Friday, May 29, 2015

Online Mentors Needed in Physics & Math

e-Mentoring for Student Success (eMSS)

e-Mentoring for Student Success (eMSS) empowers the next generation of teachers by providing content-focused mentoring through an online technology network. Through eMSS, new and veteran teachers—as well as university educators—collaborate in an interactive community to facilitate the exchange of information, ideas, and experiences in order to advance high-quality instruction for all students.

Applications are open to teachers with five or more years of experience.

If you are passionate about education and would like to be a mentor , we would like to hear from you!



Monday, May 18, 2015

2015 MCTM Math Contest State Results

 2015 MCTM Math Contest
State Results


Some stats:
ü  Data was received for 3283 participants
ü  104 schools represented at 9 regional contests
ü  1007 participants received at least one superior at the site level
ü  191 participants received at least one superior at the state level
ü  13 participants received 3 superiors at the state level
ü  297 participants competed for the scholarships (12B track)

Adrian Hess and Joan Dolan scholarship winners receive a $500 scholarship for obtaining the highest male and female contest scores in the state.
           
  • Adrian Hess Scholarship: Scotty Tilton, Capital High, Helena
  • Joan Dolan Scholarship: Kirsten Marble, Helena High


Congratulations are also extended to the regional scholarship winners, who receive a $200 scholarship.
Region
Name
Gender
School
Billings
Jack Conwell
M
Billings West

Dylan Ladd
M
Skyview

Kyla Wood
F
Skyview
Butte
Gavin Sison
M
Butte High

Erin Olivieri
F
Butte High
Great Falls
Danielle Potts
F
CMR

Jacob Kerner
M
CMR
Havre
Arjan Pokarel
M
Havre High

Lieza Reighard
F
Havre High
Helena
Scotty Tilton
M
Capital

Kirsten Marble
F
Helena High
Livingston
Christian Garcia
M
Park

Lexi Klawitter
F
Park
Missoula
Kara Schmidt
F
Hellgate

Jeremy Tate
M
Home School

David Schwarz
M
Glacier
Sidney
Drew Friedrich
M
Plentywood

Abby Belus
F
Circle
Southeast
Jase Rost
M
Baker
    (Plevna)
Sophia Schindler
F
St. Labre
Thanks to our Regional Directors and the many volunteers in each region.
CONTEST DIRECTORS: Jennifer Brackney-Billings; Hilary Risser-Butte; Michelle Brown-Great Falls; Mary Wagner-Havre; John George-Helena; Lynne Perry-Livingston; Chip Rinehart-Missoula; Yvonne Gebhardt-Sidney; Marie Boothe-Southeast (Plevna).

The following students medaled by earning 3 superior rankings at the State level of the 2015 MCTM Math Contest. Congratulations!

  • Conner Haman, Castle Rock Middle School
  • Thomas Solberg, Castle Rock Middle School
  • Andrew Bough, Lewis and Clark Middle School
  • Peter Hall, Lewis and Clark Middle School
  • Wyatt Brown, Washington Middle School
  • Isaac Rost, Baker High
  • Silas Schwarz, Glacier High School
  • Caleb Noble, Helena Capital
  • Scotty Tilton, Helena Capital
  • Devin Seyler, Helena High
  • Jake Pennington, Helena High
  • Isaac Schmidt, Hellgate High School
  • Magnolia Chinn, Sentinel High School

In order for the MCTM Math Contest to continue, we will need volunteers to write and proofread the 2015 tests.  There is a $250 stipend, mileage and lodging provided for writers. Writers will also receive 20 OPI Renewal units or 1-credit will be available through MSU-Bozeman for about $135. Writing will occur June 17-18 and will be held in Billings. 


Shari Kepner
State MCTM Math Contest Director
PO Box 300, Clyde Park, MT 59018

Friday, May 8, 2015

Money Earning Opportunities - Summer 2015

The Item Writers

Algebra Readiness Challenge (https://ar.itemwriters.org) invites educators, psychometricians, and others to create a Collection of ten items using the CoreSpring Authoring Tools. Ultimately, these Collections will be made available so that educators can use the items to help students identify their strengths and weaknesses as they work towards getting ready for algebra. The Challenge is focused on the 7th grade standards. Registration is open until May 17. Participants are eligible for cash rewards up to $6,500.

