06 May 2013 09:06:28 GMT

Although Teacher Appreciation Week was celebrated last week, NCTM recognizes the essential role that teachers play YEAR-ROUND in ensuring mathematics learning of the highest quality for all students. As a token of our appreciation, we’re extending our offer to teachers for 25% off on all NCTM publications until May 17! Use promo code TEACH25 at checkout to receive the discount.

NCTM and ASA Joint Statement

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:10:11 GMT

To help prepare future and current teachers lead classes on statistics, NCTM and the American Statistical Association are calling on universities and school administrators across the country to provide high-quality training and professional development opportunities. In response to the rise in prominence of statistics, “teachers of mathematics and others who will teach statistics must have deep knowledge and understanding of statistics and the way that students learn the subject,” assert ASA and NCTM in their joint statement. Read the news release.

Calling all High School Teachers

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:36:54 GMT

You need the best strategies to prepare your students for success, and NCTM’s Interactive Institute on High School Mathematics offers a variety of activities and tactics to effectively address the Common Core mathematical practices and NCTM process standards—giving your students better opportunities to examine, interpret, and think critically about math concepts. Immerse yourself in two and a half days of professional development in Washington, DC, August 1–3, and learn the best strategies to prepare your students for success. Register by May 31 and save $40.

Interactive Institute Registration Discount Extended

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 08:59:13 GMT

This is your last chance to save up to an additional $40! Early-Bird registration has been extended for the New Orleans Institutes until Friday, May 24. The learning begins July 8 to 10, with “Algebra Readiness for Every Student” for grade 6–8 educators, and continues through July 11 to 13 with “Connecting Number and Operations in the Classroom”, for grades PK–5. Register today.

Referee for NCTM

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:59:17 GMT

NCTM journals depend on the volunteer efforts of our members. You can help by refereeing manuscripts. A referee writes reviews for manuscripts submitted for publication. After receiving a manuscript, referees have approximately three weeks to return an electronic evaluation. Your efforts will not only help journals but also contribute to your professional development. If you would like to become a referee, you can find information for Mathematics Teacher, for Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, and for Teaching Children Mathematics online.

Gobble Up These Seasonal Classroom Ideas

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:56:21 GMT

Looking for something different in the short week before Thanksgiving Break? Spice up your lessons with a cornucopia of seasonally themed ideas for your classroom.

No Tricks—Only Treats for Your Students!

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:52:18 GMT

Take a look at an array of activities for all grade levels that offers some delicious ideas that will be sure to sweeten your Halloween lessons and delight your students.

Leading Math Education Organizations Form Common Core Coalition

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:04:53 GMT

Eight organizations have announced the formation of the Mathematics Common Core Coalition to provide expertise and advice on issues related to effective implementation and assessment of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM). Read more...

Mathematics Teacher Poster Set

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:09:55 GMT

Looking for a fun and engaging way to decorate your classroom and at the same time show students that math is actually all around us? NCTM’s eight posters are a unique way to get students thinking about everyday applications of math and provide an answer to that common question, “But how does this apply to real life?”

August 2011 President's Message

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:16:42 GMT

Reasoning and Sense Making^*—Expanding Our NCTM Initiative
Last week over 700 high school mathematics teachers and leaders participated in the first NCTM Interactive Institute: Infusing the Classroom with Reasoning and Sense Making. The NCTM initiative on reasoning and sense making has been a focal point throughout my term as NCTM president, and it will continue to be a major part of NCTM’s ongoing work for the foreseeable future. The importance of focusing on students’ reasoning about their mathematics is not something new in mathematics education; it has been a major theme in the teaching of mathematics in North America for a long time. Read more...

