What do you need?

The KSDE Math team wants to know what Professional Learning you want or need for the 2024-2025 school year!  We are planning to continue our Monthly Math Minutes.  Please fill out the following Google form.  https://forms.gle/FtgsrGrsvXV8FT498

The Science of Math is not the mirror of the Science of Reading

It’s essential for educators to critically evaluate new educational trends and theories, distinguishing between those supported by robust evidence and those that lack such evidence. The "Science of Math" is emerging as a buzzword in educational discourse, but it is not currently supported by the same level of scientific rigor as the "Science of Reading."

The Science of Reading is based on five decades of interdisciplinary research across the world and it is derived from thousands of studies conducted in multiple languages (Science of Reading Defining Guide, p. 6). In contrast, the Science of Math does not yet have the same breadth of research to substantiate its principles.

The Science of Math primarily incorporates concepts from behaviorism and cognitive psychology, but it lacks the extensive, longitudinal evidence that supports the Science of Reading. As a result, the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) currently does not endorse the Science of Math as a theoretical framework for teaching mathematics.

Educators should remain informed about emerging trends and evaluate them based on the strength and depth of supporting research. It’s crucial to rely on well-established, evidence-based practices to guide educational strategies and interventions.

Standards/Assessments

Updates on the new mini and interim assessments

Key Dates to remember:

• August 26th:  

  • KAP will be adding the new mini tests as they are ready throughout the fall.  Educators can still see the former mini tests by cluster on the Educator Portal as of August 26th, 2024.  

• September 6th:  

  • • Districts will be able to submit TASC records for the students.  

      • Please remember, ALL students MUST have a TASC record to be able to take the mini tests and interims. 

    • Mini tests available for ELA, Math, and Science. 

• October 14th - November 1st:  Interim 1 window

• January 20th - January 31st:  Interim 2 window

• Full calendar link:  Kansas Assessments Overview Calendar (ksassessments.org) 

• Make sure to check out the new resource assessment sheets! Resources | Kansas Assessment Program (ksassessments.org) 

Teachers, Building Test Coordinators and Users, and District Test Coordinators and Users can create and assign Instructional Interim tests composed of one or more Mini-Tests. Each Mini-Test is a grouping of questions related to a specific standard(s) created by the Achievement & Assessment Institute (AAI) at the University of Kansas. The Mini-Tests are designed to be used frequently during instruction throughout the school year (early-September through May) to provide feedback to help students, evaluate students’ learning, and aid teachers in adjusting instruction. In general, educators do the following: 

1. Build tests using Mini-Tests with items that mirror summative assessment items. 

2. Copy tests created by staff within their own building/district. 

3. Assign Mini-Tests to students and start or stop test delivery to Student Portal. 

4. Monitor, Pause, Resume, Reactivate, and End Test Session. 

5. Administer Mini-Tests aligned to state curriculum standards. 

6. See immediate results from students’ tests. 

Mini-Test How-To-Video

The Kansas Math Project Update

The Kansas Math Project is an instructional resource that educators can choose to utilize. It that can be beneficial for tiered interventions or for teachers who want to dig deeper into their content by watching a module being taught using a different methodology.  KSDE is not mandating that this is the way or the only way you should be teaching mathematics.  Again, this is just a resource that school districts can utilize for tiered interventions or a teacher content resource.   Foundational and grade-level modules will be delivered both synchronously and asynchronously via Moodle.

Trainings

For the 2024-2025 school year, the following trainings are scheduled:

• Oct. 14-15, 2024, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Hays (attendance required both days).

• Oct. 16-17, 2024, at the Sunflower Foundation, Topeka (attendance required both days).

• Feb. 24-25, 2025, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Hays (attendance required both days).

• February 26-27, 2025, at the Sunflower Foundation, Topeka (attendance required both days).

• April 28-29, 2025, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Hays (attendance required both days).

• April 30 & May 1, 2025, at the Sunflower Foundation, Topeka (attendance required both days).

Registration for these trainings will be available at https://ksdetasn.org/mtss/kmp-information once all logistical information is confirmed.

