My instrumental goal is to more effectively utilize the technological resources that exist for my classroom and seek additional technological tools so that each student has access to a personal laptop or pad.
My missional goal is to create mathematicians. I want my students to see, think, act and communicate like a mathematician. I believe this requires two fundamental skills. This requires the art and craft of problem solving and creating number sense.
Over the next five years, I plan on incorporating more technology in my teaching by researching and using more visual representation of the concepts in the math I am teaching and engaging the students more effectively in this technology. Initially, my key resources will be the SMART exchange, Khan Academy and YouTube. I am also going to incorporate more of the technological tools offered with our math curriculum, enVisionmath2.0 developed by Pearson. I am also going to be focused on getting my students a personal technological tool to utilize in the classroom and beyond.
This year I have opened up my mindset away from focusing my instruction on the content to an approach that builds mathematicians, so my students have the skills to understand and solve mathematical problems in the world around them. This will mean that I have to look at the curriculum and content requirements of our school, the district and the common core standards. I must adjust my instruction to build these problem solving skills and number sense within these guidelines. Only then, can I hope to have my students become true mathematicians.
I hope to accomplish this by continuing to build my personal learning network through working with my colleagues, professional development, books, websites, videos and blogs, along with expanding my digital footprint with my website, Twitter and Facebook.
An initial list that I will build on of my resources and personal learning network are below:
Books: Countdown, Six Kids Vie for Glory at the World’s Toughest Math Competition by Steve Olson
Building Number Sense Through the Common Core by Bradley S. Wibel and Paul J. Riccomini
The Art and Craft of Problem Solving by Paul Zeitz
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You (10th Anniversary Edition) by John C. Maxwell and Steven R. Covey
Websites: Elementary Math Websites to Build Number Sense https://list_ly/1uC-elementary -math-websites-to-build- number-sense.com
Number Sense - PBS Kids pbskids.org/cyberchase/math-games/number-sense/
Mathematics websites - Art of Problem Solving https://www.artofproblemsolving.com
Blogs: Number Sense Blog - Mathnasium
Problem solving skills - Brian Tracy’s Blog
Professional Leadership Communities/Organizations: MSUrbanSTEM ILT - Internal Leadership Team ( Nobel Elementary School) Math Lead Grades 3 - 5 Professional Personnel Leadership Committee (Nobel Elementary School)