Investigations in Number, Data, and Space, 2e ©2008

This one-day workshop allows participants to engage in and reflect on the mathematics of combining and comparing fractions. Participants become familiar with some approaches to fractions found in the Investigations curriculum. They generate models for fractions and compare their models with student-generated responses. This workshop allows participants to communicate through talking, writing, and interacting to show the connections in grades

K–5, as well as experience games and activities from each grade level and discuss the learning that occurs throughout the curriculum. At the end of this workshop, participants will be comfortable with strategies necessary to develop a deep understanding of fractions in their classrooms.

OUTCOMES:

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Engage in and reflect on the mathematics of combining and comparing fractions, and become familiar with some approaches to fractions found in the Investigations curriculum.

• Explore activities involving fractions found in

Investigations grades K–5.

• Reflect on and make connections using information from other grade levels.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Administrators

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 30

This one-day workshop focuses on the mathematics behind computational fluency and explores approaches to enhancing computational fluency found in the Investigations curriculum. Participants see how classroom routines and 10-minute math activities enhance computational fluency in grades K–5 classrooms. This workshop also allows participants to experience games from all grades and discuss the learning that occurs throughout each game. At the end of this workshop, participants will be comfortable with strategies necessary to enhance computational fluency in their classrooms.

OUTCOMES:

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Engage in and reflect on the mathematics behind computational fluency, and become familiar with some approaches to enhance computational fluency found in the Investigations curriculum.

• Explore activities involving computational fluency found in Investigations grades K–5.

• Reflect on and make connections using information from other grade levels.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Administrators

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 30

This one-day workshop focuses on instructional philosophy, mathematical content, lesson structure, and assessment features for the chosen Investigations unit. Participants experience lessons and discuss effective strategies for successful implementation of the curriculum unit. This workshop allows participants to focus on the mathematical background for concepts within the unit and see how the concepts develop throughout the grade levels. Participants solve problems, discuss mathematical concepts, and work together to reflect upon effective strategies for implementing Investigations in their classrooms. At the end of this workshop, participants will be prepared to successfully implement the unit in their classrooms.

OUTCOMES:

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Engage in and reflect upon the mathematics background from an Investigations unit, and describe the instructional approaches found within the curriculum.
• Explore activities found within an Investigations unit.
• Collaborate with other teachers and develop ways to enhance instructional strategies for teaching the Investigations unit.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Administrators

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 30

This one-day workshop allows participants to engage in and reflect on the mathematics of combining and comparing fractions. Participants become familiar with some approaches to fractions found in the Investigations program. They generate models for fractions and compare their models with student-generated responses. This workshop allows participants to communicate through talking, writing, and interacting to show the connections in Grades K–5, as well as experience games and activities from each grade level and discuss the learning that occurs throughout the program. At the end of this workshop, participants will be comfortable with strategies necessary to develop a deep understanding of fractions in their classrooms.

OUTCOMES:

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Engage in and reflect on the mathematics of combining and comparing fractions, and become familiar with some approaches to fractions found in the Investigations program.

• Explore activities involving fractions found in Investigations Grades K–5.

• Reflect on and make connections using information from other grade levels.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Educators, Instructional Coaches, Administrators

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 30

NUMBER OF DAYS: 1

This one-day workshop focuses on the strategies within the Investigations curriculum that increase the effectiveness of instruction through student engagement and classroom discourse. Participants explore some of the interactive strategies found within an Investigations unit and discuss how they can apply each strategy in their classrooms. This workshop allows participants to explore the Math Workshop activities at their grade level and reflect upon strategies that create an atmosphere in which student engagement and discourse are promoted. At the end of this workshop, participants will be comfortable with the strategies necessary to maintain student focus and engage them in the mathematical content within the curriculum.

OUTCOMES:

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Describe the strategies within the Investigations that increase the effectiveness of instruction through student engagement and classroom discourse.

• Explore the Math Workshop activities found in the Investigations curriculum and discuss strategies to actively engage students.

• Collaborate with other teachers and develop ways to enhance instructional strategies for teaching the Investigations unit.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Administrators

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 30

This three-day workshop includes strategies for increasing the effectiveness of instruction and student learning, using student assessment to drive instruction, questioning strategies, and interactive strategies to increase achievement. Participants develop a deeper understanding of the lesson components within Investigations, paying special attention to using suggested questions and dialogue boxes, and how they foster student understanding. Participants engage in activities that allow them to build upon their knowledge of Investigations and experience strategies to increase the effectiveness of the curriculum.

OUTCOMES:

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Gain a deeper understanding of the instructional philosophy, mathematical content, lesson, and assessment features of the Investigations curriculum.

• Describe how games foster skill development and conceptual learning.

• Develop an in-depth understanding of the math workshop within each grade level.

• Evaluate and analyze the classroom routines and ten-minute math activities at each grade level.

• Analyze strategies that increase effectiveness of instruction and increase student learning within all the parts of a lesson, and describe how they can be integrated into the classroom.

• Analyze student samples and the criteria that are embedded in the curriculum to evaluate them.

• Describe strategies for enhancing student learning for all ability groups (embedded differentiation).

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Administrators

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 30

This one-day workshop focuses on program components and the lesson structure used in the Investigations curriculum. Participants experience lessons from the Investigations curriculum and strategize ways to engage students in all parts of the instructional model. This workshop allows participants to focus on the mathematical content and experience various strategies for inquiry-based instruction within the elementary classroom. Participants solve problems, mathematical concepts, and work together to reflect upon effective strategies for teaching and assessing Investigations in their classrooms. At the end of this workshop, participants will be prepared to successfully implement the curriculum in their classrooms.

OUTCOMES:

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the instructional philosophy, mathematical content, lesson structure, and assessment features of the Investigations curriculum.

• Identify the organization and content of the curriculum and supporting resources.

• Describe effective strategies for successfully implementing Investigations into the classroom.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Administrators

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 30

This two-day, job-embedded coaching cycle models effective implementation of the Investigations program. The first day of the session includes model teaching, a teacher debrief, reflection on the implementation, and planning for the following day.  On the second day, the teacher delivers the lesson, followed by a debrief and reflection that leads to additional instructional planning. The educational consultant supports two teachers during the two days.

OUTCOMES:

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Analyze data from multiple sources, including Investigations assessments, to identify student needs and set instructional goals.

• Select appropriate Investigations priority skills and program components to meet student needs.

• Anticipate student misconceptions and develop a plan to address them.

• Select a method of implementation for the lesson (following a gradual-release model).

• Use a gradual-release model that includes consultant demonstration, structured and guided practice through co-teaching, independent practice, and reflective feedback as a vehicle for analysis of Investigations lessons and instructional improvement.

• Determine the degree of fidelity to Investigations during the lesson implementation.

• Design improvements to address lingering misconceptions by using Investigations materials.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Teachers, Instructional Coaches

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 30