#ILMathCom
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Illinois Math Community

Upcoming #ILMathCom Events:

Thursday, June 21 3:30-4:30
CTE: Geometry in Construction
Is your school starting the hands-on course of Geometry in Construction? Or are you thinking about it and want to know more about what it is? Have you been doing GIC for a few years now but feel a little isolated in your classroom and would love to hear how other schools are handling it? Come and join the discussion. We will hear first from Luke Sikora and Meghan Carlson, partner teachers at Eisenhower High School, and then you can share your own experiences and get to know other people who are going through the same thing as you. 
http://bit.ly/June21ILMathCom

#ILMathCom

Archives:

Thursday, June 7th 3:30-4:30 we looked at how Standards-based Reporting increases student engagement by targeting student learning needs. By separating out achievement from behavior, SBR gives a clearer, more accurate assessment of the student's subject knowledge. Teachers experienced in SBR (Renu Anne Massa from Waukegan High School, Kimberly Malone from Abingdon-Avon High School, Becky Wood from Lake Zurich Middle School North, and Sue Mainville formerly an elementary math coordinator) shared their insights in transitioning to SBR, what successes they have had as well as challenges.  After sharing their brief overview, the discussion opened up to participants' questions.

Thursday, May 31st 3:30-4:30 we discussed SEL in the Math Classroom.
Building relationships in the classroom increases trust and academic success. What strategies do you use to build relationships in your classroom? Engaging students in cooperative group activities not only builds trust between peers but also encourages group problem-solving, conflict resolution and supports all the Illinois SEL Standards. Learn about ISBE Collaborative resources and and hear from Greg Hobbs, a first-grade teacher at Kreitner Elementary in Collinsville,  and Lisa Ward, an ISBE Learning Supports Specialist.

Thursday, May 24th, 3:30-4:30 #ILMathCom focused on using technology to enhance math education. Lisa Ward, an ISBE Learning Supports specialist, shared some of her favorite applets from Illuminations.nctm.org and Mike Reiners, an educator from Minnesota and Software developer for Casio, will shared some of the awesome things ClassPad.net can do. Be sure to check out these resources! Let us know what cool tech things you are doing in your math class by posting in the forum above.

Thursday, May 17, 3:30pm #ILMathCom meeting number 3 featured guest speaker Dr. Robert Q. Berry who discussed #BlackKidsDoMath. Successful black boys in school mathematics receive little attention in the research literature, but the counter narrative is prevalent. Black boys’ mathematics identities are shaped by culture, community and experiences with mathematics. The development of a positive mathematics identity is essential toward helping black boys sustain an interest in mathematics and develop persistence with mathematics. Examining the perceptions of successful black boys is critical to identifying the strengths, skills and significant factors that promote their success.

Thursday, May 10th, 3:30pm our second meeting of #ILMathCom discussed how to keep students actively engaged in May, when it is beautiful outside and we are all doing the end of the year countdown.  We will heard from Jackie Weinstein (Hawthorn Elementary South in Vernon Hills) and Laura Kaplan (Chicago Academy for the Arts), and a few others shared out their ideas and strategies. 

​​Thursday, May 3rd, 3:30pm we held an open discussion on establishing a positive community in your math classroom.  How do you get your students engaged in mathematical discourse and at the same time create an equitable classroom?Rebecca Stowell (Westmoor Elementary in Northbrook), Kathy Felt, (Sherrard Junior High School), and Jeff Harding (Mundelein High School) shared ideas they use, and then participants had the opportunity to share as well. The video shows the elementary grade-band room during the breakouts.