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Innovative Math Strategies for Middle School Success

Explore algebra, problem-solving, and higher-level math tailored for middle school students. Discover engaging activities, create interesting problems, and refine solutions creatively. Develop a growth mindset, access valuable summer programs, and empower future teachers through practical learning experiences. Gain insights into equity, develop confident problem solvers, and enhance communication skills. Collaborate with schools and districts, join contests, and connect internationally for a global perspective on math education.

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Innovative Math Strategies for Middle School Success

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  1. Algebra, Problem Solving, and Higher-level Mathematics for Middle School Students April 25, 2009 2009 Annual Conference & Exposition National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Max L. Warshauer Hiroko K. Warshauer Julie Acosta A member of The Texas State University System

  2. Overview • Problems and activities • Strategies • Equity and accessibility • International perspective • Contests and Camps • Q/A

  3. Creating Interesting Problems • Engaging • Relevant • Requires making connections • Develop student understanding

  4. A Dry Problem Solve for xy if • x+y=8 and • x2+y2=36

  5. Different approaches • Substitution • Graphing • Making connections

  6. Refining the problem • A rectangle has perimeter 16 and diagonal of length 6. Find its area.

  7. Key Principles • Compute simple examples • Look for patterns • Make conjectures • Test and prove why things work

  8. Focus on • What is the student asking? • The problems, not just answers. • How to open the communication. • Different ways to approach the problem. • Different ways to pose questions.

  9. Equity and Accessibility • “To think deeply of simple things” • Challenge with rich problems • Develop a growth mindset—Carol Dweck • Early Access to algebraic thinking

  10. Summer Programs • Awesome • Ross (Ohio State) • PROMYS (Boston University) • Texas Mathworks Junior Summer Math Camp, Honors Summer Math Camp

  11. Implications for preparing future teachers • Engage in examining problems • Examine student questions • Develop independent, confident problem solvers • Think deeply about the mathematics. • Communicate by writing mathematics

  12. Combining with Teacher Training • Structure— • Observe Camp • Graduate Course • Conduct Camp • School year follow-up

  13. School Support • Long-term relationships • Curriculum Director • Principal Support • Teacher Buy-In

  14. School-District Perspective • Curriculum Pilots • Parental support • Family Math Nights • Community support

  15. University and School District Partnership • Superintendent, Curriculum Director, Principal, Teacher • Understanding district needs • Coordinating with undergraduate teacher preparation

  16. Contests • MathCounts • American Math Competition • (AMC) 8, 10, 12 • Primary Math World Contest (PMWC) • American Regions Math League (ARML) • American Invitational Math Exam (AIME)

  17. International Perspective • Primary Math World Contest • Bulgaria • Japan • Australia • China

  18. Q&A Thanks! Questions Max Warshauer at max@txstate.edu Hiroko Warshauer at hw02@txstate.edu Julie Acosta at jacosta1@mcallenisd.org

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