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2008-2009 Mathematics and Science Workshops

For Elementary School Teachers

Overview:

Would you like to:
- Better prepare your students for NJ's statewide assessments?
- Engage your students in the lessons that you teach?
- Incorporate standards-based hands-on activities that motivate your students?
- Relate what you are doing in the classroom to "real world" applications?

THE RUTGERS CENTER FOR MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, AND COMPUTER EDUCATION (NJ DOE provider #2) is offering a broad range of highly interactive one-day professional development workshops that are applicable to all curricula taught by grades K-4 teachers of mathematics and science. All workshops are based on the NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards in mathematics and science as they are reflected in the NJ ASK. All of these workshops will help you better prepare students for the NJ ASK and provide the resources and knowledge that you need to generate new and exciting standards-based lessons.

All workshops are full-day workshops at which participants will earn six (6) professional development hours. All workshops will take place at Rutgers University-New Brunswick (unless otherwise noted). Participants may attend single or multiple workshops in any order. Discounts are available for multiple registrations on a single purchase order.

Although some workshops address overlapping issues, teachers who attend multiple workshops will benefit from experiencing the different approaches the workshop leaders have to helping students meet the challenges of the ASK. Our instructors are among the most experienced and respected workshop leaders in the state. The workshop topics are based on feedback and recommendations from NJ teachers and administrators.

You will leave these workshops with valuable tools to motivate your students, stimulate their curiosity, and promote a more positive attitude towards mathematics and science.

Workshop Descriptions:

NJ ASK 3-4 Standards-Based Mathematics Workshop Series: Four Workshops that Together Address Every Topic on the NJ ASK 3 and 4

- Are you comfortable teaching all of the mathematics topics reflected on the NJ ASK 3 and 4?
- Does it seem like there are always those select students that just never get it while you teach your daily lessons?
- Are you looking for new ways to get your students excited about mathematics and actually admit they are having fun while learning?

If you answered yes to any or all of the above questions, this workshop series is for you! Come and experience the most comprehensive set of mathematics workshops for grade 3 and 4 teachers available in NJ. The four workshops described below present key instructional activities that address all of the NJ mathematics standards and assessment strands. Teachers who engage students in such activities, and the mathematics they involve, will automatically be preparing students for the kinds of questions that appear on the state tests. To underscore this point, sample assessment questions are explicitly discussed as they relate to the workshop activities. (We do not, however, advocate "teaching to the test".) Problem-solving and literature connections are also embedded in all workshops. The four workshops may be taken in any order.

Each of the four workshops focuses on one or two of New Jerseys mathematics standards; together, the four workshops address all of the mathematics standards and assessment strands. Participants will return to school with a large packet of materials that they can immediately implement into their classrooms in addition to the instructional strategies that will enable children to learn the mathematics in the workshop. All workshop activities are easily incorporated into existing curricula.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
The workshops are designed for
3rd & 4th grade teachers of mathematics
Mathematics resource teachers
Mathematics specialists
Mathematics curriculum leaders
Mathematics coaches
Elementary special education teachers

While individual teachers will benefit from these workshops, groups of teachers from a school will benefit much more because they will be able to work together in the workshop to improve their understanding of the standards and, afterwards, as a professional community to implement workshop activities in their classrooms. Discounts are available for multiple registrations on a single purchase order. See Registration Information for more details.

*IMPORTANT NOTE All four (4) of the workshops below can be scheduled in your district please call Debby Toti at (732)445-2825 to arrange and get details on special pricing.

1) Making Sense of Data and Whole Numbers

Have you run out of new and exciting ways to teach data? Have fun collecting data and making graphs. You can even make a glyph! Explore activities that will help you and your students construct strategies for gathering, presenting, and interpreting all different types of data. Learn how to help your students develop a good sense of numbers, and how they are used in real life. Participants will experience games that will generate excitement and teach them how to help their students to understand and love math!

