Welcome back to a new year.  We have had a lot of things going on this year already, and look forward to working with you all this year.

The turnout at the first SVMI meeting was fantastic. Teachers got a look at the new common core standards, and worked on some rich mathematical tasks.It was a good day for all.

We want to encourage all of you math teacher leaders and department chairs to attend our meetings. the calendar lists all the meetings, and you are encouraged to attend. The state is going through adopting new standards to align with the new national standards, and all teachers need to be informed of these changes. Our meetings this year will focus on the common core standards and what they mean to your teaching practice.

Calendars are up on this website, and the pacing guides are as well (under resources).

There is a new category on the forum for Geometry teachers, as well as a new one for the department chairs. If you want to start a conversation, please do so. Just click on the “add comments” tab, and type it in.

If you would like to join in the conversations, join the SVMI work being done in the middle and elementary schools, or just have mathematical questions, please let us know.

Erik and Phil.

erik.moll@ousd.k12.ca.us

phillip.grebe@ousd.k12.ca.us

OUSD Grades 3-5 math teacher leaders share their insights to math.

Oakland, CA - OUSD K-5 math teachers and coaches were part of a Math Leadership Training that spanned a week in June.  The training was geared at training teachers to be K-5 mathematics coaches at their respective sites in order to capacity build for the 2010-2011 academic year.

The teachers were led by the outstanding leadership of Maria Iturbe, Stephanie Villarreal, and Sean Nakagawa.  The three presenters shared quality pedagogy, methodology, and engagement strategies that build student proficiency in mathematics.

Teachers also had a lot of input and shared their best practices as well as networked with each other for the upcoming year.  By the end of the  week, one thing was apparent - OUSD has amazing K-5 math leaders as we prepare for 2010-2011.

K-2 OUSD math teacher leaders collaborating during a morning session.

To all teachers: Thanks for all you did for the students of Oakland in teaching them mathematics. You are the best.

There are two things you need to know as we wind down the year:

1. The IS math department is moving. Our website will remain here, but Erik and I will be elsewhere in the district, still doing this job. So while we are moving, we will still be working with the teacher of Oakland to help serve our students.

2. As a result of our moving, we have stuff to get rid of. Right now, in the Harper Building (314 E. 10th street), we have both elementary and secondary math materials ready for pick up. If you would like some FREE stuff, come down this week and next and pick through the stuff.

There will be a Teacher Leader Institute from June 21-25, 2010 for any K-5 teachers who would like to be trained in being math leaders in OUSD for 2010-2011.

The Institute will be held M-W and F at Allen Temple Church in East Oakland, and on Thursday at BEST High School at McClymonds in West Oakland.  Each session will be from 8:30 - 3:00 pm and teachers will receive a $695 stipend for attending all 5 days.

Registration includes a commitment from the teacher for 2010-2011 and sign-off from his or her respective principal.  Please contact Erik Moll at erik.moll@ousd.k12.ca.us for the application form.

Thanks.

OUSD K-7 teachers - Your commitment to high quality mathematics instruction has been demonstrated throughout the 2009-2010 academic year.  Great mathematics instruction has been evident in OUSD classrooms, at professional developments, and through benchmark data this year.   All of you deserve cheers for the work being done.

Of course, it is CST time, and this time of year generates a lot of pressure on your school, principal, students and you.  There are ways to alleviate the stress, and most of you have ways that are beneficial to your students.  I am always looking for suggestions, so you ever want to share them, please let me know or post a comment on the teacher forum.

In addition, I will gladly support you as well with any ideas or materials that I may have as well.  Feel free to contact me at erik.moll@ousd.k12.ca.us if there is ever a need.

Thanks for all you do.

Mr. E

Some Intermediate Algebra teachers are wondering about the IA Probability and Statistics unit. It can be found under resources in the Intermediate Algebra folder. Download it to have the unit. There are more parts that are still being written, but this gives you all that is finished so far.

Secondly, Intermediate Algebra teachers and others may want to have a discussion about the future of the course. We in the district office have found some instances where students who have passed IA and moved on to AAT are not getting credit for one of those years of Math. This has put some students in jeopardy of losing scholarships and/or admission status. Go to the forum to contiue this discussion.

Welcome back from vacation. There are several things that I need to bring to your attention. The tests for the semester are still in the process of being reviewed, but they should be on the intranet in a few days. If you would like to be one of the reviewers for the secondary tests, please let me know at my address, which is grebepc@yahoo.com. I will pass your name along to the people at R and A who are writing  and deseminating the tests.

Secondly, the MARS exams are coming up in March. If you are interested in giving the tests, please let me know. For those of you that do not know what the MARS exams are, take a look at the link in the resources section of the website. The username is macmember, and the password I can give you if you are interested. The tests consist of nonroutine problems that are related to the standards. These are NOT multiple choice problems, but bigger, conceptual type problems, and show how well your students are doing with understanding the subject.

The tests are given to students from grades 2 - 8, and include Geometry and Algebra in secondary.

Finally, if you have concerns or questions, let me know.

This year, OUSD is involved with the Silicon Valley Initiative. We are looking for secondary teachers, 6th, 7th, Algebra, and Geometry, who would be interested in doing MARS exams this March. If you are interested, or for more interested information,  contact Phil Grebe at grebepc@yahoo.com. You can also contact SVMI yourself by clicking on this link.

The Beyond the Basic Facts Competition is back!  Please View: 2008 Beyond the Basic Facts Competition

On Friday, December 11, 2009, Si Swun and Sean Nakagawa, Swun Math Consulting, will be the hosts of the third grade competition while Mary Buttler, Executive Officer - Instructional Services, will be the emcee.

The competition will be taking place at Lafayette Elementary School at 8:30 am to approximately 11:30 am.

All OUSD schools are invited to enter a third grade student who has won a school wide competition to participate.  Each school may also send a runner-up (alternate) to sit in the audience and watch the event.   The students’ names must be submitted to the IS Math Department by the end of the day on Friday, December 4, 2009.

Please contact Tina Tranzor or Angelina Shyne, IS Math Coaches, for more information.  Tina.Tranzor@ousd.k12.ca.us or Angelina.Shyne@ousd.k12.ca.us

Yesenia Gonzalez, Grade 4, measures the circumference of a pumpkin.

“La Escuelita holds an exciting school-wide event to celebrate mathematics and to emphasize important key math standards.  It is also hoped that the festival helps remind students that solving mathematical problems can be fun!

- Principal: Tammy Rose