From the “Pinterest perfect” classroom to the “Amazon Wish List” for supplies to the “must do” activity that went viral on social media to the books and websites teeming with hundreds of ideas, it seems that we are continually in a race to create, produce, and enact the best and latest idea that will transform our classroom.
I have been thinking about the best structure for a math lesson. In one powerful simile, a lesson is like a cruise, a mission to Mars, or a vault in gymnastics. In each of these cases, you launch, have a special journey in the middle, and then you land. Launch. Journey. Land. For most of my career, I focused way too much on the first two parts and not nearly enough on the last part. The landing is critical.
Going into distance learning, it was important for me to continue to provide a meaningful mathematical experience for my students and expose them to as many essential concepts as possible without overwhelming them as they navigated through countless adjustments both in and out of school.
Whether your course assignments include CC1 or AP Calculus, the reality of teaching is that our students arrive with a diverse set of prior learning experiences and varied instructional needs.
Change is hard; it requires time, effort and support. For many of you, this school year has you embarking on a journey to create a student centered, problem based classroom.
You may remember the story from your youth about the little engine that could.
© 1989-2023 CPM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM All rights reserved. CPM Educational Program is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit corporation.
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.
