Special+Education+Math+Problem+Solving+Strategies

** October 11, 2010 **
 * Professional Learning Communities In-Service **

** 2010-2011 School Year **

** 1. **** SMART Goal ** ( ** S ** pecific, ** M ** easurable, ** A ** ttainable, ** R ** ealistic, and ** T ** imely):

Utilize and apply problem solving strategies in resource center math, showing growth through pre and post assessments.

**2.** **Rationale:**

We want students to solve problems independently by identifying and extracting essential data and operations. Post assessment will be given in early April to be able to address skills not mastered prior to NJ ASK.

** 3. ** **Action Plan**
 * **Activity** || **Person Responsible** || **Timeline** || **Outcome** ||
 * Administer pre test in resource center math classes || Scott, Jaime, Theresa || October ||  ||
 * Model and promote “self talk” skills || Jaime, Scott, Judy, Eve, Theresa || October-June ||  ||
 * Create a bridge between classroom and real world experiences. || Jaime, Scott, Judy, Eve, Theresa || October-June ||  ||
 * Pull out key words in word problems to apply correct operations to solve. Practice re-reading strategies to emphasize math vocabulary. || Jaime, Scott, Judy, Eve, Theresa || October-June ||  ||
 * Administer post test in resource center math classes || Scott, Jaime, Theresa || April ||  ||

**4.** **Group Member Names:**

Scott Dixon, Jaime O’Grady, Judy Natale, Eve Hiller, Theresa Gleason

**5.** **Which Middle School goal does this impact?**

**Goal #2**

=__ Notes: October/November 22, 2010 __= Last month we created posters for our classrooms that display the 5 step process for problem solving. This month (Dec) we met to discuss how we are implementing these skills in the classroom. Jaime ( GR 7 & 8) is working on a follow up project to her decimal unit called Making Ends Meet. It is a budgeting project dedicated to solving real world problems and balancing a monthly budget. It forces students to decode word problems. Theresa is using manipulatives to solve problems and is working hard on establishing the ground work via "skill sets' in order to move on towards problem solving techniques (6h gr). Eve (gr 6) is creating a bridge between the fraction and decimal relationship using manipulatives to solve and decode word problems. Scott (gr7) uses self talk and partner activities to verbally discuss problem solving techniques via student teacher for a day. Judy was not able to come to the meeting today due to a home emergency.

Jaime O'Grady Theresa Gleason Eve Hiller Scott Dixon Judy Natale

Special Ed Math Prob Solving Techniques PLC

__February 28__:

As a group- we decided to give the post-assessment before March 31, in order to help develop skill weaknesses before the NJ ASK in May as needed. In our classrooms we are continuing to model and encourage self-talk. We have also focused on picking out key information in word problems and identifying the correct operation. We have emphasized checking to see if the answer is reasonable. Next meeting we will discuss results and how to improve.

March 28: Based on our initial calculations from pre-test given in Sept and post-test given in March. Initial findings are preliminary based on phase 1 of test(arithmetic section only). Phase 2 will be administered end of this week. Results as follows: Dixon: Student A: 50% increase Student B: 78% increase Student C: 10% decrease Student D: 20% increase Student E: 22% increase Student F: 100% increase

O'Grady: Noticed that most students performed on the exact same grade level as earlier in the year. 3 students increased their understanding of word problems from a 3rd grade level to a 6th grade level. 2 students were new to the class and thus did not have a pre-test to compare to.

Natale and Hiller do not teach RC math at this time but they continue to practice word problem skills during study skills. Gleason plans to give assessment this week.