Fraction Progressions: How to Use What Your Students Already Know to Solve Rich Math Performance Tasks

fraction manipulatives
Presenter: Robin Moore and Suzanne Hood
Cost: Free
Location: Remote Webinar

Watch Now

To inspire deep learning, curiosity and a love for mathematics, educators use student assets of fractions to drive instructional moves in their problem solving progression.

By understanding the progression of fractions, educators will be able to anticipate how to support students' entry points through rich math performance tasks.

This edWebinar will explore facilitation of fraction instruction in the classroom using the Five Practices: anticipating, monitoring, selecting, sequencing, and connecting.

Along the way, we’ll look at:

  • how performance tasks serve as the perfect complement to support the development within the fraction progressions, 

  • why developing solutions is as important as finding answers, and 

  • specific tools teachers can use to foster conceptual understanding of fractions.

This edWebinar will be of interest to teachers and school and district leaders of kindergarten through middle school levels. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.


About the Presenters

Portrait

Robin Moore is the Lead Curriculum Renewal Coordinator at EdAdvance, one of Connecticut’s six Regional Educational Service Centers. She is also a Certified K-5 Facilitator for Illustrative Mathematics and an Educational Consultant for Exemplars.

She started her journey 20 years ago as an elementary classroom teacher. Robin’s passion for modeling the growth mindset for students and colleagues as well as an interest in finding ways to build an understanding and love of mathematics led her to pursue a math specialist position. Over time, she became a K–8 Math Coordinator and then a K–12 STEM Coordinator.

She actively participates in multiple organizations such as Core Advocates, Connecticut Council of Leaders of Mathematics, and Associated Teachers of Mathematics in Connecticut. In addition, she shares her experiences at various conferences such as ATMNE, NCTM, and NCSM.

When not promoting a love for mathematics, Robin enjoys gardening, Zumba, and spending time with her husband and children in Connecticut.

Portrait

Suzanne Hood has been a professional mathematics educator for more than 22 years. She holds a Master's Degree in Education from the State University of West Georgia. Married to her childhood sweetheart, Suzanne was born and raised in Atlanta and currently resides in Flowery Branch, GA.

Suzanne has worked as a classroom teacher to support students as they navigate the problem-solving process in Grades K-5. As a Mathematics Instructional Coach, she began supporting teachers 12 years ago in a rural school, where she conducted a longitudinal study using Exemplars tasks. The study concluded that CoGAT scores can increase when students are taught to think about complex problems and are guided by educators who use formative assessment to inform instructional decisions. Suzanne was awarded the recognition of Master Teacher in Coaching as a result of this work.

In addition to coaching, Suzanne has worked as an Instructional Leader in Gwinnett County Schools, where she supported initiatives with professional learning such as the Math Institute, for elementary teachers working with summer school students. Gwinnett County Schools supports 60,000 students and 4,000 elementary teachers; the Math Institute provides an avenue in which teachers can experience best practices by observing, modeling, and refining their instructional decisions using Exemplars tasks.

Suzanne currently works part time as a Learning Support Specialist in Mathematics for Hall County Schools, collaborating with administrators to develop Professional Learning Plans using Exemplars tasks. Working with instructional coaches and teachers, Suzanne models lessons, provides professional learning, collects data, and facilitates the immersion of problem solving within the elementary school community.

Throughout her career, Suzanne has worked to support critical thinking and to encourage colleagues to engage students with the Standards for Mathematical Practices that facilitate a life-long understanding of mathematics. Suzanne often quotes, "I'm living the dream." Her dream is to work collectively with teachers in job-embedded professional learning using effective math instructional practices that increase student achievement, resulting in lives changed through education.

About the Moderator

Jay Portrait

Jay Meadows serves as Exemplars’ Chief Executive Officer. He is a former middle school math and science teacher and has been working in education for more than two decades. Jay holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Vermont and a Masters in Mathematical Pedagogy from Southern New Hampshire University.

Jay is also one of Exemplars primary performance task writers and professional development consultants for the middle level. Leading sessions throughout the United States, Jay works with teachers to integrate performance tasks and research based best practices into their curriculum. Through Exemplars, Jay dreams of teaching a generation of students to become powerful problem solvers.

Prior to his career in education, Jay coordinated delegations from the former Soviet Union through U.S. State Department grants. Jay has also worked alongside a number of international non-profits and is a former Peace Corps volunteer.