A Planning and Observation Tool - Math Practices

If you've been looking for a tool that can help teachers, coaches, and administrators focus in on key elements of the math practices -- from both the student and teacher perspectives -- then you may want to learn more about the Elementary Mathematics Specialists and Teacher Leaders Project .  You can find four different "Look-For" templates that were shared at the 2013 Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators Conference.  Here's part of Engaging in the Mathematical Practices (Look-fors) that merges both student and teacher "look-fors" in one document.

Some possible uses of this document could include:

• Teachers focusing on one or more of the math practices as they watch video clips of math lessons
• Teachers focusing on one or more of the math practices as they plan a Common Core math lesson
• Coaches and administrators focusing on one or more of the math practices when they observe a math lesson
• Student teachers using the look-fors during their classroom observations

If you get a chance to try these look-fors and find them helpful, it would be great if you would share your experience on this blog.  Thanks!

Common Core Word Problems and Problem Solving

As you are working with your primary students on word problem types (such as Join Start Unknown or Compare Difference Unknown), you may be looking for sample word problems.  And if you're teaching older students, you may also be looking for sample Problem Solving problems that are more open-ended than the primary word problem types.  Here are a couple of websites that can help.

• Sets of word problems based on the Common Core Word Problem types are available for:
• 1st grade at https://grade1commoncoremath.wikispaces.hcpss.org/Problem+Solving
• 2nd grade at https://grade2commoncoremath.wikispaces.hcpss.org/Problem+Solving
• 3rd grade at https://grade3commoncoremath.wikispaces.hcpss.org/Problem+Solving

• "Decks" of problem solving cards, along with solutions at http://mathlearnnc.sharpschool.com/cms/One.aspx?portalId=4507283&pageId=5856325

Sample Problem Solving Cards - Grades 1-2

Sample Problem Solving Cards - Grades 3-4

Sample Problem Solving Cards Grades 5-8

The same problems are also available on blackline masters with room for students to show their mathematical thinking and communicate in words:

Sample Problem Solving Blackline Master Grades 1-2