Book on Motivation: Learn How to Engage All Your Students

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:47:54 GMT

Motivation Matters and Interest Counts: Fostering Engagement in Mathematics
Motivation is an issue for every teacher, but it is particularly critical to math teachers who face daunting obstacles to engaging students in challenging math and helping them realize their potential. NCTM’s timely book Motivation Matters and Interest Counts: Fostering Engagement in Mathematics gives an account of the entire body of research on motivation in mathematical education, written in an approachable language so that teachers can apply it in their classrooms. Learn more…

Titles Added to NCTM’s Best-Selling Essential Understanding Series

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Fri, 06 May 2011 08:51:26 GMT

NCTM’s Essential Understanding Series allows teachers to reinforce their content knowledge through clear, concise explanations of the “big ideas”—mathematical statements of overarching concepts that are central to a mathematical topic—and “essential understanding”—smaller, more concrete ideas associated with each big idea. Learn more about these new books in the Essential Understanding Series: Developing Essential Understanding of Algebraic Thinking for Teaching Mathematics in Grades 3–5 and Developing Essential Understanding of Multiplication and Division for Teaching Mathematics in Grades 3–5.

Take Your Math Classroom Outdoors

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Wed, 04 May 2011 12:58:13 GMT

As students become eager for summer, engage them in learning mathematics outdoors. This month's resource collection includes lesson ideas for getting outside to DO the math. Check out free lessons and activities from Illuminations and Figure This! or log in to your journal to view selected articles with outdoor mathematics ideas.

New Book on Research and Practice

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:05:31 GMT

What happens when you form partnerships between researchers and mathematics education professionals? Disrupting Tradition: Research and Practice Pathways in Mathematics Education offers insights into, and examples of, the role that research plays in supporting and improving school mathematics while raising valuable questions for the education community. What lessons have been learned from collaborations? What forms have research and practice activities taken?

New Focus in High School Math Book

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:52:31 GMT

No matter what the subject of a high school mathematics class may be, infusing reasoning and sense making into the daily experiences of all students is crucial. “All students” includes low-performing students; gifted students; students of different racial, sociolinguistic, and socioeconomic status; students with disabilities; and students who are mathematically talented. The writers of Focus in High School Mathematics: Fostering Reasoning and Sense Making for All Students hope to further the dialogue about how to create for all students empowering mathematical experiences that incorporate reasoning and sense making.

New: Essential Understanding Book for Elementary Teachers

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:50:36 GMT

Can you explain why order matters in subtraction but not in addition? Or why it is false to assert that the sum of any two whole numbers is greater than either number? Learn why—and more—with Developing Essential Understanding of Addition and Subtraction for Teaching Mathematics in Pre-K-Grade 2. The book is organized around two big ideas supported by smaller, more specific, interconnected ideas (essential understandings). Gaining an understanding about addition and subtraction is essential as they are the foundation for students’ later learning of multiplication and division.

Android and iPhone Users: We’ve Got Your App!

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 08:20:33 GMT

In response to your requests, NCTM has just released the NCTM Android app, which can be downloaded free from the Android Store. The NCTM app gives Android users easy, efficient access to timely NCTM information—from updates on new publications and best sellers to the latest information on upcoming conferences and professional development opportunities. Users can be up-to-the-minute on NCTM activities, teaching tips, and classroom resources. The new app also includes Facebook and Twitter feed updates, including the Problem of the Day and special NCTM announcements and offers. Check it out!

And iPhone users, don’t forget there’s an app for you too! Available free through the iTunes Store.

Learn Ways to Evaluate Math Games

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:20:46 GMT

Students are living and learning in an age of new media. Using games to teach math concepts supports students’ needs for engaging and interactive instruction. This month’s tips focus on the benefits of using math games as part of instruction and ways to evaluate a game’s usefulness. Links to free games are included.

Making it Happen: Interpret and Implement CCSSM

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:03:58 GMT

On January 6, NCTM released Making It Happen: A Guide to Interpreting and Implementing Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. Building on the Council’s 30-year track record of success in the development of standards for school mathematics, Making It Happen supports teachers, districts, and states in implementing CCSSM.

For more information on Making It Happen, visit www.nctm.org/mih.

Before You Assign Homework…

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:02:43 GMT

Consider the needs of your students.
Tips include:

Assign only what’s necessary
Consider the students’ age
Give constructive feedback
Add a weekly prize drawing

Two New Essential Understanding Books for Teachers

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 14:02:57 GMT

The Essential Understanding Series addresses topics crucial to student development but often difficult to teach. These books focus on issues of mathematical content—the ideas and understanding that teachers must bring to preparation, in-class instruction, one-on-one interactions with students, and assessment.

