Math Circle is for students with long attention
spans who enjoy tackling interesting questions.
Students learn to collaborate with others while
developing and defending their mathematical
ideas.
5th grade students in Navarre Intermediate
School's LEAP program work in small groups with
assistance from teachers as we explore various
math topics. Each topic is developed over a
period of a month during our weekly meetings.
Teachers from Marshall, Brown, and LaSalle
Intermediate Centers meet on a monthly basis to
discuss methods for motivating middle school
math students. Dr. Julie Turner of Notre Dame
leads these monthly conversations.
Working in partnership with the Adult Education
Department at the South Bend Community School
Corporation, we are exploring innovative new
ways to improve math instruction in GED classes.
Fractals are intricate computer-generated designs
based on algebraic formulas. Middle school, high
school, and adult students practice their algebra
skills while learning to create fractal designs. Half
of each session is reserved for homework help.
3rd through 6th grade students at the Sample
Street Boys and Girls Club stop by the Math Studio
Room to try hands-on math activities. During the
spring semester, our weekly sessions involve
activities relating to our theme of mathematical
origami. We also offer other activities designed
to strengthen computational skills and inspire
student enthusiasm for math.
Students at Lincoln Primary Center participate in a
variety of hands-on math activities and games
designed to reinforce concepts they are learning
in their math classes.
Stop by the NISMEC booth at the Hoosier
Association for Science Teachers Conference.
Learn to fold magic pinwheels, Sonobe polyhedra,
hyperbolic paraboloids, PHiZZ polyhedra, and other
origami structures.
The Slice of Life after school program meets at
River Park United Methodist Church. We involved
parents and students in a hands-on polyhedron
building activity. We also presented hands-on
activity ideas to staff and volunteers in the
program during spring break.
During two presentations observed by instructors
at the Center for the Homeless, we present a
variety of pedagogical approaches and activities
designed to teach fractions and decimals.
Our community's first annual Next Steps in Math
and Science Education conference brought
together over 150 educators, business owners,
parents, professors, government officials,
administrators, and community leaders to discuss
strategies for improving STEM education. Dr.
Carlos Castillo Chavez shared his experiences
coordinating math and science outreach programs
during the keynote address. Breakout sessions
provided opportunities for people to share
information about local outreach initiatives and to
meet others interested in tackling this issue.
Over two and a half days, we met by grade level
with all teachers at Coquillard Primary Center.
We looked for ways to strengthen math
instruction, introduced a math notebooking plan,
and addressed questions about the curriculum at
each grade level.
Students at LaSalle Intermediate Center share
their findings on the accuracy and usefulness of
several indirect height measurement techniques
including the shadow method, using their math kit
clinometers, and using a 12" ruler to assess the
height proportionally. Amanda then gave a "What
is a mathematician?" presentation.
During this teacher workshop, we discussed the
pedagogical scaffolding involved in teaching any
math topic conceptually and did several related
hands-on activities. We talked about ways of
using math journals to help students to deepen
and become aware of their mathematical
learning. We brainstormed ideas for involving
parents in supporting student learning of math.
Finally, we examined the first quarter curriculum
at each grade level in light of the scaffolding
needed for conceptual understanding.
Math and science teachers from local middle
Schools participate in discussions and hands-on
math and science activities to learn more about
guided inquiry teaching and how to apply it in
their own classes. One group of teachers
participated in a one-week version of the
program. The other program lasted for two
weeks.
Middle school math teachers met with
mathematicians Anna Varvak and Amanda
Serenevy, and educational psychologist Julie
Turner to discuss teaching for conceptual
understanding. Participants examined the
concepts underlying conventional procedures,
shared teaching strategies that promote learning
of the underlying concepts, and developed lesson
plans that engage conceptual learning in the
process of strengthening procedural knowledge.
Topics included multiplication, division, place
value, integer operations, linear relationships,
fractions, decimals, percents, and measurement.
About 30 mathematicians, teachers, and other
math enthusiasts from around the country
paticipated in this week-long institute at Notre
Dame led by Bob and Ellen Kaplan with assistance
from Sam Lichtenstein and Amanda Serenevy.
