Return to the Academy of Best Practices: Third Time’s the Charm!

Kate Muelling, Providence, RI  katemuelling@gmail.com

Three years ago, I had the opportunity to attend CPM’s Academy of Best Practices (ABP) in Seattle. What I thought would be one week of life-changing professional development has now evolved into several years of professional growth and camaraderie. My strongest memories of participating in ABP in 2019 are of excitement and eagerness to apply everything I had learned over the course of the week. My cup was overflowing with strategies, pedagogy, and (of course) fun math problems to bring back to my classroom. I do mean overflowing – we learned so much in such a short time, that there was no realistic way I could assimilate everything I had learned into my teaching practice.

I was overjoyed when I learned that I had been chosen to return the following year as a mentor. Returning as a mentor would give me the opportunity to experience everything all over again! My excitement lasted only a couple of months. In 2020, ABP was canceled due to Covid, and then canceled again the following year.

Finally, the third attempt in 2022 saw ABP revived. As the mentor, I was in the unique position to support the educators who came to participate while also re-exposing myself to all of the knowledge I had seen the first time around. My cup was filling again, giving me another opportunity to further develop my teaching practice. Over the span of the week, the entire ABP cohort gained valuable insights into teaching with equity, increasing cognitive demand for our students, developing a growth mindset in our students, and so much more. Not to mention all of the fun math we did together!

There is a very special atmosphere inside of something like ABP; participants, leaders, and mentors alike all coming together as learners to hone our craft, provide support for each other, and develop life-long partnerships to continue helping each other grow. I feel incredibly lucky to return to ABP for one more summer in 2023, so I can feel this magic once more.

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Algebra Tiles Blue Icon

Algebra Tiles Session

  • Used throughout CPM middle and high school courses
  • Concrete, geometric representation of algebraic concepts.
  • Two-hour virtual session,
  •  Learn how students build their conceptual understanding of simplifying algebraic expressions
  • Solving equations using these tools.  
  • Determining perimeter,
  • Combining like terms,
  • Comparing expressions,
  • Solving equations
  • Use an area model to multiply polynomials,
  • Factor quadratics and other polynomials, and
  • Complete the square.
  • Support the transition from a concrete (manipulative) representation to an abstract model of mathematics..

Foundations for Implementation

This professional learning is designed for teachers as they begin their implementation of CPM. This series contains multiple components and is grounded in multiple active experiences delivered over the first year. This learning experience will encourage teachers to adjust their instructional practices, expand their content knowledge, and challenge their beliefs about teaching and learning. Teachers and leaders will gain first-hand experience with CPM with emphasis on what they will be teaching. Throughout this series educators will experience the mathematics, consider instructional practices, and learn about the classroom environment necessary for a successful implementation of CPM curriculum resources.

Page 2 of the Professional Learning Progression (PDF) describes all of the components of this learning event and the additional support available. Teachers new to a course, but have previously attended Foundations for Implementation, can choose to engage in the course Content Modules in the Professional Learning Portal rather than attending the entire series of learning events again.

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Building on Instructional Practice Series

The Building on Instructional Practice Series consists of three different events – Building on Discourse, Building on Assessment, Building on Equity – that are designed for teachers with a minimum of one year of experience teaching with CPM instructional materials and who have completed the Foundations for Implementation Series.

Building on Equity

In Building on Equity, participants will learn how to include equitable practices in their classroom and support traditionally underserved students in becoming leaders of their own learning. Essential questions include: How do I shift dependent learners into independent learners? How does my own math identity and cultural background impact my classroom? The focus of day one is equitable classroom culture. Participants will reflect on how their math identity and mindsets impact student learning. They will begin working on a plan for Chapter 1 that creates an equitable classroom culture. The focus of day two and three is implementing equitable tasks. Participants will develop their use of the 5 Practices for Orchestrating Meaningful Mathematical Discussions and curate strategies for supporting all students in becoming leaders of their own learning. Participants will use an equity lens to reflect on and revise their Chapter 1 lesson plans.

Building on Assessment

In Building on Assessment, participants will apply assessment research and develop methods to provide feedback to students and inform equitable assessment decisions. On day one, participants will align assessment practices with learning progressions and the principle of mastery over time as well as write assessment items. During day two, participants will develop rubrics, explore alternate types of assessment, and plan for implementation that supports student ownership. On the third day, participants will develop strategies to monitor progress and provide evidence of proficiency with identified mathematics content and practices. Participants will develop assessment action plans that will encourage continued collaboration within their learning community.

Building on Discourse

In Building on Discourse, participants will improve their ability to facilitate meaningful mathematical discourse. This learning experience will encourage participants to adjust their instructional practices in the areas of sharing math authority, developing independent learners, and the creation of equitable classroom environments. Participants will plan for student learning by using teaching practices such as posing purposeful questioning, supporting productive struggle, and facilitating meaningful mathematical discourse. In doing so, participants learn to support students collaboratively engaged with rich tasks with all elements of the Effective Mathematics Teaching Practices incorporated through intentional and reflective planning.