Math Across the Curriculum

Byrd Middle SchoolAugust 31, 2012

Skip Tyler

Who is Skip Tyler?O MathematicianO ArtistO Sports nutO HandymanO Hablo un poco de españolO Musician (aka Vanelli)

Anxiety check.O Being totally honest, rate your

feeling about math on a scale of 1 to 10.

O Why do you feel this way? What factors or experiences influenced your rating?

Mathematical literacy…a serious problem in the U.S.

O 78% of adults cannot explain how to compute the interest paid on a loan

O 71% cannot calculate miles per gallon on a trip

O 58% cannot calculate a 10% tip for a lunch bill

(Philips, 2007)

Challenges of math teachers

O Lack of number fluency (basic facts)O Reading comprehensionO “I can’t do math” attitudeO Inability to make connections between conceptsO Math phobiaO Over-dependency of calculatorsYou probably experience some of these challenges in your content area.

The challenge is not how to make content easy to learn but on how we can make our students love the challenge that our content presents!

Instructional focus of math teachers

1. NCTM Process StandardsO Problem SolvingO RepresentationsO ReasoningO Connections*O Communication

2. Rigor & Engagement3. Precision

Understanding

What fraction is represented by the shaded region in the picture?

O 1/3

Understanding

What fraction represents 1/2 of the shaded region?

O 1/2 of 1/3O 1/6

Computing

Procedural Fluency

1/2 x 1/3 = 1/6

Applying

Charles went to the kitchen and saw that there was some pudding left in the pan. He noticed that about 1/3 of the pudding was left in the pan. He ate 1/2 of the remaining pudding. What fraction of the original pudding did he not eat?

Why Teach Math Across the Curriculum?

O Learning is about making connections

O Brain research supports the need for connected learning

Hoping to address…1/2 plus 1/3 does not equal 2/5.

Explain why this statement is true.

OR…

"Five out of four people have trouble with fractions.“

(Steven Wright)

General Topics for AllO Fractions, Decimals, PercentsO MeasurementO Probability/Statistics/GraphsO RatiosO Analyzing dataO Using patterns and formulas

When all else fails, my biggest friend - Google

Math and HealthO At Fat Counting, students study and

discuss the food pyramid. They compare the foods on the pyramid to the foods they eat, keep a fat-counting diary, calculate the number of calories from fat they eat in a week, find their daily average of fat, and compare their fat intake with that of other students.

O Height, distance, timeO Data logging

Math and ArtO Design – measurementO Ceramics – mosaicsO Photography – dimensions, ratiosO Drawing – perspective, ratios,

constructionsO Scale, spatial ideas, shapes

Math and Music

Math and CTEO Construction TechO Slope 1/12O OSHA regulationsO Pythagorean TheoremO Land MeasurementO Example: Pilot program last year

Math and World Languages

O GamesO TripsO Doing math (arithmetic or algebra) in

SpanishO Converting units (metric)O Geographically appropriate projectO Compare math structure with

language structure

Math Coach

What can a math coach do for you?O Help plan lessonsO Provide mathematical expertiseO Model or co-teach the math

concepts, if necessary

Jamie Perkins is the math coach at Byrd

Two-way streetO How can we help each other?O Incorporate math any way you can! O Challenge math teachers to

incorporate your content into the math curriculum!

O Talk to the math teachers. Find out what they are teaching and brainstorm a common lesson/theme.

Remember…

There are 3 types of people:1. Those who are good with numbers.2. Those who are not good with

numbers.

Sample Sites1. Projects from past MAC3 Institutes http

://www.mac3.amatyc.org/projects.htm

2. Mathematics and Quantitative Education at Dartmouth - The Electronic Bookshelf http://www.math.dartmouth.edu/~mqed/eBookshelf/

3. Mathematics Across the Curriculum – University of Alabama - http://www.bamaed.ua.edu/cse489/math/resources.htm#fl

O Art & MusicO Physical Education Lesson Plans

4. You're Not In Math Class Anymore: Integrating Math Across the Curriculum - http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr146.shtml

Remember, use google to help generate ideas!