Professional Learning Goals

• Built stronger ties between secondary and elementary schools
• Became more comfortable using a problem-solving approach in math (three-act style lessons)
• Became more comfortable with students working at the board rather than at their desks
• Made collaboration a regular part of math class in order to generate conversations
• Became more aware of engaging math activities

Activities and Resources

• Discussed how math could become more about problem-solving
• Explored Peter Liljedahl’s work around vertical, non-permanent surfaces and visibly random groups, and began incorporating them into our classes
• Searched for engaging online activities (visualpatterns.org, estimation180.com, wouldyourathermath.com, wodb.ca, openmiddle.com)
• Developed a problem-solving framework
• Explored using math games (Fraction War, Integer War, Zero, Oh No 99)
• Went into a class to watch some activities and some problem-solving in action

Unexpected Challenges

Our biggest challenge was keeping this project manageable in size. We wanted to make so many changes that it was hard to decide where to start. We did finally get started and we feel that we should be able to continue to evolve our practices once the project is finished.

Enhancing Student Learning and Development

Students felt very comfortable contributing to group discussion. They felt safe since there were multiple entry points. Once they started participating, it was easy to keep them engaged in the activities.

Students also really enjoyed working in groups at the board or on the windows. It’s possible that this was because it was novel, but we’ll keep working at it. There were lots of great conversations that helped the teachers understand what the students were thinking.

Sharing

Both elementary and secondary teachers will share results with teachers at their schools.

Results will also be shared with math teachers and the system math coach at a system-wide secondary math day.

Many of the websites and resources that we found were shared via social media.

Project Evaluation

Overall, we would say that the project was a success. We were able to bring together secondary and elementary teachers to collaborate. Both sets of teachers will take what we have learned together and share it wider with their schools and other schools.

We were also able to change the structure of our math classes to incorporate more thinking. This is a change that should be sustainable going forward.