Developing Essential Understanding of Rational Numbers for Teaching Mathematics in Grades 3–5 identifies four big ideas associated with extending from whole numbers to rational numbers and operating within the newly expanded number system.

Developing Essential Understanding of Functions for Teaching Mathematics in Grades 9–12 centers on five big ideas about functions and related essential understandings.

Smile, You’re in the Classroom Now!

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:33:01 GMT

OK, so you’ve finished your methods courses—now what do you need to review before you get in the classroom? Consider the following tips:

Initiate a conversation with your cooperating teacher
Prepare a letter to introduce yourself to parents
Share your interests and talents
Sustain relationships
Smile!

A Guide for Creative Action in Meeting Struggling Students’ Needs

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 09:36:44 GMT

Models of Intervention in Mathematics: Reweaving the Tapestry focuses on intervention as prevention and identifies the characteristics of successful learners of mathematics. It was written to assist teachers, schools, and school districts in improving the manner in which they serve children with challenges in mathematics. The book synthesizes the research on intervention programs and best practices related to mathematical instructional pedagogy and differentiation.

Refocus Your Geometry Curriculum Using Reasoning and Sense Making

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 09:21:29 GMT

Focus in High School Mathematics: Reasoning and Sense Making in Geometry advocates that students should think, question, and justify whenever they encounter a situation that is new—in school or out. Geometry provides an environment that allows students to "practice" this reasoning and sense-making process; it also encourages them to go beyond formal deductive proof writing as the main goal. By focusing on reasoning and sense making in school, the goal is for students to be able to make more effective decisions in the workplace and in society, in general. This latest book in the Focus in High School Mathematics series will shift your perspective from delivering information to facilitating your students' sense making about mathematics.

Reasoning and Sense Making Tasks

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 09:10:42 GMT

The first set of tasks related to Focus in High School Mathematics: Reasoning and Sense Making is now available. Each task includes guidance on how teachers might use it in the classroom, insights on student thinking about the task, and classroom-ready student activity sheets. These sample tasks and classroom activities demonstrate to teachers and students how reasoning and sense making look in action in the classroom.

NCTM is developing an online library of tasks to illuminate and reinforce the vision of reasoning and sense making as promoted in Focus in High School Mathematics: Reasoning and Sense Making.

Preparing for Tests from Day One!

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:06:24 GMT

Don’t wait to prepare your students for high-stakes testing. Incorporate problems from past state tests into the first five minutes of every day as warm-up exercises for the brain.

These tips include–

focusing on solutions instead of answers;
learning what is covered ahead of time;
involving students in creating reviews;
using similar grading in your assessments; and
becoming involved in writing the tests.

Use Current Research to Improve Your Teaching

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:51:40 GMT

Research can demonstrate what is possible for students—what they can learn under specific conditions, how they can reach certain goals, and what kinds of instruction are effective in helping them get there.

Each book in the Teaching and Learning Mathematics series—one apiece for Administrators, Elementary School Teachers, and Secondary School Teachers—presents ideas from research to improve mathematics education in schools.

Good Habits from the First Day to the Last

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:44:28 GMT

Plan for a successful school year by establishing good habits from the start! Tips include—

organizing notes on lesson plans and student behaviors;
arranging a teacher support group;
managing your classroom; plus
enforcing discipline strategies.

Before Your Students Arrive—Be Prepared!

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:15:40 GMT

Prepare for the new school year—as much as you can—before the first day of class. Getting the classroom organized and ready for your students before they arrive will give you more time during the year to do what you do best—teach math!
Tips include—

creating a mathematics environment;
managing homework assignments;
connecting with parents; plus
setting a goal for your own professional development.

The Students Are Gone–Take Time for Yourself!

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:27:22 GMT

Looking for a little levity in your summer? If so, get comfortable in your chaise lounge or hammock and settle in with a book of math jokes. Or if you prefer the Sunday comics, NCTM has a collection of math cartoons for you to check out.

