Math+-+6th+Grade+-+Meeting+Notes

School Year 2010-2011
 * September 30, 2010**
 * NECAP Released Items
 * Review problems
 * Select problems to distribute to students
 * Discuss which problems to teach & assign as homework
 * Timeline


 * Nola created Pre-Tests for each book....these were distributed and reviewed


 * October 14, 2010**
 * Where are we?
 * John: P.T. material
 * Bill: P.T. Investigation 3.2
 * Colette: P.T. Investigation 3.1 / P.T. Investigation 4 (accelerated)
 * Jessie: P.T. Investigation 3 / P.T. Test (accelerated)


 * Prime Time -- Essential Outcomes
 * Whole number factors
 * Whole number multiples
 * LCM / GCF
 * Prime Factorization


 * October 21, 2010**
 * Where are we?
 * John: P.T. material
 * Bill: P.T. Investigation 4.1
 * Colette: P.T. Investigation 4.1 / S.D. Investigation 3.5 (accelerated)
 * Jessie: P.T. Investigation 4.3 / S.D. Investigation 1.3 (accelerated)


 * Concerns
 * Kids can't apply knowledge (specifically GCF/LCM)
 * Weak multiplication facts
 * Bob Hall program works better


 * Sharing
 * Online site to help with problems
 * Jeopardy - P.T. review game


 * November 4, 2010**
 * Where are we?
 * John: P.T. Investigation 4
 * Bill: B&Pl Investigation 1.2
 * Colette: B&Pl Investigation 1.4 / B&Pll Investigation 2.1 (accelerated)
 * Jessie: B&Pl Investigation 2.1 / S&D Investigation 4.3 (accelerated)


 * Meeting with Trish (entire 6th grade)
 * What do PLCs do?
 * Common Core Standards (CCS)
 * Available to help

NO SCHOOL
 * November 11, 2010**


 * November 18, 2010**
 * Began work on Math BUDGET
 * Flash Cards
 * Calculators
 * Geo Designs
 * Dot to Dot Super Challenge
 * Zenith
 * Notebooks
 * Tabs
 * Graph Paper


 * November 22, 2010**
 * Began work on Differentiated Instruction (S&D Investigation 1)


 * November 23, 2010**
 * Finalized work on Differentiated Instruction (S&D Investigation 1)
 * Continued to work on Math BUDGET


 * December 2, 2010**
 * Finalized Math BUDGET and Team BUDGET


 * December 16, 2010**
 * Where are we?
 * John: B&Pl Investigation 3.3
 * Bill: B&Pl Investigation 4.3
 * Colette: B&Pl Investigation 4.1 / B&Pll Review (accelerated)
 * Jessie: B&Pl TEST / B&Pll Investigation 3.3 (accelerated)


 * Bits & Pieces l TEST
 * Analyzed test ~ pointed out problems we feel might be too challenging for students
 * Discussed grading of test
 * Plan to bring completed tests & results to next PLC meeting


 * January 6, 2011**
 * Where are we?
 * John: S&D Investigation 1 (review)
 * Bill:S&D Investigation 1.1
 * Colette: S&D Investigation 2.4 /C&S Investigation 4.3 (accelerated)
 * Jessie: S&D Investigation 2.1 / C&S Investigation 3.1 (accelerated)


 * Watched & discussed Richard Lavoie's Motivation Breakthrough lecture on youtube


 * Bits & Pieces l TEST
 * Analyzed results of B&Pl Test

**School Year 2009-2010**

 * September 17, 2009**
 * Shared strategies for and struggles with **//Prime Time//** (including teacher book, student notebook, ect.)
 * Discussed Essential Outcomes (we'll be working to edit Essential Outcomes next meeting)
 * Began to think about formative assessments for **//Prime Time//**


 * October 1, 2009**
 * Began to discuss common assessments for **//Prime Time//** -- going to give students "Check Up 1" and "Check Up 2".
 * Looked at Essential Outcomes -- have to revise E.O.s to fit CMP2
 * Shared successes & struggles, and discussed what Investigation we are working on