If you would like to do the trainings via Moodle, please click the following link:  Trainings via Moodle   Once there, click on “Create account,” create your free Moodle account and begin with KMP Foundational Module A. You will sequentially go through KMP Foundational Modules A-E, taking each module’s quiz and ending with the cumulative quiz. 

Updates on IXL

Reminder that the state is paying for IXL Math again this year! 

1. IXL LevelUp Marth Benchmark Information. Please use what you think is best to include.

   • In the 2024-2025 school year, schools and districts can leverage a new, advanced assessment for K-8 math. The IXL LevelUpTM Math Benchmark Assessment is scientifically advanced, can be administered in no more than an hour (typically less), has enhanced reporting, and is available in Spanish. And, it can be used in Real-Time mode to refine students’ scores and recommendations in between benchmark windows.

   • One-pager on making the decision (linked here)

   • What is the IXL LevelUp Math Benchmark Assessment? (help center article)

   • Should my school/district use the IXL LevelUp Math Benchmark? (help center article that compares the new to the Classic Diagnostic)

2. IXL offers complimentary resources to help educators and administrators implement IXL, like our blog, IXL Minis, Admin Resource Center, and more. Research shows systems that engage in custom IXL PD (at a local cost) see higher educator engagement and better results from students on outside learning measures. I'm linking a few of the most popular. (Note: if a session needs to support more than 50 attendees, then a different rate will be applied)

   • On-Site IXL PD

   • IXL Starter PD Package

   • IXL Power Up PD Package

   • IXL Express PD Package

   • We also offer some discounted packages for schools (or districts) with a total enrollment of 250 students or less.

3. We have added Personalized Study Plan support for the FastBridge Assessment in both aMath and aReading! Similar to the MAP, i-Ready and Star study plans in IXL, the FastBridge study plan will provide students with a personalized list of skills that they should work on based on their performance on FastBridge. 

Students and teachers can create FastBridge study plans. Student scores can also be imported to quickly create plans for school and district accounts. Admins who are interested in importing scores can reach out to kansas@ixl.com or their IXL Account Manager.

With this update, we now offer Personalized Study Plans for the i-Ready Diagnostic, Renaissance Star, FastBridge aMath and aReading, the ACT/pre-ACT, NWEA MAP Growth, and SAT (with the option to use PSAT scores).

Check it out - Math@Home!

Lexile & Quantile Hub - click here for website.

Lexile & Quantile contains targeted, free resources appropriately matched to students by Quantile measure and math content. Free premium membership to all Kansas educators. 

• • Math Content with Quantile Measures.  

  • More than 600 textbooks and software programs with over 80,000 lessons have been calibrated to the Quantile scale. 

  • Over 3,100 online and downloadable resources have been calibrated to the Quantile scale. 

  • Title:   Educator Access to the Lexile and Quantile Hub

    • Description:  This video provides an overview of how educators register to access tools and resources in the Lexile and Quantile Hub. KSDE has a partnership with MetaMetrics that allows all educators Premium access to the Lexile and Quantile Hub at no additional cost. 

    • https://youtu.be/dJx64pb5njI

  • Title:   Classroom Applications using Quantile Teacher Assistant

    • Description:  This video provides a demonstration of how to utilize Quantile measures and the Quantile Teacher Assistant tool to support classroom instruction. 

    • https://youtu.be/F5Ojz_NqDzY

Understanding Quantile Measures

The Quantile® Framework for Mathematics gives you a powerful tool to personalize math learning for students by linking assessments to instruction.

It’s based on a scientifically validated developmental scale that measures both the math skill level of your students and the difficulty of math skills and concepts they encounter.

• A student Quantile measure helps you better understand which skills and concepts your students are ready to learn so you can better personalize math instruction.

• Math concepts and skills also have Quantile measures, so it’s easy to figure out which math concepts students are ready to learn next.

A growing number of math programs and state assessments report Quantile measures. In addition, many textbooks and instructional materials are linked to the Quantile scale. When you’re able to match students with math resources that support their knowledge and build it further, you’re also supporting their path to college and career readiness.

See full article:  Understanding Quantile® Measures - Quantile (quantiles.com)