ALN Middle School Math for All Learners

Location: The Learning Center, All Learners Network- Chace Mill, 1 Mill Street, Suite 370, Burlington, VT 05401 

Session Dates: Nov 15, Dec 9, Jan 13, Feb 11, Mar 24 (snow date)

Four self-paced modules: Due December, January, February, and March

Overview:

This is a three credit course. Using the framework provided by All Learners Network (ALN), this course will explore the High Leverage Concepts (HLC) from grades 5 through 8. This course will also use the latest research about how the brain learns to leverage routines that should be incorporated in Middle Level classes to decrease math anxiety and increase belonging in the math classroom. The All Learners Network uses five key components to help math leaders and, ultimately, teachers, support all students to be successful in mathematics: High Leverage Concepts, All Learners Lesson Structure, training for instructional leaders to facilitate student growth, a rapid cycle of inquiry, and formative assessment forming instruction. This course will teach educators to use these effective strategies to help all children learn math.

Course Objectives:

Participants will:

• Focus on the ALN HLCs, Learning Progressions, and Assessments
  • Dive into what it really means to understand the HLCs
  • Examine the Progressions to support your learners
  • Use the High Leverage Assessments (HLA)s to examine what your students know and how to foster their continued growth
• Use tools that can help your students develop conceptual understanding in your middle school math class.
• Dig into routines that foster thinking as well as productive discourse
• Learn how to incorporate Menu on a regular basis, to create a balanced math class
• Experience launch examples/ideas and explore resources
• Create a classroom that embodies a Growth Mindset and fosters belonging

Course Requirements:

• Use Teaching Middle School Math with an All Learners Focus Website 
• Join Google Classroom (link)
• Attend all sessions 
• Participate actively in all sessions
• Complete all self paced Modules
• Complete all reading during and outside of class
• Complete all assignments

Assignments:

These assignments will be posted in Google Classroom

• Module 1: Mathematical Mindset
• Module 2: Discourse in the Math Classroom
• Module 3: Vertical Surfaces
• Module 4: Math Menu 

Required Readings

The readings for this class include the text as well as recent brain research. Some of the reading will be at a graduate level, though much is more accessible. Some of the reading will be done in-class as part of instruction. Participants will also be responsible for reading outside of class.

• Boaler, J. Mathematical Mindset
• Recommended to have a copy of Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Liljedahl, P. 
• Provided excerpts from:
  • Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Liljedahl, P. 
  • Limitless Mind, Jo Boaler
  • Brain Based Learning, Eric P. Jensen and Liesl McConchie
  • Solving for Why, John Tapper
  • Principles to Action, NCTM
  • 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions, Margaret Smith
• Various other articles