Can special become common? Offering math support in the

common core classroom

Julie P. Jones, PhDUniversity of South Carolina Upstate

JJones3@uscupstate.edu

What are schools doing to increase performance and motivate

learners?• Early numeracy development (e.g. number sense) • Improved math curriculum• Formative assessment systems• Summer programs • Increasing after school tutoring programs • Improved parental involvement• After school tutoring or during school tutoring• Extrinsic rewards for improved performance• Variability in scheduling • Choice of instructional model

Siegfried Engelmann (2005)

“We can't lead with our chin or our hearts. It must be a cerebral battle, governed by data and the understanding that if we try hard enough, we can design effective practices that will accelerate the performance of at-risk kids. And if we don't try hard enough, the hell with us.”

NCTM suggests strategies for math aligned to the CCSS

1. Create worthwhile problems as a foundation for daily instruction.

2. Use real data and current events to make mathematics more engaging and more relevant.

3. Ask quality questions that promote discourse.

How can special

education support these

strategies?

3 levels of instructional supports:

1)Task analysis for each skill2)Vocabulary instruction

3) Journaling in math

Level 1: Task Analysis

• Task analysis is a process by which a task is broken down into its component parts.

• Each skill we teach must have steps. Even the seemingly small skills.

• Students must demonstrate a comfort with these steps before they can attempt problem solving.

Task Analysis: How does it work?1. Determine what task you want the student to

perform2. Figure out what steps will be required to complete

the task. 3. Decide what order to teach the steps in4. Teach the student one step until the student displays

mastery of it.5. As each part of the process is learned, add it to the

chain until the task can be completed independently.

http://www.brighthubeducation.com/special-ed-learning-disorders/25800-how-task-analysis-works-for-students-with-special-needs/

Practice

• Write out the steps essential for finding the median of a data set.

Level 2: Math Vocabulary and Number Sense

Mathematics is a language of order with its own particular set of rules that must be learned and followed systematically (Adams, 2003).

3 x (5 + 2) = 78x 64 265.0111 $1.599

Consider:What do you do first?Which direction do you go?

Many students who have a disability in math also experience reading difficulties that interfere with their ability to solve problems (Miller & Mercer, 1997).

The boys’ arrows were nearly gone. They started with 32 arrows each. After a minute but rapid examination

of their weapons, they heard a noise. Does were standing at the edge of the lake. They now had 3

arrows each. How many arrows did they use before they saw the does?

Number Sense

Prerequisites to problem solving:• Spatial relationships• One more, two more• One less, two less• Part- whole relationships

 Sood & Jitendra, 2007

Keyword Mnemonic

1. Select key vocabulary2. Create keyword mnemonics

a. Recodeb. Relate c. Retrieve

3. Incorporate into math instruction4. Plan for systematic and spaced review

Systematic review

• Word wall of math vocabulary• Large flashcard review• Incorporation into journaling activities

Level 3: Journaling Activities

• Students practice reading and using the language of math

• Students practice using number sense. • Students demonstrate comfort with

skills/steps.• Students justify and support answers with

factual information.

Studies show…

• Students who study news and current events in school do better on standardized tests and develop and improve reading, vocabulary, math, and social studies skills.

Use the newspaper

as a source of data.

Use multiple representations

of the same data to show how

different representations give

different information.

Ideas for journaling

• Oil spill: percents, proportionality, domain, discrete vs. continuous data sets

• Population growth in your city: predictions based on trend data

• Sports: calculate batting averages, determine which is the better player given statistics

• Weather: graphs, trends, predictions, measures of central tendency

How can I prepare my students for the new assessments?

• Who is creating SC’s new test?– http://www.smarterbalanced.org

• Where can I get up-to-date information on CCSS? – Bill McCallum, University of Arizona– http://commoncoretools.me

Questions???