Participants experienced Math Circles as students,
shared ideas for starting Math Circles, led Math
Circles for children, and delved into a number of
engaging mathematical questions.
This math class for students from
South Bend Community School Corporation's
Culinary Arts Program was designed to
strengthen math skills needed to pass a
placement test at Ivy Tech required of all
Culinary Arts students. The class included a
review of fractions and basic algebra, an
introduction to Excel, and real world projects
based on Culinary Arts themes.
The Summer Math and Technology Academy is
a free program for self-motivated middle school,
high school, and adult students. Each student
chooses his or her own guided study program.
We assisted the Apprentice Academy with three
days of their 5 day camp for high school
students. During the camp, students were
introduced to a variety of technical skills,
principles of entrepreneurship, and personal
finance.
During this teacher workshop, we discussed the
pedagogical scaffolding involved in teaching any
math topic conceptually and did several related
hands-on activities. We talked about ways of
using math journals to help students to deepen
and become aware of their mathematical
learning. We brainstormed ideas for involving
parents in supporting student learning of math.
Finally, we examined the first quarter curriculum
at each grade level in light of the scaffolding
needed for conceptual understanding.
During these meetings, we worked with staff at
John Young Middle School to develop a project-
based mathematics class for 7th gade students to
begin during the 2008-2009 academic year.
During these meetings, we worked with staff at
John Young Middle School and the School City of
Mishawaka to develop a project-based
mathematics classes for middle and high school
students.
Working with administrators, curriculum leaders,
and teachers, we identified ways to strenthen
math instruction for students at many Title 1
Primary Centers in South Bend.
The Math Academy is a free program open to
the public. Students of all ages can get help
with homework, work on a guided independent
study project, or try one of our hands-on math
activities.
Design your own balloon powered vehicles and
race them. How can we tell which one is the
best racer of them all? Family Math is a free
program open to people ages 5 and up.
3rd through 6th grade students at the Sample
Street Boys and Girls Club stop by the Math Studio
Room to try hands-on math activities. During the
fall semester, our weekly sessions feature
activities relating to the theme of polyons and
polyhedra. We also offer other activities
designed to strengthen computational skills and
inspire student enthusiasm for math. A separate
weekly session focusing on digital electronics
exposes middle school students to different bases,
logic, scientific notation and simple equations.
Jump around number circles and build patterned
bracelets as you investigate properties of
modular arithmetic. Family Math is a free
program open to people ages 5 and up.
Learn to do arithmetic like an alien who has a
total of only five fingers. Build an alien abacus
to help with your work. Family Math is a free
program open to people ages 5 and up.
Use tokens and arithmetic to look for happy
numbers, onederful numbers, perfect numbers,
abundant numbers, and deficient numbers.
Family Math is a free program open to people
ages 5 and up.
Teachers and curriculum leaders from throughout
the South Bend Community School Corporation
participated in grade-level specific activities
relating to a work of children's literature. We also
discussed NCTM curriculum focal points and tips
for incorporating more writing and critical thinking
in the classroom.
Before each quarter, we met by grade level
with all teachers at Coquillard Primary Center.
We looked for ways to strengthen math
instruction, introduced a math notebooking plan,
and addressed questions about the curriculum at
each grade level for the upcoming quarter.
Plot the points and connect the dots to reveal the
pictures. Make your own designs for others to
try. Family Math is a free program open to
people ages 5 and up.
Students in South Bend Schools participate
in a variety of math presentations, ranging from
hands-on activities with base ten blocks to a
Fermi estimation of how many popcorn kernels
would be needed to fill a classroom.
How many meadow voles does it take to feed a
family of barn owls? Find out by playing the part of
a family of barn owls hunting for gummy bear
meadow voles. Working as mathematical
biologists, we will create models that show how
barn owls and meadow voles in the wild interact.
Tutors in the Math Academy program learn to
lead several hands-on math activities including
origami magic pinwheels, polyhedron families,
and digital electronics.
Try your hand at drawing ``sona'' --- traditional designs
invented by the Chokwe people, who live in central Africa.
Determine which patterns can be completed without lifting your
pencil.
When is it possible to cross each bridge in a river-walk exactly
once? We will retrace Leonhard Euler's footsteps as we explore
this problem for river-walks in several cities.
