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Embedded Files
Call for Content
Call for Content
Are you doing something amazing in your classroom that you would like to share with others? Please submit ideas to jhamlet@ksde.org to be showcased next month.
KSDE is here to support you!
KSDE is here to support you!
If you have questions about curriculum, assessments, standards, etc., the KSDE math team is here to help and support you in any way possible. All you need to do is reach out. Please contact Jennifer Hamlet, KSDE Math Program Manager, at 785-296-6823 or email her at jhamlet@ksde.org.
New Virtual Office Hours (Third Wednesday of every month): Jennifer Hamlet, KSDE Math Program Manager, will host one-hour virtual office hours on zoom from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. for educators to ask questions, get support, or just chat about concerns/issues.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://ksde.zoom.us/j/82246007530
Passcode: 607090
THE NEW KANSAS MATH STANDARDS GUIDANCE DOCUMENT IS FINISHED!
THE NEW KANSAS MATH STANDARDS GUIDANCE DOCUMENT IS FINISHED!
The new KSDE Kansas Math Standards Guidance Document is finished! We are so excited for districts to have and utilize this document. Below, you will find a link to the document and an instructional video that talks about its components, creation, interim blueprints, and much more! This is a read only document, so you will need to make a copy to be able to edit and make it your own. If you are not aware of how to make a copy, it is in the video! 😊
KSDE Kansas Math Standards Guidance Document
Thank you for your patience awaiting the release of this document and I hope it will be an effective tool for your teachers and districts. I do want to send a shout out and big thank you to my KSDE Math team for all their hard work. This document took hours of work to put together and a lot of brain power.
Jolene Goodheart Peterson
Amber Boyington
Todd Flory
Lara Staker
Cherryl Delacruz
Diane Kimsey
Andrea Graham
Luke Henke
Julie Keithline
Shelly DeWeese
Erin Cole
And all the others that had feedback along the way!
KSDE + Service Centers = Incredible Partnership
KSDE + Service Centers = Incredible Partnership
The KSDE Math team and the service centers across the state are joining forces to offer Professional Learning opportunities centered on the Four Fundamentals. We’re thrilled about this collaboration and are committed to providing math educators with top-notch support and resources. See below for our first Professional Learning Day!
Location Date Registration
Greenbush (Lawrence) 12/9/24 Link to Register
Smoky Hill (Salina) 12/12/24 Link to Register
Southwest Plains 12/16/24 Link to Register
ESSDACK 1/13/25 Link to Register
Greenbush (Girard) 1/20/25 Link to Register
Orion 1/28/25 Link to Register
Monthly Math Minutes
Monthly Math Minutes
Please join us for our monthly professional development from the KSDE math team. Every month we will have mathematics updates from the state, professional development opportunities, and a topic of the month. We would love to have any teachers, curriculum leaders, and administration join us! Register below. You can click the register button at the time of the meeting as well, it does not have to be prior to be able to join.
Monthly Math Minutes Registration Link
November 13th 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. We will talk about the new interim reports and have breakout rooms on follow-up topics from the KSDE Conference. If you are unable to attend, please still register so I have your email and I will send out the recording and any resources after the meeting.
Breakout rooms: IXL / Formative assessment ideas / New Guidance Document
Fibonacci Day
Fibonacci Day
November 23rd, 2024
The sequence itself first appeared in Indian Mathematics, known as Virahanka numbers, and was connected with Sanskrit prosody. The number sequence is also tied to the golden ratio and the golden triangle, both of which appear again and again in nature, as does the sequence itself.
Where does this unique sequence appear, some might ask? It is in the most fundamental of things, from the petals of the yellow chamomile to the complex and seemingly random branching of a tree’s limbs–and these are just a few.
Look deeper and a person who works to pay attention will find these numbers within the pine cone as well as in the shape of an unfurling fern. In a truly strange one to understand, the numbers can be found in the description of the family tree of bees, which is deeply important to apiarists as a result.
And because of its prevalence in nature, this sequence also has a tendency to be repeated by humans so that it is found in various forms of art and architecture. It can be seen in buildings, paintings, drawings, sculptures and so much more.
Here are some activities that your students could participate in on Fibonacci Day and not just in math class!
Learn the sequence. How far in the sequence can you go? Remember, each number is the sum of the two numbers before it.
Look for the Golden Ratio in nature or household items. The Golden Ratio shows up in nature, architecture, and design.
Make your own Fibonacci spiral. Try your hand drawing, sculpting, or baking the Fibonacci spiral into a design of your own.
Take a Fibonacci-inspired nature walk. Go out and start looking for evidence of the sequence in the world around you!
Find songs that use the Fibonacci Sequence..
Explore Classical Paintings and artists who have used the Golden Ratio in their paintings.
Create a visual composition based on the Fibonacci Sequence.
Create a visual composition based on the Golden Ratio.
Create a poem based on the Fibonacci Sequence
Think of and explore ways the Fibonacci Sequence influences/drives the creation of our universe and the unlimited ways it exists in the natural world. Then create a poem or song lyrics that communicates your discoveries and is based on the Fibonacci Sequence
The Kansas Math Project
The Kansas Math Project
What is the Kansas Math Project?
What is the Kansas Math Project?
