Math Curriculum @ CMS

The Carroll Middle School Math Curriculum Team (teachers from grades 6-8), made up of four core math teachers (Renee Friedrichsen, Renee Rowedder, Todd Tidgren, and Kaitlynn Kaufman) and three special education math teachers (Cinnamon Wulf, Jesse Strong, and Ashlee Pudenz), have met several times and will continue to meet this school year to address the math curriculum at CMS.

This work is part of CMS updating its curriculum cycle to address specific subject areas so that teachers have an opportunity to collaborate with co-workers to address resources and instruction, including looking at new math strategies to implement and digging deeper into the Iowa Core.  Over the next five years, each content area will be reviewed.

   

One of the content areas CMS is currently addressing is the content area of math.  Math has experienced some shifts, which have been addressed in the Iowa Core in the last several years.  These shifts include Focus, Coherence, and Rigor.  

1. Focus:  Rather than covering topics a mile-wide, inch deep, there is a focus to significantly narrow and deepen teaching; Focus on the major work of each grade
2. Coherence:  Build upon learning from grade to grade so students make connections from previous grades; link the major topics within grades
3. Rigor:  Emphasize conceptual understanding of key concepts; acquire procedural skills and fluency; flexibly apply knowledge in problem-solving contexts

How math is taught in today’s classrooms looks different from how it was taught five to ten years ago and beyond.  Many math classrooms have taken steps to include more effective questioning as to the “Why” behind the answer rather than “What” is the answer.  The process in finding an answer is just as important, and perhaps more important, as to coming up with the correct answer.  There is also more emphasis to connecting math to other math topics and content areas and not teaching math topics in isolation.  

Diane Royer, Heartland Area Education Agency Math Consultant, is assisting CMS in this process, providing professional development to the math team along the way.  

Areas of focus during the curriculum work:

1.  Address the Iowa Core

2.  Discuss the Standards for Mathematical Practices

3.  Learn and implement new math strategies

4.  Look at what we are teaching within each grade level and across grade levels

5.  Review new curriculum materials with the possibility of purchasing for the 2016-17 school year

The math team is in the early stages in the math curriculum review process as this work will continue.  Teachers will continue to meet next year, as well, on a monthly basis to work on math curriculum and instruction.  

This process will prove valuable as CMS continues to meet students’ math needs, provide more opportunity for students to think at high levels, and increase math student achievement.

CMS Student Council Food Drive

The CMS Student Council partnered with the Community of Concern Food pantry to assist in collecting items of need for the upcoming holiday season and beyond.  On Saturday, November 22nd, 13 CMS Student Council students worked from 8:00-noon at Fareway, Walgreens, and Kmart to hand out lists of items to shoppers and then collect those donated items.

We collected 16 bins of donated items and received over $350 in money donations.

Thank you to the shoppers, businesses, Community of Concern Food Pantry, and CMS student council students to help make the food drive a success.

Financial Literacy Skit

On Wednesday, November 19th, the 7th & 8th graders attended a skit called "Cash Course Learning About Earning," which was centered around the concept of Financial Literacy.  Financial Literacy is a 21st Century Skill, which is important for our students to understand as they become young adults.

The skit was interactive allowing students to participate throughout the 40-minute production.  The National Theatre for Children put on the show.

The show emphasized the following:
1.  Wages minus deductions equal take-home pay;
2.  Saving and investing have different levels of risk;
3.  Credit and debit cards have differences;
4.  Forming a savings habit is important.

Student feedback about the show was positive.  We hope the students learned some important tips that will help them as they become young adults.

STEM @ CMS

STEM, a state initiative, is an acronym that pertains to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, which are areas of study important to the Iowa Core's 21st Century Skills.  The Governor of Iowa has created a STEM Advisory Council to promote and encourage schools in Iowa to provide STEM learning opportunities to students of all ages.

