ProGrowth Update 2014/2015

The deadline for submitting pro-growth grant proposals is Monday, November 17. Please send your applications/proposals to Keiko: ktaylor@sd64.bc.ca, (either paper or electronic proposals).

More information about Pro-Growth and forms for application can be found here on our district website. 

Infinity Discussions

Check out this great video about the concept of "infinity". This was put together by a group of math students at SIMS led and supported by Matti Girardi. This idea developed out of a "Quantum Cafe" project where the group would gather to discuss important mathematical ideas.

Here is the link: http://youtu.be/iH0q-gea7S0 

Math Inquiry Project: Next Meeting May 8th

Our next meeting is Thursday May 8th in the morning at the board office! This is our last "official" meeting of the year, so please bring something to share. For example an approach or a strategy you tried and what the result was. Some teachers are trying a new approach to math stations and comparing the difference between end of unit tests after implementing. Others are looking at incorporating more visual instructions and activities in their math class and comparing some specific understandings or concepts. Other ideas are using a simple survey to assess students' perception of their math skills or their comfort with learning math. Or use First Steps in Math diagnostics to focus on a foundational skill, use instruction that builds on this skill, then a re-assess to see if the instruction worked. 

Let me or Janet, or Susan know if you need any support or ideas!

The "What's Math Got To Do With It" books have arrived for those interested in doing a "math book club". We can all pick them up on May 8th! Susan was suggesting that we gather in June for drinks and discussions. I reckon that would be an excellent way to wrap up our project and our school year!

See you all on May 8th!

Math Night!!

Susan Robinson has organized a Community Math Event from 6:30-8:30pm at GISS. UBC Math Professor Fok will be speaking at 7pm in the GISS Library. There will be a number of fun hands on activities for people of all ages (including pre-school activities) to try, as well as some tables with students presenting their work in the multipurpose room.

Grab some kids, some friends, some family and head over to GISS at 6:30pm for a great evening!!

Math Inquiry: Next Steps

Our next meeting is on Monday, March 10th in the morning 9am-12pm) at the SBO.

Here are the minutes from our full day session on Mayne. (Thanks again Kelda!)

Please complete and bring for our next meeting:
1. A diagnostic of your choice of your class or group of students.
2. Your class list
3. Your case study

(Please let me or any of the coordinators know if you need any of the documents above!)

Also check out this great blog "Through A Different Lens" I just heard about! It has some ideas for approaching math instruction in a different way.

See you all on March 10th!

Collaborative Math Inquiry Project: Next Steps

Here are some important documents from our first inquiry meeting and reminder of what to bring to our next meeting all day February 20th on Mayne Island!

Minutes of our first meeting, recorded by Kelda Logan (Thank you!).

For next meeting please bring:
1. Your inquiry question (here is a list of sample questions to get some ideas flowing!).
2. Have a student chosen: here is the parent permission letter.
3. Fill in and bring your case study form for that student.
4. Your class list.
5. Something to share (for example a strategy you use in your math classes).

Math Collaborative Inquiry Project

Gulf Islands Math Collaborative Inquiry Project

“A successful face-to-face team is more than just collectively intelligent. It makes everyone work harder, think smarter and reach better conclusions than they would have on their own”
– James Surowiecki

What is it?

A guided inquiry project for teams of educators at one or more schools who are interested in improving mathematical thinking through developing thinking skills across the curriculum.

The Goals of this project are to:
• Provide opportunities for educators to collaborate and apply effective numeracy strategies,
• Continue to build a teaching culture focused on improving numeracy results for all students, 
• Use current research to foster mathematical success.

Who is invited to participate?
Teachers of math (or related field) to students in grade 4 to 12 in Gulf Islands School District.

How will it work?
We will meet as participants to:

• Identify collaborative partners.These may be cross-grade, cross-school, or same school.
  
• Develop an inquiry about mathematics learning. • There will be limited or no homework.
  
• Participate in 4 joint sessions as well as a classroom visit from January to June 2013 (Some sessions will be full-day and some will be half-day; release time will be provided.) 
• Unpack big ideas and other elements of BC’s new Transforming Curriculum
• Consider continuing into the 2014-15 school year.

Calendar to June 2014:

January 23rd (1:30 - 4:14pm) School Board Office
February 20th (All day) - Mayne School
March 10th (9am - Noon) School Board Office
May 8th (9am - Noon) School Board Office

Invite