New Bedford Public Schools

Department of Mathematics

 

 

 

Administration

  •  Mr. Dennis Winn - Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction
  • Mrs. Aileen Mack - Director of Mathematics
  • Mrs. Beth Doherty - Math Support Specialist
 

 

 

Online Teacher Resources

 

MA Department of Education

*Special Opportunity* Free ALEKS Mathematics Subscription for Study Participants Preparing for the Mathematics MTEL Tests

Free ALEKS Mathematics Subscription to Help Study Participants Prepare for the Mathematics MTEL

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is continuing a pilot study to examine the potential benefits to teachers and teacher candidates of using a web-based tutorial program to prepare for the Elementary (#53) or Middle School (#47) Mathematics MTEL. The following test dates are included in this pilot: November 22, 2008 or March 7, May 9 or July 11, 2009. Study participants will receive a free subscription for up to three months to Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces (http://www.aleks.com/) software, a web-based assessment and learning system.

After an initial adaptive diagnostic assessment, ALEKS will provide each participant with a summary report that can guide the participant's use of the learning mode tutorial where the program provides detailed explanations, opportunities for practice, and tracks the mastery of concepts and skills. Please note that although the ALEKS system addresses some of the same content as the MTEL mathematics tests, it is not specifically designed for or aligned with the MTEL mathematics test objectives or test items.

Participants in the study will be asked to use ALEKS for a minimum of 10 hours, complete three surveys to document their experience, and register for and take the #53 or #47 Mathematics MTEL. Although participants' MTEL and ALEKS results will be used as part of the study, data will be kept in strict confidentiality. No information that could be used to identify participants or their schools will be published in the study. For more information or to sign up for the study, please contact Emily Hamilton at ehamilton@doe.mass.edu or (781) 338-3541.

 

 

Professional Resources

  • NCTM: Curriculum Focal Points

  • NCTM: Curriculum Focal Points PrK-8 Documents (The pdf document is a large download! To download, right mouse click on the link and choose "Save Target As." Don't forget to remember where you are saving the file to on the computer so you can find it easily later.)

  • Instructional Strategies for Math - Explanation and examples are provided on mnemonic instruction; peer tutoring; Direct/Explicit Instruction; Strategy/Implicit Instruction; Graphic Organizers and more.

  • Mathedology - Collection of 42 multimedia professional development modules, including actual classroom video episodes, to help kindergarten through 12th grade teachers master basic mathematical concepts. Funded by the National Science Foundation to improve the mathematical discourse abilities of elementary teachers, with added emphasis on those who teach Hispanic students of limited English proficiency.


 

New Bedford Public Schools

 

 
Math Coaches Corner

 

 

 

Textbook Connections

 

  Real Math   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Technology Connections

Math, Technology, & Differentiation

 

Math Vocabulary Sites

 

Miscellaneous

Using Mnemonic Instruction to Teach Math-An article on 3 basic strategies designed to help students improve their memory of new information. Mnemonics instruction links new information to prior knowledge through the use of visual and/or acoustic cues. These strategies have been proven effective with students at a wide range of ability levels and at all grade levels.
  • Math Tools - Library of technology tools, lessons, activities, and support materials for teaching and learning mathematics
  • eMints: eThemes (Click on M for all math related topics; also available by grade!)
  • Middle School Math LINKS  (16 Online Video Professional Development lessons including one on integrating graphing calculators. Each video segment loads slowly.)
  • The Futures Channel- Explore "Teacher and Learning" video clips (Algebra in the Real World, Hands-on Math, Kay Toliver, Problem Solving, plus more!)
  • Teacher Tube: Math Channel - Like the popular YouTube, Teacher Tube provides video content created by fellow educators. Video quality varies.
 

Tools

  • GCalc - Free Online Graphing Calculator
  • Interactivate (Shodor) Online Math Tools
  • Rapid Pi - A favorite of Math teachers at NBHS this add-on for Microsoft Word (and other word processors) will transform the way you enter mathematical formulae, equations and expressions into documents. This is not a free program. It is only listed on this page because it is a popular application of our high school teachers.
  • National Library of Virtual Manipulatives - Spinners, Clocks, Graphing Tools, etc.
  • Dave's Math Tables - Reference Sheets
  • GeoGebra-a free and multi-platform dynamic mathematics software for schools that joins geometry, algebra and calculus.
 
Family Math Resources
 
Activities
 
Math Night Ideas
 
 

 

Sites to Use With Elementary Students  

Numbers:Whole Numbers
Numbers:Fractions, decimals and percentages
Numbers:Measures, Shapes, and Space (Uses the Metric System)
Numbers:Handling Data (Graphing, Probability, Mean, Median, and Mode)
 
 
 

 

Sites to Use With Middle School Students

 

Celebrate Pi Day

Scholastic's: Internet Field Trip-Celebrate Pi Day

Education World: Plan a Pi Day Party for March 14

 

 

 

Sites to Use With High School Students

 

 

 

 

Cynthia Tougas, Director of Instructional Technology
New Bedford Public Schools
ctougas@newbedford.k12.ma.us
Last Updated: September 22, 2008