Carroll Community Schools has a variety of STEM-related activities across grade levels in the district and is committed to provide these learning opportunities.  Currently, students at Carroll Middle School will be/are involved in STEM-related activities such as Multi-Media, JAVA Programming, Coding, and Robotics.  Our hope is that students develop an interest in future STEM careers because of their involvement now.

STEM provided an opportunity for teachers across the state to apply for programs to provide additional learning opportunities for students.  We had several CMS teachers complete the application process.

The following teachers were awarded grants in the following STEM programs:

1.  Mrs. Vegter, 8th grade science teacher, will receive additional teacher training and resources in KidWind, which provides experiences in alternative energy.

2.  Mr. Tidgren, 7th grade math teacher, will receive resources in A World in Motion, which provides additional learning opportunities for students in the areas of math, science, and technology.

3.  Mrs. Schulz, technology integrationist, received a grant in Hyperstream, which is a program that partners education and business, providing students with hands-on, real-world technology projects.

We look forward to continue to look at ways to incorporate STEM-related learning opportunities to encourage and promote students in a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

Financial Literacy as a 7th Grade Exploratory Class

As part of the Iowa Core (Common Core State Standards), teaching the 21st Century Skills is a requirement.  The 21st Century Skills include:  Technology Literacy, Heath Literacy, Employability Literacy, and Financial Literacy.  These skills are taught in a variety of classes throughout the middle school.

This year we had the opportunity to re-design the 7th grade Technology exploratory class that runs for 6 weeks.  We will devote this Technology class to the 21st Century Skill of Financial Literacy.  Mrs. Borchers, our Gifted and Talented teacher, will teach the exploratory class.  All 7th grade students will participate.

The following essential Concepts and/or Skills will be addressed:

1.  Learn the process of financial planning based on wants and needs;
2.  Create an effective spending plan;
3.  Recognize appropriate uses of credit;
4.  Evaluate risks to personal identity;
5.  Evaluate possible options for investing;
6.  Demonstrate ethical financial making skills.

We are excited to design a class on Financial Literacy, providing students experiences important to the 21st Century.  We know that students will enjoy the class and learn the importance of Financial Literacy as they become young adults.

Welcome Back to 2014-15 School Year

I would like to welcome back students, parents, and staff to the 2014-15 school year.  I hope every one enjoyed the summer months.  It is hard to believe that we will be back in school soon.  I am sure many of you are ready to get back to the school routine.

I wanted to bring to your attention or remind you of several dates:

Wednesday, August 13th:  Chromebook Roll Out Night at the CHS Auditorium (5th/6th:  6:30 & 7th/8th:  7:00) - 1 of 2 dates that you can attend;
Thursday, August 14th:  K-8 Open House from 4:45-7:00;
Monday, August 18th:  Chromebook Roll Out Night at the CHS Auditorium (5th/6th:  6:30 & 7th/8th:  7:00) - 2 of 2 dates that you can attend.

I also would like to inform you that I am using two social media tools to communicate to parents, students, and staff.  You can subscribe to my blog using the following link: http://cheimancarrolltigers.blogspot.com/.

You can also follow me on Twitter at the following address:  @cory_heiman

I hope you subscribe/follow me as I will do my best to communicate classroom happenings, provide updates occurring at CMS, etc.

We look forward to the upcoming school year.  Thank you for allowing us to teach your child(ren).

Looking for a Summer Activity for Your Child?

Parents/Guardian(s):

This summer the ISU Extension is offering five different hands-on, engaging camps for youth having completed 4th-7th grades that all revolve around the Governor's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) initiative in Iowa.

Cost for each camp is $20 per participant and the registration deadline is May 15 for all camps.  Registrations are on a first come, first serve basis, and they must have payment and registration in hand to hold your spot.  Click here for registration form.

Camps available are the following:
1.  Solid as a Rock--Replicating an Artifact;
2.  Cooking Up Science;
3.  The Best of Bugs--Designing Hand Pollinators;
4.  Don't Runoff--Engineering Urban Landscapes;
5.  A Work in Progress--Improving a Play Dough Process.

Please consider sending your child to one or several of these camps!