Math Institute - Math Content Courses - Secondary

Math Content Courses - Secondary

Enhancing Mathematics and Critical Teaching Skills in the Secondary Classroom

Our 6-12 courses deepen mathematical content knowledge through the use of the standards progressions and the Standards for Mathematical Practice. Although the focus is 6-12 content, many elementary teachers find value in understanding these standards progressions and how the K-5 standards support student learning at the secondary level. Our programs are designed to help you:

  • Deepen your own knowledge and confidence of more complex mathematical standards
  • Support students in achieving higher level math skills as a foundation for their career
  • Apply your knowledge of math progressions at a higher level

Explore our Secondary Content Courses below …

Math Institute - Secondary Courses

Geometry: Beyond Proof

Grade Level

7-12

Overview

Geometry is the only domain which is present in every grade, K-12, in the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM), but despite—or perhaps because of—this, it is also under-emphasized in almost every grade. This module is designed to deepen participants’ knowledge and understanding of the CCSSM expectations for Geometry in Grades 7-12, with a brief look-back to the standards from earlier grades to emphasize the overall K-12 coherence of the geometry domain.

One important difference between the CCSSM and earlier geometry standards is an increased emphasis on transformations (translations, rotations, reflections, and dilations) and transformational arguments in the Common Core. Transformations are not necessarily studied for their own sake, but rather because they afford a quick and intuitive approach to more advanced results and applications of geometry. Nevertheless, the transformational approach is new and unfamiliar to many teachers of geometry, and this module will present teachers with a grounded introduction to transformations so that they can make an intentional decision as to the extent to which they will study transformations in their own classes.

Topics to be studied in the workshop include: an introduction to translations, reflections, and rotations; geometry and measurement standards in early grades and the van Hiele levels; and the transformational approach to congruence and similarity. The CCSSM Standards for Mathematical Practice, and their appearance through a geometric lens, will be addressed throughout.

Goals

  • Become familiar with the progression of standards for geometry across Grades 7-12.
  • Deepen understanding of the transformational approach to geometry advocated by the CCSSM.
  • Explore the nature and importance of conjecture and proof in geometry.
  • Deepen understanding of the ways in which students’ geometric understanding grows and implications for classroom instruction.

Upcoming Class Dates & Locations

November 2, December 7 & January 9, Waukesha WI

Critical Math for the ACT

Grade Level

6-12

Content Focus

Secondary

Overview

High school math teachers face continued pressure to raise ACT scores, which play a critical role in the assessment of both students and schools. How do you balance the expectations between developing conceptual understanding and reaching proficiency? A closer look at the ACT College and Career Readiness Standards and the Wisconsin Standards for Mathematics (including MIDDLE SCHOOL standards) reveals critical connections.

In this workshop, you will compare these sets of standards and consider implications for your classroom instruction. How do the Standards for Mathematical Practice come into play? Explore sample items. Collaborate with colleagues around ways to address student achievement on this assessment.

Agenda

Upcoming Class Dates & Locations

November 17, 2020

Building Student Ownership of Mathematical Learning: Middle and High School

Grade Level

6-12

Content Focus

Formative Assessment

Overview

Formative assessment is often defined as assessment for learning. But what does assessment for learning look like in a math classroom? What should teachers be doing? How are students positioned as active and engaged self-assessors to monitor and guide their own learning? This workshop will explore classroom-based formative assessment techniques and tools which can be used to plan, implement, and reflect on both teaching and student learning in your classroom.

Goals

  • Deepen understanding of formative assessment.
  • Understand the role formative assessment plays in supporting all learners.
  • Leave with more practices to use in your classroom.

Upcoming Class Dates & Locations

March 21, 2018 Waukesha WI

Using Technology to Explore Statistics

Grade Level

6-8

Content Focus

Statistics

Overview

Technology plays an important role in your student’s day-to-day lives. Learn how to use a free, online tool, GeoGebra, to explore middle school statistics and engage students in the digital realm.  This workshop will focus on analyzing single-variable data sets (Grade 6), comparing data sets (Grade 7), and analyzing two-variable data sets (Grade 8).  See how technology can increase statistical literacy for your students.  Leave with ready-to-implement lessons!

Upcoming Class Dates & Locations

April 17, 2018, Waukesha, WI

Ratios and Proportional Relationships

Grade Level

6-8

Overview

This course explores the Ratios and Proportional Relationships Domain of the Wisconsin Standards for Mathematics and focuses on thinking about proportional relationships through multiple representations, such as tape diagrams, double number lines, ratio tables, graphs, equations, and verbal descriptions.

Goals

  • Broaden teachers’ mathematical understanding and pedagogical practices of ratios and proportional relationships.
  • Study meaningful tasks that will increase students’ understanding of ratios and proportional relationships.
  • Critically examine student misconceptions when reasoning with ratios and proportional relationships in order to make informed instructional decisions.
  • Study the mathematical progression that students pass through as they become proficient at reasoning with ratios and proportional relationships.

