Ep 37: Teaching the Math Standards: Practice or Projects?

Modern Math Teacher

Mar 5 2024 • 10 mins

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Welcome back to another insightful episode of "The Modern Math Teacher" podcast! In our previous episode, we dissected the three domains of math standards – procedural fluency, conceptual understanding, and real-world applications. Today, we're delving into a crucial decision every math teacher faces – choosing between project-based learning and traditional practice. Your lessons are about to get a major upgrade!


Today's Topics:

⚖️Deciding Between Project and Practice: Let's break down the critical 3P approach – projects, practice, and problem-solving. Discover how project-based learning aligns with application and modeling standards, while practice and problem-solving are tailored for procedural standards. Understanding these distinctions is key to crafting effective lessons.

📝Planning for Projects, Practice, and Problem Solving: Explore the strategic planning involved in deciding whether to focus on projects or practice at the unit level. Kristen shares her favorite topics for project-based learning, emphasizing real-world applications. Learn how to design projects that are not just about creating posters but also about reasoning and problem-solving in real-world situations.

🌍Connecting with Real-World Applications: Uncover the importance of selecting topics with meaningful real-world applications for projects and activities. Kristen emphasizes the need for topics that are real, relevant, and rigorous to resonate with students. Real-world connections can make or break the success of a project, as Kristen shares her experiences and insights.


Effortless Planning with our Expert Decision Maker Guide

Save valuable planning time with the "Expert Guide to Projects or Practice." Dive into the top 10 topics for PreAlgebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2, each in its own expert guide. Gain insights into major learning goals and instantly know whether to focus on projects or practice. Spice up your practice-focused units with four creative ideas and receive a sample school calendar for effective planning. Don't waste time searching for projects that might flop – plan wisely with the Expert Guide!

👉Grab your guide now: Expert Guide


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More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!