Professional Learning Available

Session 1:

Teach don’t Tell.  Presenting Eureka Moments within a Learning Pit

This hands-on workshop models lessons which lead to conceptual understanding for learners through both online and video support.  

We begin with the description of “The Learning Pit”, an environment which supports resilient learners in addressing multidimensional approaches in which we Build it, Draw it, Talk it, Write it and then OWN IT.   When we OWN IT, then we UNDERSTAND IT.  It encourages GRAPPLING, PRODUCTIVE STRUGGLING with concepts in problem solving which often presents “Eureka Moments” where the response is, “I FOUND IT!”  This is a process in which we TEACH but DO NOT TELL.   We nurture a “Growth Mindset” within the “Learning Pit”.  Concepts here include addition and subtraction with regrouping, partial products, patterning and operations with fractions followed by humorous videos, “Math or Magic” and “The Learning Pit”.  Finally a short video, “Coding To Learn” shows how productive struggling in coding results in concrete robot action which reflects the programmers thinking and often resulting in “Eureka Moments”.  

Resources online are available to be used within both the person to person workshop as well as the virtual workshop.

Session 2:

First Steps in – CODING TO LEARN The MATH

This introductory “hands-on” workshop, uses videos and an eBook with step-by-step instructions to introduce coding in an environment rich in mathematics.  Previous knowledge of coding is not required.  Coding begins with optional activities involving walking the code, sequencing and a Blue-Bot leading to a world of procedures, variables, recursion and projects on the computer screen.  Logo, a simple, powerful, mathematical coding language results in concrete action to reflect thinking.  Hence Logo is referred to as the “language of learning” in which we “code to learn”. Free access to software and eBook during and after a session encourages all to risk and achieve.

Session 3:

Play to Reinforce – Math Games to Engage

BULLSEYE” encourages students to think strategically about numbers, fractions, order of operations and use of operation to calculate a variety of possible outcomes to maximize their score. It will provide families the opportunity to share mathematical ideas and strategies during each round of play in order to maximize their round total score.

FIRST … We develop Mathematics UNDERSTANDING with UMathX.

THEN … We REINFORCE SOME Math with Bullseye.

From 1 hour to 1 day

For Grades 3 to 8 students, teachers, parents and Pre-Service Teachers.