We have a feature-packed newsletter this month! As always, if you have any success stories that you'd like to share with our team, please contact us at newsletter@carnegielearning.com.
Carnegie Learning Curricula Feature:
Cognitive Tutor Geometry - New Proof Tool
Mouse Over the Image To Zoom
Carnegie Learning Geometry, Second Edition is due to be released this May. Leading up to the release, we'll highlight a new feature of our forthcoming curricula each month. This month's feature is the new proof tool found in Cognitive Tutor Geometry software.
The new Geometry proof tool is truly a one-of-a-kind learning object. This adaptive software tool contains built in guidance to help students work through the process of proving geometric conjectures. Students create a full proof - from a set of givens to a defined goal - using a flowchart-style reasoning tool. This hands on approach helps to develop logical reasoning and a deep understanding of geometric principles. The proof tool is present in two new units of instruction: Proofs with Congruent Triangles, and Proofs with Segments and Angles.
As students construct proofs, logic, deductive reasoning, and organizational skills are all deployed. With the new tool offered in the Cognitive Tutor Geometry Software, not only will your students be able to complete proofs, they will understand them as well.
Software demonstrations will be available soon - contact your local sales representative for more information about Cognitive Tutor Geometry.
Carnegie Learning, Inc. National Math Institute: Register Online Today!
Don't miss the Carnegie Learning, Inc. National Math Institute - Rigorous Professional Learning for Raising Student Achievement in Mathematics! Registration is now open and detailed information is now available on the web site: http://nmi.carnegielearning.com. Save $50 per registration when you register by May 31, 2010!
Featuring distinguished keynotes and instructional leaders:
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Diane Briars, Ph.D. |
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John McCook, Ed.D. |
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Wendy Ward Hoffer, M.A |
And more!
The Carnegie Learning National Math Institute is a three-day professional learning Institute designed to provide teachers and leaders with:
- Effective mathematics instructional strategies for middle school and high school,
- Mathematics content knowledge to support individual student learning,
- Expertise in implementing a successful standards-based, student- centered classroom,
- Tools and strategies to monitor and sustain a successful Carnegie Learning implementation, and
- A network of colleagues to share best practices and innovative classroom ideas.
Who Should Attend?
- Carnegie Learning, Inc. Teachers, Leaders, and Administrators
(participants are encouraged to attend with a team) - Administrators and teachers interested in learning more about a student-centered approach to middle school and secondary mathematics instruction
Visit the web site at http://nmi.carnegielearning.com for more information.
Customer Success Story:
Dorman Freshman Campus Reduces Failure Rate
Dorman Freshman Campus is a secondary public school in Roebuck, SC. The school offers a course to their at-risk freshman population titled Fundamentals of Algebra.
Originally, the Fundamentals of Algebra course was a 90-minute class during which students worked out of a traditional textbook. This implementation did not keep students engaged throughout the entire class period, and these students were having major disciplinary problems. Over the past several years the class had also been experiencing an average failure rate of about 40%.
Dr. Cindy Doolittle, Director of Mathematics for Spartanburg School District 6, had previous experience with Cognitive Tutor Software, and saw great success. In the 2008-2009 school year, Dorman freshman academy implemented Cognitive Tutor Bridge to Algebra and Algebra I software in the Fundamentals of Algebra class. Students adapted very well to the change in curriculum delivery. Teachers found students to be excited to use the computer and to work on the software for half of their class time. Students who previously had not experienced much success in math found the challenge of mastering the software enjoyable, and were succeeding at it. Discipline referrals decreased significantly as students were more engaged by the software and were on task not only in the computer lab, but in the classroom as well. Teachers who were at first apprehensive about the change were quickly won over when they saw the results.
Results
All Dorman students took a MAP assessment in March 2008 and January 2009. The students enrolled in the Cognitive Tutor course fared well on the assessment even though they were a semester behind their counterparts. They showed a significant rate of improvement: 7.48% between test cycles. By comparison, the rate of improvement for the control group was 4.87% despite the fact that these students received another semester's worth of math instruction in Algebra.
For the full story, please read the Success Story PDF on our website.
A New Blog:
A Day in the Life of a Carnegie Learning Teacher
Have you ever wanted to learn best practices, tips & tricks and classroom management ideas from a veteran teacher using Carnegie Learning curricula?
Carnegie Learning has partnered with Kasey Bratcher, an enthusiastic math teacher and Certified Implementation Specialist from Greene County Middle School in Kentucky. Kasey was featured in one of our success story videos, and is a knowledgeable resource for teaching secondary mathematics with Carnegie Learning Curricula. She will be writing weekly posts on this new blog from now until the end of May.
Excerpts of the blog are now available on the Carnegie Learning Resource Center homepage. We encourage you to read and participate in Kasey's blog discussions and forward the link to your fellow teachers and colleagues. Here's a sample:
"In my seventh year of teaching (third with Carnegie) I still feel like I am just beginning, but there is one thing I know for sure; no matter how many years I teach, I will always have room to learn. This blog is my way of sharing with you what is working and even sometimes what isn't working in my Carnegie classroom in hopes to encourage you in yours.
And there is so much to talk about!! From setting up your classroom and establishing class norms, to how to grade the lab, to the importance of student presentation, keeping groups on task, grouping, planning, pacing, and on and on we will talk about it all!! And if there is anything you want to know about my classroom that I haven't shared, just let me know. I truly want this to be interactive and I anticipate to learn as much from you as you do from me"
Kasey's first few posts are already available! Read her blog now at: http://cliteacher.blogspot.com/
Spring 2010 Math Webinar Series: New Events Added!
Carnegie Learning is always working to present the education community with the most exciting, relevant content in its free webinar series. The following are just a few of the webinars planned for the spring.
Carnegie Learning Geometry, Second Edition
This webinar will focus on the new Carnegie Learning Geometry Curriculum including new textbook content lessons and features and software tools to create a more interactive geometry classroom environment.
February 24, 2010
3:30 pm EST
Presenters:
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Steve Grieco |
Sandy Bartle |
High School Mathematics: Reasoning and Sense Making in Algebra
Join this webinar to learn about the new Reasoning and Sense Making guidelines the National Council of Teachers of Math (NCTM) has released in 2009. We will also explore examples from the classroom that illustrate how reasoning and sense making can be part of polynomial lessons, part of making connections across the curriculum and can be part of problem solving.
March 10, 2010
3:30 pm EST
Guest Speaker:
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Fred Dillon |
Teaching for Understanding and Its Impact on Students' Learning in Algebra
In this webinar we will discuss a student-centered framework used to promote understanding of algebraic procedures. Using student work samples we will demonstrate how traditional mathematics tasks can be enriched to support the development of deeper algebraic knowledge. We will also present the impact of a yearlong teaching for understanding program on students' learning, including recommendations and resources for enriching algebra in your school.
Guest Speakers:
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Jennifer Kosiak |
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Jon Hasenbank |
To register, visit: http://carnegielearningevents.webex.com. Not able to make the date/time? Register now and watch the recorded playback at your convenience.
Events Schedule
NCCE
March 3 - March 5, 2010
Seattle, WA
www.ncce.org
ASCD
March 6 - March 8, 2010
San Antonio, TX
NADE
March 10 - March 13, 2010
Columbus, OH
CMC - Central
March 12 - March 13, 2010
Seaside, CA
www.cmc-math.org