The Charles A. Dana Center 
The University of Texas at Austin

Are you an educator committed to the vision of the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics and passionate about supporting teachers?

Are you interested in paid service and international or domestic travel to work with educators who are living abroad in support of children of military families–all while still keeping your current professional appointment?

If you answered yes to both of these questions, then becoming a Charles A. Dana Center International Facilitation Fellow is for you!

Check out the flyer for more information.

Application deadline is May 15th, 2015

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Professional Development Opportunities - Summer 2015

STREAM’s FREE summer workshop for grades 7-9!
This two-day workshop is interactive, hands-on, and focused on important mathematics in and around the 8th grade standards. Three sessions will introduce key ideas about transformations, the Pythagorean theorem, and linear relationships. Other sessions will examine the standards and practices associated with those topics and demonstrate connections to other areas of mathematics and to neighboring grade levels. Attendance is limited to 25 teachers in grades 7-9. Preference may be given to rural teachers or those who enroll in one of three 8th grade online modules.

DATE/TIME: June 22-23, 11:00 am Monday – 3:30 pm Tuesday(tentative agenda below)
LOCATION: Bozeman Homewood Suites
COST ($0): Mileage, lodging, and per diem will be provided for teachers outside Bozeman
CREDIT: The workshop is approved for 12 OPI renewal units

Registration is open now – DEADLINE May 18thGo to www.streammath.org or link directly to the application at http://tinyurl.com/8thstreamapp.
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CCSS Alignment - What Happens Before, During and  After Your Grade Level in Math?

This workshop is held in conjunction with the MBI Institute in Bozeman, MT June 15th - June 19th. 

The purpose of this workshop is for participants to understand how the Common Core State Standards are vertically aligned from K-8. Participants will understand which skills and concepts have been removed the current mile wide, inch deep curriculum, and which skills and concepts need to be taught with greater depth. Participants will have  the opportunity to practice creating a learning progression from a given set of activities and then will be expected to create their own learning progression (with a partner or group) for a given concept or skill.  

Angel Zickefoose and Jennifer Brackney are the presenters for the workshop.  ​Angel is Past-President of Montana Council of Teachers of Mathematics and currently a 6th grade teacher in Billings, Montana. She has been a K-8 math coach for Billings Public Schools for 8 years prior to returning to the classroom, during which time much of the work was centered around aligning math curriculum for the Billings Public School district K-8, according to the Common Core State Standards. Angel has presented at a local, state and western regional level.  Jennifer is a current MCTM Board Member representing Region 5. She has taught math for 10 years in the middle school including 6th, 7th, 8th and Algebra, in Billings. Montana. She has worked with Billings Public Schools in the development of their middle school curriculum and its alignment to the Common Core State Standards. 

Registration for MBI and the MCTM workshop opens on March 16th.  If you would like to register, go to http://www.montana.edu/cs/conferences/mbi//.  For more information on the registration fees you can go to the OPI website.  We hope to see you there!
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STREAM Online Modules

The STREAM Project's summer collection of online modules has something for every K-8 math teacher! Registration opens May15th at www.mdpln.org for this FREE professional learning! (Online modules are described in detail at the end of this message or visit www.STREAMmath.org.)

REGISTRATION: Choose from a selection of topics and grade levels in two sessions (see the list of courses below). Each course requires a minimum of 10 participants. Courses with less than 10 enrolled will be cancelled two weeks before the start date . Because of this requirement, please:

  1.  Register early (by June 1 for the first session and by June 30 for the second session).
  2.  Register only if you are committed to participating in the full three–week course.
  3.  Have a second course selection in mind in the unlikely case your first choice is cancelled.
  4.  Invite your colleagues to enroll with you!

CREDIT: Any single module can be completed for 15 OPI renewal units. You can also earn one graduate credit from University of Montana by completing two modules, one in each session, The (non-degree) graduate credit costs $135 and registration is due by June 1. To register, contact Georgia Cobbs at Georgia.Cobbs@mso.umt.edu

SESSION A: June 15 – July 10 (minimum of 10 registered by June 1):

  *   Mathematical Practices (4 weeks)
  *   Algebraic Thinking K-5 (3 weeks)
  *   Algebraic Thinking 6-7 (3 weeks)
  *   Straight Talk: Linearity 7-9 (3 weeks)

SESSION B: July 13 – August 7 (minimum of 10 registered by June 30):

  *   Mathematical Practices (4 weeks)
  *   Number & Operation K-3 (3 weeks)
  *   All About Fractions 3-5  (3 weeks)
  *   Ratio & Proportion 6-7 (3 weeks)

Please contact Lisa Scott with any questions.
Lisa Scott
STREAM Project Manager
406-860-7735
lisa.scott@mathedconsulting.org

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM A STREAM ONLINE MODULE?