We believe that every math teacher in Kansas should have a strong understanding of evidence-based teaching strategies, and that all teachers of math should have an equally strong understanding of math content. The Kansas Math Project, put forth in joint collaboration with the Kansas Department of Education, has been developed to precisely attend to each of these beliefs through a systematic framework of modules geared for teachers and administrators. Modules will be delivered both in-person and asynchronously to develop the math practitioner's aptitude to use the language of mathematics, integrate modeling and practice, and incorporate mathematics concepts and procedures that build students' fluency within the four operations, and their ability to set-up and solve text-based problems. In addition, the project will expand each teacher's scope of content knowledge along the progression of standards from PreK to Algebra 2.
Trainings
For the 2024-2025 school year, the following trainings are scheduled:
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.
Standards/Assessments
Standards/Assessments
New Interim Interactive Performance Reports
Free Resource for Teachers, Parents and Students!
Free Resource for Teachers, Parents and Students!
Lexile & Quantile Hub is a free resource that is provided for all Kansas educators, parents, and students. Join us for the next Monthly Math Minutes on October 8th for a more in-depth look.
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.
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.
Understanding Quantile Measures
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)
IXL Updates
IXL Updates
NEW IXL ADMIN REPORT: Standards Proficiency Overview and Standard Proficiency Details. These reports help you understand where to provide instructional support on standards and ensure that your students are meeting your proficiency goals throughout the school year. They will populate data if your educators are using the Kansas Standards Skill Plans in IXL. (more here)
IXL has recently completed research on the impact of IXL in a Kansas district. The study found students who used IXL performed better on their state assessment than students who did not use IXL. (They've also released research on IXL's impact on graduation rates.)
Going to the Greenbush Instructional Resource Fair? IXL will be there to answer any questions or discuss your implementation.
As always, reach out to your IXL Account Manager or kansas@ixl.com if you have any questions, feedback, or want to set up a meeting to discuss implementation.
Coming Soon: Kansas IXL User Group: Interested in joining a collaborative space where you can learn from others, share feedback from your implementation, and spark new ideas to elevate learning? Learn more about the Kansas IXL User Group here.
Frequently asked questions!
Frequently asked questions!
Q: Does KSDE have a list of suggested math curriculum for districts?
A: At this time, KSDE cannot recommend any specific curriculum. KSDE did do a survey of math curriculum that is being used by districts across Kansas.
Q: Can 8th grade Algebra I count for High School credit?
A: This is local decision that the school board of education for each district will need to determine.
Q: Where are the resources for the KAP mini tests, interims, and summative assessments located?
A: Resources | Kansas Assessment Program (ksassessments.org)
Q: Are the Kansas Math Standards changing for the 2024-2025 school year? If not, when will they be reviewed next?
A: The Kansas Math Standards will not be changing for the 24-25 school year. KSDE has not set a timeframe when the math standards will be updated next.
Q: When will the Standards Alignment Toolkit for math be done?
A: We will not have the entire toolkit completed until later this year, but the new Math Guidance Document will be released at the KSDE conference, October 23rd - 25th.
Q: Is IXL free for the 2024-2025 school year?
A: Yes, IXL will be free again this school year. The future years will be determined later on this year.
Additional Opportunities from Outside KSDE
Additional Opportunities from Outside KSDE
Grow Your PLN!
Grow Your PLN!
Math Education Organization
Math Education Organization
Kansas Association of Teachers of Mathematics (KATM)
Kansas Association of Teachers of Mathematics (KATM)
KATM is an affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics whose mission is to foster engaged community to advance effective practices in teaching and learning mathematics throughout Kansas.
KATM is an affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics whose mission is to foster engaged community to advance effective practices in teaching and learning mathematics throughout Kansas.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
NCTM advocates for high-quality mathematics teaching and learning for each and every student.
NCTM advocates for high-quality mathematics teaching and learning for each and every student.
Its Strategic Framework includes Teaching and Learning, Access, Equity and Empowerment, Building Member Value, and Advocacy.
Its Strategic Framework includes Teaching and Learning, Access, Equity and Empowerment, Building Member Value, and Advocacy.
NCSM Leadership in Education
NCSM Leadership in Education
NCSM is the premiere mathematics education leadership organization. Our bold leadership in the mathematics education community develops vision, ensures support, and guarantees that all students engage in equitable, high-quality mathematical experiences that lead to powerful, flexible uses of mathematical understanding to affect their lives and to improve the world.
NCSM is the premiere mathematics education leadership organization. Our bold leadership in the mathematics education community develops vision, ensures support, and guarantees that all students engage in equitable, high-quality mathematical experiences that lead to powerful, flexible uses of mathematical understanding to affect their lives and to improve the world.
Twitter
Twitter
KSDE Teacher Leader
KSDE Teacher Leader
They are amazing tools for personalized professional learning and great communities to network with other educators and leaders. Check out @KSDETCHRLEADERS and @KATMWebmaster on twitter and Kansas Association of Teachers of Mathematics on Facebook. #KSMath
Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics
Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics
Want to network with other math educators and leaders about Building Thinking Classrooms? Follow Dr. Peter Liljedahl, the author of BTC in mathematics, and you'll find tons of math educators and leaders to collaborate with.
Another great BTC resource is the BTC Facebook page where teachers share tips, ideas, success stories, and ways to address some challenges and struggles.
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