Participants will be taken through upper elementary Math Modeling tasks with real world relevance designed so that students can draw on family knowledge and community knowledge to solve problems. Participants will be taken through the Modeling Cycle, leveraging inquiry and connections to prior knowledge to support math reasoning and problem solving. Resources will be shared including Math Modeling tasks and examples for grades 2nd-6th. Connections will be made to the New California Math Framework including the Three Dimensions of Systemic Change (an asset approach to instruction, active engagement, and personal relevance) and the 5 Components of Equitable and Engaging Teaching for all students. Math Modeling embraces student background knowledge to increase engagement in support of solving real world problems in a manner that empowers students.
Participants will be taken through tasks that support increased student sense making and engagement using thin slicing, inductive and deductive reasoning in a manner that helps students’ build on prior knowledge. Upper Elementary and Secondary examples will be provided using The AFTL (Ask First, Teach Later) Method of instruction including steps for Guided Sense Making and a 3-2-1 Notice and Conjecture protocol that can be used to support deeper learning of math content by shifting the workload so that students are doing the heavy lifting making connections to prior knowledge, and patterns.
