ImagineIT Update Feb 15, 2016
My ImagineIt project is to create a professional learning community in my math department where STEM becomes the focus of our classrooms. STEM is definitely about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. But, it is even more about productive struggle where students need to problem solve, in the moment, by themselves and with others. The idea of productive struggle is the same as the Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice 1 which is about making sense of problems and persevering in solving them. Perseverance and productive struggle will be the topic for our first philosophical discussion about math teaching and learning with my PLC. The school purchased Jo Boaler's new book: Mathematical Mindsets. Unleashing Students' Potential Through Creative Math, Inspiring Messages and Innovative Teaching. I will pass them out next week and ask teachers to read chapter 2. This will be interesting to see how the discussion goes and whether or not my PLC is really invested in the process. In addition, this week I will be distributing a survey to my PLC about our progress this year. I will be using a Google Form to compile responses. I have also joined a Leading with Algebra PLC with DePaul and the CPS Office of Math to look at the PLC process through another lens.