Or maybe you’re craving a little more serious reading to improve your practice for next year? Have a closer look at our Reflection Guides, which are enhancements to NCTM’s school journal articles.

Reading not really your style? Then flex the mind with Math Games, a collection that includes both online and paper-based games.

Bringing Out the Mathematician in Every Young Learner

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:19:35 GMT

Young Mathematicians at Work: Constructing Algebra, by Catherine Twomey Fosnot and Bill Jacob, provides insightful and practical methods for preparing young students for success in algebra, beginning in kindergarten and continuing through grade 8. This book, copublished with Heinemann, is a useful resource for classroom teachers, math supervisors, and curriculum coordinators.

Put Fun into Math for Summer

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:02:10 GMT

As the school year winds down, crank up the fun factor. Engage your students with challenging games, and be sure to involve families to multiply the learning. Send your students home with exercises that will limber up their gray cells while they bulk up their muscles during the summer months.

It's Prime Time at Calculation Nation

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 07:35:10 GMT

Take a random walk on the wild side! Roll the dice, spin a spinner, or flip coins to determine your next move. But which one will give you the best chance of landing on a prime number or bonus space? Take the challenge and play Calculation Nation's newest game, Prime Time now!

Common Core State Standards Implementation

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:32:00 GMT

A joint task force representing the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE), the Association of State Supervisors of Mathematics (ASSM), the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM), and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics was formed to develop actions and resources needed to help teachers implement the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics (CCSSM). The task force also considered ways in which the organizations can collaborate in supporting their members and various groups to advance each organization’s vision of school mathematics. The joint task force report, which has been shared with the leadership of each organization, identifies five priority actions to be taken as soon as possible.

NCTM Implementation Support
The adoption of the Common Core State Standards for mathematics could have significant implications for teachers. NCTM has prepared an overview PowerPoint presentation and other presentations for Pre-K–Grade 2, grades 4–5, grades 6–8, and high school to inform teachers and to support them in implementation of the Common Core Standards. Other presentations for grade bands are under development and will be made available soon.

Joint Statement
NCTM along with three other national mathematics education organizations, NCSM, ASSM, and AMTE, unite to support teachers and other education stakeholders in implementing the Common Core State Standards. The Common Core State Standards were released June 2 in Atlanta. Learn more.

Read the related news release.

Teacher Assessment Resources

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:27:39 GMT

It’s testing time for students. Are you prepared? NCTM has put together a collection of resources to make keeping up-to-date on the latest assessment issues easier for you. Browse through the selected articles, President’s Messages, and news releases to get the latest scoop. And while you’re at it, you’ll be gathering ideas to help make you better prepared next year.

Focus in High School Mathematics

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:14:21 GMT

Refocus how you teach high school math. Shift your perspective from delivering information to facilitating students’ sense making about mathematics. Learn what constitutes reasoning and sense making, why they should be a foundation for school mathematics, and how they link to other processes. See examples of how to incorporate reasoning and sense making into your classroom and across the curriculum.

Learn more about the Focus in High School Mathematics series.

Essential Understanding Series

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:10:27 GMT

Whether you are a beginning or experienced teacher, NCTM’s Essential Understanding Series was developed with you in mind. This series addresses topics that are critical to the mathematical development of students but can be difficult to teach. But when teachers are really on top of the concepts, they have a foundation and focus that allow them to teach these topics in multiple ways. Sixteen volumes are planned for the series.

Membership Referral Program

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:10:44 GMT

As NCTM's membership grows, our work and our ability to advocate for math education becomes more effective. To grow our membership, we're asking you for your help. As you talk with colleagues, students, and others, mention the benefits of NCTM membership and ask them to become members. You can earn rewards in this free and super easy program. Learn more here.

Teaching Tips: Questions and Discourse

nctm@nctm.org (Customer Service) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:54:41 GMT

As a teacher, you probably spend a lot of time preparing engaging lessons, grading student work, and attending professional development. But, do you take the time to think about the questions you are asking your students?