 * October 15, 2009**
 * PRIME TIME (Essential Outcomes)
 * Finds factors for each number from 1-30
 * Finds the GCF for numbers from 1-30
 * Classifies numbers based on prime & composite, and even & odd
 * Uses a Venn diagram to organize numbers
 * Lists multiples in order to find the LCM of two numbers
 * Uses prime factorization to find the GCF and LCM of two numbers
 * Where are we at?
 * Colette - Investigation 4 (4.3)
 * Jessie - Investigation 4 (4.2)


 * November 5, 2009**
 * Where are we at?
 * Bill - Bits and Pieces 1 (1.1)
 * Colette - Bits and Pieces 1 (1.1)
 * Jessie - Bits and Pieces 1 (1.3)
 * John - Bits and Pieces 2 (2.1)


 * Next Common Assessment?
 * Check Up (after Investigation 2)


 * Concerns?
 * Finding that the book has extremely difficult problems (unrealistic expectations for our students)
 * Some of us are struggling with group work...kids can't do it (John offered suggestions)
 * Kids struggle to work independently


 * Planning Ahead
 * 1 1/2 books per trimester
 * Trimester 1: **Prime Time** and 1/2 of **Bits & Pieces l**
 * Trimester 2: Finish **Bits & Pieces l** and **Shapes & Designs**
 * Trimester 3: **Bits & Pieces ll** and 1/2 of **Covering & Surrounding**


 * February 25, 2010**
 * Where are we at?
 * Bill - Bits and Pieces II (1.2)
 * Colette - Bits and Pieces II (1.2)
 * Jessie - Shapes & Design (Test)
 * John - Bits and Pieces II (1.2)


 * Next Common Assessment?
 * Check-Up Investigation 2 (Bits and Pieces ll)
 * Formula Foldable (Covering & Surrounding)


 * Concerns?
 * Shapes and Design TEST was too hard
 * Kids can't handle the vocabulary & are having a hard time reading the book
 * The book briefly touches upon topics...we feel like we're failing as teachers


 * Planning Ahead
 * John shared that he assigns the ACE pages and the kids decide how much they do: Application = C, Connection = B, Extensions = A
 * Jessie shared her Polygon Foldable assigned & Cover/Surrounding Jeopardy game
 * 1 1/2 books per trimester
 * Trimester 3: **Bits & Pieces ll** and 1/2 of **Covering & Surrounding**


 * March 18, 2010**
 * Where are we at?
 * Bill - Bits and Pieces II (3.1)
 * Colette - Bits and Pieces II ( -- )
 * Jessie - Bits and Pieces ll (2.3)
 * John - Bits and Pieces II (3.1)
 * We all agree that we need to slow down with this book and pull other materials to ensure mastery.


 * Next Common Assessment?
 * Unit Test (Bits and Pieces ll)
 * Spent time looking at the last common assessment (Check-Up investigation 2)


 * Concerns/Discussion
 * Discussed group work strategies
 * Fact Family


 * Planning Ahead
 * 1 1/2 books per trimester
 * Trimester 3: **Bits & Pieces ll** and 1/2 of **Covering & Surrounding**

**School Year 2008-2009**
September 18, 2008 - CMP2 implementation and training

October 2, 2008 - Each teacher would like a copy of the CMP2 materials (email Cynthia) - First book: //How Likely Is It? Understanding Probability// - Interested in contacting Joyce Hebert at Falmouth (observation day?) - Shared strategies regarding current lessons
 * Outline lessons
 * Create assessments
 * Scope and Sequence

