CONNECT Annual Event
Join us for the CONNECT Annual Event for new and future teachers on Thursday, May 3 from 7pm to 9pm, the evening before the MCTM Spring Conference.
Continue readingCategory: Middle School
Free Code.org Professional Development
Twin Cities PBS (TPT) is currently recruiting teachers grades 6-12 to participate in FREE Code.org professional development.
Continue readingCan Mindfulness Help?
Several years ago a friend mailed me a copy of 10 Mindful Minutes by Goldie Hawn. At the time I had not heard much about mindfulness, but after reading the first chapter of this book, I realized mindfulness was a tool for parents as well as for educators.
Continue readingCalling for a Compass Comeback
Have you ever handed a compass to a child? After they satisfy their initial curiosity that one of the ends is pointy, have you ever then seen what a child does with that compass?
Continue readingMy 5 Favorite Estimation 180 Tasks
Like all of the wonderful tasks that brought my students joy, Estimation 180 made its way into my classroom through Twitter, @Estimation180.
Continue readingWhat’s new on the MCA III Math test? A straightedge tool!
Suggestions from teachers on item review panels led to the creation of a straightedge tool for select linear
regression items in grades 8 and 11.
My 5 Favorite “Open Middle” Problems
I stumbled upon Open Middle in 2015 while looking for resources to be used as a warm up that would be easily differentiated for my fifth graders. While we had discussed growth mindset, had been using visual representations, and had engaged in some productive struggle, many weren’t prepared for the level of flexible thinking Open Middle problems required. I was hooked!
Continue readingUpdated Item Samplers and TE Item Types for Math MCA
Submitted by Angela Hochstetter – Math Assessment Specialist, MNDOE Ann Page – Math Assessment Specialist, MNDOE This article will answer
Continue readingGrade 11 and DOK III Items Added to MCA Released Items
MDE added 21 released items to the released item web page. The items span grades 3 through 8 and 11, including a few DOK III items.
Continue readingHighlighting Mistakes
As a PLC, our middle school math department decided to try this strategy out as a way to give feedback on assessment this year. It is too soon to have data, but the feeling so far is positive from both students and teachers perspective.
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