Location	Date	Code
Rutgers, Piscataway, NJ	TBA
	TBA

2) Learning Can Be Fun Using Patterns, Algebra and Geometry

Are problem-solving activities a problem for you? Do the words tessellations and transformations sound Greek to you? Help your students to develop algebraic thinking skills through the use of exciting fun-filled activities and games that incorporate a variety of problem-solving strategies. Participants will learn new ways to introduce geometry into their lessons so that even the most intimidated students will leave wanting more!

Location	Date	Code
Rutgers, Piscataway, NJ	TBA
	TBA

3) How Your Students Can Learn to Love Measurement and Fractions

How long? How much? How heavy? How Great! Fractions - such little numbers- such a BIG problem! A variety of activities that will stimulate and motivate your students to learn the roles of estimation, measurement, and fractions in everyday mathematics will be the focus during this must-see session! Come see how measurement and fractions become more interesting (and easy and fun) by exploring standard and non-standard measurement activities and games.

Location Date Code

Rutgers, Piscataway, NJ TBA

TBA
4) Probability, Discrete Math, and Problem Solving: A Winning Combination

You have 20 students, 3 learning styles, and 4 concepts to teach - how many possible lessons can you create to meet their needs? What is the probability they will all learn? Learn what discrete math is all about and how easily it can be incorporated into all your mathematics lessons. Participants will experience how games, algorithms, problem solving and graphs can be related to real life therefore teaching students why they need to learn these valuable skills.

Location	Date	Code
Rutgers, Piscataway, NJ	TBA
	TBA

Using Tangrams to Teach Geometry

Date: October 30, 2008 (Code: MS103008)
February 3, 2009 (Code: MS020309)
Time: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Presenters: Jane Hannon and Pat Fowler

Audience: Grade 4-7 Mathematics Teachers, Special Education Teachers, Mathematics Supervisors

This workshop focuses on using tangrams as a tool for teaching various concepts in geometry as well as providing activities that help develop problem solving skills in our students. The seven tangram pieces provide concrete experiences in developing and extending understanding of geometric properties, transformations, and measuring geometric objects. A great tool for special needs students. Many handouts!

Science Toolbox, 4-8

Date: November 14, 2008 (Code: MS111408)
Time: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Presenter: Raluca Sirbu

Audience: Grade 4-8 Mathematics Teachers, Mathematics Supervisors

The magic of science erupts in this workshop! The lessons built in this workshop are related to the “Life and Physical Science” and “Scientific Processes” Standards in New Jersey’s Core Curriculum Content Standards in Science. Using inexpensive household materials, this workshop provides original, breathtaking, interactive experiments, which create anchors in the theoretical concepts. “Science Toolbox” is a hands-on, exciting, memorable experience to take back to the classroom.

Math & Science Toolbox, 4-8

Date: November 21, 2008 (Code: MS112108)
Time: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Presenter: Raluca Sirbu

Audience: Grade 4-8 Mathematics and Science Teachers, Mathematics and Science Supervisors

This workshop is a blend of math and science lessons. The math portion of the workshop is diverse, introducing fresh, ingenious activities, tricks and illusions to problem-solving techniques. The science portion erupts with magic. Using inexpensive household materials this workshop provides original, breathtaking, interactive experiments which create anchors in the theoretical concepts. The science portion addresses the following standards in New Jersey’s Core Curriculum Content Standards in Science: 5.1, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, and 5.8. The math portion addresses standards 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, and 4.5 of New Jersey’s Core Curriculum Content Standards in Mathematics.

So What Should I Do With All This Math? (4-6)

Date: December 1, 2008 (Code: ES120108)
Time: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Presenter: Raluca Sirbu

Audience: Grade 4-6 Mathematics Teachers, Mathematics Supervisors

Learning is achieved when students can place the subject of learning in context, when it makes sense, when they find its application. This workshop will do just that: present methods to put math in context. The scope of the course is:
       - show how to make math more approachable
       - provide examples of real, fun, engaging math applications
       - present math in the context of other subjects in the curriculum
The entire workshop will be presented in the framework of the different types of learners: the audio, visual, and kinesthetic learner. Appropriate for teachers of grade 4-6.