October 9, 2008 (Early Release) //*Noted areas of weakness: place value; mean, median, mode; measuring (ex. cups to quarts); 2-step problems; area + perimeter (including triangles); writing expressions.//
 * Top 10 Things That We Can Do This Year To Help Our Students** **Achieve At A Higher Level On The MEA**
 * 1) Use proper mathematical language in the classroom
 * 2) Use MEA Released Items
 * 3) Concentrate on areas of weakness as noted on MEA Released Items*
 * 4) Use visuals in the classroom
 * 5) Share strategies among PLC members
 * 6) Continue to use manipulatives
 * 7) Attend conferences
 * 8) Continue to grow assessment pool
 * 9) Continue to monitor differentiated teaching
 * 10) Reinforce basic computation skills

October 10, 2008 (Teacher Workshop) **COMMON FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS** **__Essential Outcome #2__** – //Adds and subtracts multi-digit numbers with decimals//

**__Essential Outcome #3__** – //Multiplies multi-digit numbers with decimals.// **__Essential Outcome #8__** – //Adds and subtracts fractions with unlike denominators.//
 * **Pre-Test:** Warm Up (Mod 2, Sec 6, pg. 2-78)
 * **Checkpoint:** Practice + Application (Mod 2, Sec 6, pg. 2-89)
 * **Post-Test:** Quick Quiz (Mod 2, Sec 6, pg. 2-78)
 * **Pre-Test:** Warm Up (Mod 4, Sec 4, pg. 4-67)
 * **Checkpoint:** Practice + Application (Mod 4, Sec 4, pg. 4-75)
 * **Post-Test:** Quick Quiz (Mod 4, Sec 4, pg. 4-67)
 * **Pre-Test:** Warm Up (Mod 5, Sec 3, pg. 5-59)
 * **Checkpoint:** Practice + Application (Mod 5, Sec 3, pg. 5-66)
 * **Post-Test:** Quick Quiz (Mod 5, Sec 3, pg. 5-59)

October 23, 2008 **MEA Math Conference**

November 13, 2008


 * Colette shared Ancient Math Games...information gained from an ATMNE Conference she attended on Nov. 6 + 7 (Association of Teachers of Mathematics in New England)
 * Discussed manipulatives for Connected Mathematics Program

December 4, 2008
 * CMP II Budget Request (Cynthia's email)
 * **Teacher Resource Kits:** 4 classroom teachers (Bill, Colette, Jessie, John), 3 special ed (Deanna, Kristin, Sarah), 2 labs (Anne, Sandra), 1 GT (Nola), 1 JHEEP (Steve), 1 library copy
 * **Students at each grade level:** 25 students per class = 225 students + 25 extra = 250 copies
 * **Grade 6 curriculum:** Agree to follow Yarmouth's lead and exclude Prime Time
 * Colette shared another math game (ATMNE Conference)
 * Would like to explore MEA at next meeting

January 22, 2009
 * *No meeting due to all-day FOCUS day

January 29, 2009
 * Discussed and analyized results of our common assessment (+/- decimals)
 * Found common challenges with this assessment --- group feels changes need to be made to the quiz
 * Shared strategies on teaching the material
 * Determined when we would give 2nd assessment (mean, median, mode)

February 5, 2009
 * Reviewed the format of the 2nd assessment (mean, median, mode)
 * Made a few minor changes to this assessment
 * Shared worksheets & strategies used to teach mean, median, mode

February 12, 2009
 * Reviewed results of 2nd assessment (mean, median, mode)
 * Students did a much better job on this assessment...language was easier to understand
 * Looked at MEA Released Items
 * Created worksheets to use to begin preparing for the MEAs (especially short answer & constructed response questions)

February 19, 2009 VACATION -- No Meeting

February 26, 2009
 * Discussed CMP2 training in the summer
 * Shared formative assessments that we are currently using in the classroom

March 5, 2009 MEAs -- No Meeting

May 7, 2009
 * For the past 4 PLC meetings we have been numbering, stamping, and sorting through the new CMP books. The books have officially been distributed to every teacher!
 * We worked on creating an assessment (fraction operations). This assessment will be given to all 6th grade students and evaluated by our PLC group in the next week.