Upcoming Class Dates & Locations

July 13-16, 2020, UW-Oshkosh

Expressions and Equations

Grade Level

6-8

Overview

This course explores the Expressions and Equations Domain and the Functions Domain of the Wisconsin Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) and focuses on the development of algebraic thinking using multiple representations such as words, tables, graphs, and equations to analyze and model mathematical relationships.

Goals

  • Become familiar with the progression of the CCSSM for expressions, equations, and functions across Grades 6–8.
  • Develop an understanding of the role of using multiple representations and contextual situations to support student algebraic learning.
  • Understand, represent, and explain the important concepts in the CCSSM including writing, interpreting, and using expressions and equations; applying operations with rational numbers to work with expressions and linear equations; modeling relationships between quantities with linear equations and functions; and solving linear equations and systems of linear equations through real world contexts.

Upcoming Class Dates & Locations

July 27-30, 2020 – Alverno

Statistics

Grade Level

6-8

Overview

This course explores the Statistics and Probability Domain of the Wisconsin Standards for Mathematics and centers on the development of key statistical concepts in Grades 6-8.

Goals

  • Broaden teachers’ understanding and pedagogical practices of statistical relationships.
  • Investigate key statistical concepts through meaningful tasks and investigations.
  • Study the progression of key statistical concepts from Grade 6 through Grade 8.
  • Provide investigations that illustrate how classroom teachers can empower their students to become data collectors and analyzers.

Upcoming Class Dates & Locations

July 8-11, 2019, UW-Oshkosh

Geometry

Grade Level

7-12

Overview

This course explores the Geometry Domain and Conceptual Category of the Wisconsin Standards for Mathematics in Grades 7-12, with a brief look-back to the standards from earlier grades to emphasize the overall K-12 coherence.

Goals

  • Become familiar with the progression of standards for geometry across Grades 7-12.
  • Deepen understanding of the transformational approach to geometry advocated by the CCSSM.
  • Explore the nature and importance of conjecture and proof in geometry.
  • Deepen understanding of the ways in which students’ geometric understanding grows, and implications for classroom instruction.

Upcoming Class Dates & Locations

July 8-11, 2019, UW-Oshkosh

Algebra and Functions with Modeling

Grade Level

8-12

Overview

This course explores the Algebra Conceptual Category and Functions Conceptual Category of the Wisconsin Standards for Mathematics and focuses on various ways to represent mathematical understanding, including visual, symbolic, and physical representations. Connections to the Modeling Conceptual Category and the modeling cycle will be examined.

Goals

  • Understand how the CCSSM conceptual categories of algebra and functions are connected to the conceptual category of modeling.
  • Gain a deeper understanding of the CCSSM conceptual categories of Algebra and Functions.
  • Investigate real-life applications of algebra and functions.
  • Investigate student expectations in the area of algebra and function assessment.
  • Gain insight into the CCSSM Mathematical Practices and what they look like in a high school mathematics classroom.

Upcoming Class Dates & Locations

Click a date or time for More Information or To Register

May 16, Pewaukee WI

June 23, Pewaukee,WI

July 3, Waukesha, WI
(offered through our Waukesha Summer Institute)

Essential Concepts in Math

Grade Level

9-12

Overview

This course will explore the Essential Concepts in High School Mathematics, as outlined by NCTM’s Catalyzing Change in High School Mathematics: Initiating Critical Conversations. Catalyzing Change develops four Essential Concepts for each and every high school student: Number, Algebra and Functions, Statistics and Probability, and Geometry and Measurement.  Participants will explore standards and activities in each of these Essential Concepts, engaging in tasks as learners and examining tasks from the lens of a teacher.

Upcoming Class Dates & Locations

July 27-30, 2020 – Alverno

Statistics and Probability for All High School Mathematics Teachers

Grade Level

9-12

Overview

This course explores the Statistics and Probability Conceptual Category of the Wisconsin Standards for Mathematics and focuses on hands-on activity learning and understanding the four-step statistical problem-solving process.

Goals

  • Understand student expectations in the Statistics and Probability Domain in Grades 6-8 and the High School Conceptual Category – Statistics and Probability.
  • Understand the statistical problem-solving process and how this process is embedded in the Statistics and Probability Domain/Conceptual Category.
  • Study statistics and probability investigations that move student understanding of analyzing data as delineated by the standards in Grades 6-8 to the inferential thinking delineated in the high school standards.
  • Provide investigations that illustrate how classroom teachers can empower their students to become data collectors and analyzers.
  • Study the relationship between the Standards for Mathematical Practice and the Standards for Mathematical Practice Through a Statistical Lens.

Upcoming Class Dates & Locations

July 8-11, 2019, UW-Oshkosh

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