We will explore best practice as it pertains to teaching mathematics. We will also discuss standards driven instruction. The focus will be on applying skills in a new way to provide meaningful experiences for our students.

In this highly engaging, humorous, and interactive workshop, participants analyze the revised Bloom's Taxonomy to identify characteristics of higher order thinking questions. After evaluating student work samples, participants simulate cooperative learning activities across math strands with conceptual depth while celebrating diversity and differentiation.

In the book, Adding It Up, published by the National Research Council, five mathematical proficiencies have been identified which parallel the five elements of reading. In this session, the five proficiencies which include: Conceptual Understanding, Procedural Fluency, Strategic Competence, Adaptive Reasoning, and Productive Disposition will be defined and demonstrated; with participants engaging in exploring and discussing their meanings and value. Additionally participants will receive a copy of the Executive Summary entitled: Helping Children Learn Mathematics.

Number sense is critical for proficiency in mathematics at the elementary level and readiness for algebra in the future. In this session, participants will explore:

• Number sense: What is it? Why it is so important? Why do we need to start in kindergarten?
• Easy to use activities that can be implemented in any classroom.
• Use of mathematical modeling, reasoning, and justification in the development of number sense.

How do we help children develop a deep understanding of the math world they live in? This session will provide participants with the opportunity for hands-on engagement in understanding the development of mathematical concepts spanning the grade levels. These mathematical ideas will help children as they move from concrete representation in the real world to more abstract representation − while having fun! Investigate some of the pivotal phases of understanding and how the "same old math" really is changing for 21^st century learners!

The purpose of this session will be to cover in-depth the assessment related recommendations in the IES practice guide: Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics: Response to Intervention (RtI) for Elementary and Middle Schools. The presentation will provide a review of the suggested practices for schools implementing RTI screening and progress monitoring systems, potential roadblocks to implementation, and strategies to overcome common challenges.

The systems and philosophy discussed in this session can be applied to both struggling general education students and students with learning disabilities. We'll discuss how empowering students by involving them in their own data collection and analysis can equip them to become personally involved in planning and executing their own intervention. Learn how to show students to use inquiry to identify new skills and previously taught concepts necessary for mastery. Participants see how associated data can show a positive trend when the approach is applied over multiple years and throughout the system within a school. Today's classrooms offer many challenges due to the diversity of students' needs. If you face similar challenges individually, school-wide or district wide, join this session for a new perspective.

In this session, Dr. Stein will review major research findings in the area of mathematics instruction and discuss how those findings can inform instructional practice. She will provide an overview of the critical features of instructional strategies that are designed to improve the mathematics performance of academically diverse students. Finally, Dr. Stein will discuss how to use research in the development of evaluation criteria for examining and selecting evidence-based instructional curriculum materials, including intervention programs.

In this session, participants will experience unique ideas that are highly adaptable as well as fun-filled and exciting and provide access to rigor and conceptual understanding in a FUN way. Use them for warm-ups or during lessons to engage students. Presenter will share techniques to explain concepts based on mathematical underpinnings and to use practical pedagogy that will build, strengthen, and maintain math comprehension.

This session will deal with global competitiveness as it applies to students in the United States and those of other high achieving countries. It will compare the current math high school expectations and how they prepare US students for the collegiate and professional/technological standards of Mathematics. The alignment of the new Core Mathematics Standards' alignment to these expectations will be discussed.