Summary of the Pop-up PD on Estimation
Estimation
Pop-Up PD
Did you know that there are Pop-Up PD events hosted monthly by Region 4 Director May Vang? I attended the first Pop-Up PD session that was facilitated by Laura Wagenman. Laura’s PD focused on the power of using estimation in the real world and engaging students in building number sense and critical thinking skills. Estimation gives students of all abilities an entry point when asked “What do you notice?” and “What do you wonder?” In doing this, students are able to help build their number sense using a variety of strategies. Below are a few of the strategies I have taken away to use in my own classroom.
Estimation 180 is a pre-made series of real-world estimations maintained by Andrew Stadel.
This site offers everyday objects with estimations. We examined the “Cheeseballs” lesson, in which you guess how many cheeseballs can fit in the pan. As a class you are able to determine reasonable estimates that are too low, and too high, and an actual estimate. Laura used the concept of a “brave estimate” to challenge us to produce estimates that are just too low, and just to high, versus saying 1 cheeseball is too low and a million cheeseballs are too high. You could also use the sentence stem of “I think __ is unreasonable because ___.” Laura uses this chart for her students individually, but it could also be done as a class. There are countless discussion points that arise as you go through the estimation process and then show the video. These are high interest and engaging activities/videos that spur conversation that help students build number sense.
Math “Wall of Shame”
One idea that I am going to implement into my classroom is the math wall of shame. Using estimation skills, students notice and wonder about math in the real world. Whenever advertisements don’t “add up” and something seems wrong, it can go on the wall. Look at the pictures here, and see if you can notice or wonder about them. Students can take pictures and bring them to the wall, or you can add them to a wall in the room to promote some great math conversations! Read more about a “Math Wall of Shame”, by Sara VanDerWerf here.
Real World Experiments
Dan Meyer is a teacher who reinvented math curriculum by using real-world examples. He has a well known Ted-Talk and advocates for real-world experiences for math. Here is a spreadsheet of his that has a multitude of his questions in “Three Acts” of the real-world that involve estimation and reasoning skills. Many of these are of high interest to students and will engage students of all abilities.
This was a great way to spend 1 hour of my time learning new strategies to take back immediately to my classroom.
Add the next one to your Calendar!
November 13th – Leveling Up Your Graphing Calculator Skills With Desmos, May Vang and Jess Breur at the Shoreview Library in Shoreview, MN from 4:30 p.m – 6:00 p.m. Come alone or bring a friend, it is great to learn in community.
Pop Up PD: Laura Wagenman
Topic: Estimation
Date: 9/20/18
Location: Ramsey County Library – Shoreview
Written by Kevin Jachymowski
Mounds View School District
Turtle Lake Elementary
5th Grade Teacher