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Volume 1, Issue 2, 2007
Welcome!This is the MMSA electronic newsletter. It will be distributed periodically highlighting various programs, events and issues.
Supporting New Teachers
New Mathematics PublicationThree members of the Mathematics Team at MMSA, Cheryl Rose, Leslie Minton and Carolyn Arline, have a new book called Uncovering Student Thinking in Mathematics published by Corwin Press based on similar work published in Uncovering Student Ideas in Science - 25 Formative Assessment Probes (Keeley, Eberle, and Farrin, 2005), using the same Curriculum Topic Study Process described in Chapter 4 of Mathematics Curriculum Topic Study - Bridging the Gap between Standards and Practice (Keeley, and Rose, 2006)". This book has 25 assessments to identify fallacies in students' preconceived ideas. This resource offers educators a powerful diagnostic technique in the form of field-tested assessment probes-brief, easily administered activities to determine students' thinking on core mathematical concepts. This resource "Shows us ways to listen and observe children and their mathematical understandings so we can find better ways to help them take their next learning steps. This book is a gift to educators who 'seek to understand before being understood.'" - From the Foreword by Anne Davies.
Awards in ScienceScience in Action funded by National Semiconductor and the Linking Science, Inquiry, and Language Literacy (L-SILL) project is pleased to announce its new school sites and Science in Action award recipients. This year's recipients for the Science in Action award are: Chris Hill, Alice Barr and Shirley Willis from Yarmouth High School for "A Photographic Environmental Journal", Michelle Miclette and Marianne Anthony from Boothbay Regional Elementary for "Plants Aplenty", Laurette Darling and Donna Richardson from Hall School for "Science Inquiry Cart", Monica Wright and Steve Richard from Bath Middle School for "Solar power", Ann Hemming from Bath Middle School for "Cirque de Solar!", and Peter Hill from King Middle School for "Solving the Probe-lem". The Science in Action Award program recognizes and rewards teachers who implement innovative inquiry-based, hands-on science projects. The L-SILL project is also pleased to welcome the following schools into the 2nd cohort of L-SILL project; Gardiner (SAD 11), Jefferson Village School, Kennebunk (MSAD 71), Middle School of the Kennebunks, Madison Elementary School (MSAD 59), and Southport Central School. The L-SILL project emphasizes how high quality elementary science programs play a pivotal role in improving student achievement in both science and language literacy. L-SILL addresses the reciprocal effect of improving reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in the context of a hands-on science program, in order to improve learning in both science and literacy.
Links for some additional MMSA projects, events and information:Strategies to Uncover Student Thinking in Mathematics Conference. Participants will use the new publication. Surveys of Enacted Curriculum (SEC) The SEC is a free tool for formatively assessing alignment of instruction, standards and assessments. Building Success for New Teachers of Science - Maine The NNECN Center is hosting a statewide conference for middle and high school science teachers in their first three years of teaching. Interactive Graphic Organizers Workshop This workshop demonstrates techniques used to encourage and support the development of academic language and conceptual understanding in science.
Data Chart Click on the chart to view it in a larger size.
Source: Charting Maine's Future: An action plan for promoting sustainable prosperity and quality places. (2006). The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program. Page 54 of the PDF found at the link.
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