Math Activities Across the Standards

Date: January 8, 2009 (Code: MS010809)
March 27, 2009 (Code: MS032709)
Time: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Presenters: Jane Hannon and Pat Fowler

Audience: Grade 4-6 Mathematics Teachers, Special Education Teachers, Mathematics Supervisors

This workshop will present hands-on activities, games, and ideas to enhance your teaching of the content of the NJ Mathematics Standards – number sense, geometry and measurement, patterns, algebra, and discrete math topics. The hands-on approach and use of manipulatives for many of the activities make this workshop appropriate for special needs students. Related math internet sites will be examined, as well as suggestions for connections to math literature.

Connecting Assessment & Instruction: Preparing for the NJ ASK 3-4

Date: January 15, 2009 (Code: ES011509)
Time: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Presenter: Paul Lawrence

Audience: Grade 3-4 Mathematics Teachers, Grade 3-4 Special Education Teachers, Mathematics Supervisors

Connecting Assessment & Instruction: Preparing for the NJ ASK 5-6

Date: January 22, 2009 (Code: MS012209)
Time: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Presenter: Paul Lawrence

Audience: Grade 5-6 Mathematics Teachers, Grade 5-6 Special Education Teachers, Mathematics Supervisors

Math & Science Toolbox, K-3

Date: March 25, 2009 (Code: ES032509)
Time: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Presenter: Raluca Sirbu

Audience: Grade K-3 Teachers of Mathematics and Science, Mathematics and Science Supervisors

This workshop abounds with creative ideas, games, activities, and spectacular experiments. The workshop is structured as a blend between mathematical manipulatives and science experiments with built-in variations for grades K to 3. The lessons in this workshop create sound anchors of knowledge for students and create a memorable experience for teachers.

Special Needs Students Need Standards-Based Math, Too!

Date: April 28, 2009 (Code: MS042809)
Time: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Presenter: Paul Lawrence

Audience: Grade 3-8 Mathematics Teachers, Grade 3-8 Special Education Teachers, Mathematics Supervisors

Special education, summer school, after school, and intervention programs often only provide more of the same worksheets and rules as ways to foster understanding and success in mathematics. Learn about discovery-based, hands-on, highly sequenced, alternative strategies that lead to traditional understanding and applications of essential concepts taught in grades 3-8. Focus will be on selected topics from arithmetic operations with whole numbers and fractions.

Payment Information

To encourage implementation at your school, we are offering discounts to schools or districts that send groups of participants. We are also offering a special discount for those participants who register for the series of four workshops.

1-3 Workshop Registrations = $195

4-9 Workshop Registrations (single individual or group) = $175

10 or more Workshop Registrations (single individual or group) = $155

Workshop fees include all materials, a continental breakfast and lunch.

Payment may be made by purchase order or personal check. Admittance to the workshop may be denied if no payment method is submitted by the day of the workshop.

Registration Information

You can register by:

Phone:		(732) 445-4065 from Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
FAX:		FAX Registration Form to (732)445-2894, 24-hours a day.
Mail:		Send Registration Form to: CMSCE Rutgers University SERC Building - Room 221 Busch Campus 118 Frelinghuysen Road Piscataway, NJ 08854-8019

Once your registration is received, a confirmation letter including a map, directions, and parking information will be sent to you.

Click here to Register Online Now

Click here for Registration Form

Cancellation Policy

A full refund will be issued to the appropriate party if this office is notified at least five (5) business days in writing prior to the workshop date. If you cancel within five (5) business days, or if neither you nor a substitute attend the workshop without notifying us, no refund will be issued.

All workshops are subject to cancellation for insufficient enrollment.

To obtain further information, or to register for workshops, call (732) 445-4065 or email programs@dimacs.rutgers.edu