Expect a wide variety of experiences:

  *   Read and reflect on articles
  *   Watch and react to classroom videos
  *   Solve math problems and discuss results
  *   Collaborate with other teachers
  *   Access high-quality nationwide resources
  *   Get feedback from your STREAM Instructor

Expect a focus on teaching:

  *   Adapt and revise lessons
  *   Analyze lessons with colleagues
  *   Create lessons for specific standards
  *   Engage in structured observations
  *   Collect and analyze student work
  *   Try out activities in your classroom

More about the structure of STREAM online modules:

Modules are three or four weeks in length depending on their scope and purpose. The modules are entirely asynchronous and avoid the use of live chat, tools such as electronic whiteboards, or elaborate downloads. Each new module is designed around a specific cluster of mathematical concepts or a learning progression spanning several grades (e.g., Number Systems and Operations K-3; All about Fractions K-5; Ratio and Proportion 6-7). Pedagogy-oriented modules include Mathematical Practices, STEM-Centric Mathematics; and Teacher Learning and Leadership. Before their release, modules are closely reviewed and revised from a technical, editorial, mathematical, and pedagogical perspective to ensure consistency and quality.

Module participants (typically 20 to 20 teachers) complete two to three tasks each week, with a time investment ranging from six to eight hours per week. All tasks have due dates on Sunday or MondayWednesday, and Friday  Week 1 opens on Sunday evening; subsequent weeks open each Friday to allow flexibility for those who want to work ahead over a weekend. Participants access classroom videos, mathematics problems, student work, journal articles, and other resources via the Web. They communicate solutions and reflections in facilitated online discussion forums, and receive feedback from peers and instructors. Activities encourage interaction, discourse, and comparison and contrast of ideas. Each content module requires teachers to read and reference Montana’s Common Core Standards for Mathematics along with learning progressions and other documents that highlight rigor, relevance, and coherence in the standards. Most modules included a signature assignment that engages teachers in designing or teaching a lesson, observing and interviewing students during an activity, or collecting and analyzing student work.

Each module is fully facilitated by a Montana teacher hired and trained by the project. The instructor plays an essential role in monitoring participation, synthesizing discussion postings, and providing feedback. Besides monitoring and facilitating learning activities, the module instructors score participant performance using a set of rubrics assessing overall quality of discussion and reflection, overall completion of tasks, and proficiency on the signature assignment. These scores are used to award continuing education units for individual modules or graduate credit for combinations of modules.

Teaching Engineering Applications in Math and Science (TEAMS) Workshops

Hello Montana K-12 Educators!

Montana State University’s College  of Engineering is presenting the Teaching Engineering Applications in Math and Science (TEAMS) Workshops in which MSU Engineering and Education faculty members present new, exciting, and innovated ways to incorporate engineering into your math and science curriculum. TEAMS has been running for 6 years and has had workshops in on the Ft. Peck, Flathead, and Ft. Belknap Reservations, as well as in Bozeman, MTThis year we are holding 3 workshops: one in Pablo, MT on July 7th and 8th; one on the Crow Reservation on July 21stand 22nd; and one in Billings, MT on August 4th and 5thThese workshop are one-and-a-half day workshops with presentations, activities, and demonstrations.

Participation is free, and participants receive $250 stipends and 16 OPI renewal units. Additionally, if TEAMSparticipants wish to enact an engineering lesson plan in their classroom during the fall, they can receive another $250 stipend.

For more information please visit the TEAMS website here: http://www.coe.montana.edu/TEAMS/ .
If you wish to sign up now, here is the link with the registration: http://www.coe.montana.edu/TEAMS/workshop-desc.html

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free call or email me, Julian Collins at (406)994-6723or julian.collins@coe.montana.edu.