REL Southeast Director’s Email—December, 2022

The NAEP information at the top of this REL newsletter is interesting.

View this email in your browser

REL Southeast Director’s Email

December 2022 Greetings from the REL Southeast, As we enter the final month of 2022, the effects of an almost three year-long pandemic on student performance are sharpening into focus. This October, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)—often referred to as the Nation’s Report Card—was released and provided a sobering look at average math and reading scores across the nation. We also invite you to read IES director Mark Schneider’s recent blog article which provides more context about the NAEP scores. As Director Schneider noted, these scores represent the largest declines in NAEP history. However, declines were evident before the pandemic, especially for students who were already struggling with reading and math in school. Though troubling, there was also evidence to suggest student performance is moving in the right direction as typical classroom and school practices resume. So, it is important we remain steadfast in our efforts to support student learning and achievement in school. The NAEP scores suggest that many children are in of need additional support with math, and conversations with our partners across the region agree. Therefore, this month we’d like to share several resources that educators and families can use to support math development and instruction. We hope you find these materials informative and useful, and as always, thank you for helping to improve educational outcomes for every student in our region. With gratitude, Dr. Nicole Patton Terry Director, REL Southeast Teaching Math to Young Children This What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) practice guide provides five recommendations for teaching math to children in preschool, prekindergarten, and kindergarten. Each recommendation includes implementation steps and solutions for common roadblocks. The recommendations also summarize and rate supporting evidence. This guide is geared toward teachers, administrators, and other educators who want to build a strong foundation for later math learning. Click here to explore the practice guide. REL Central videos on WWC practice guide Teaching Math to Young Children This series of REL Central videos focus on actionable strategies to increase the quality of math instruction in the early years by providing recommendations that address implementation steps and common roadblocks experienced by early learners. Dr. Douglas Clements presents these brief discussions using the five recommendations in the What Works Clearinghouse practice guide Teaching Math to Young Children. Click here to explore the videos. Teaching Math to Young Children for Families and Caregivers These family and caregiver resources and activities, organized by math topics such as counting or shapes, include research-based and easy-to-follow steps to help you support your child’s math skills during a typical day. Click here to explore the resources. Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics: Intervention in the Elementary Grades This WWC practice guide provides evidence-based practices that can help teachers tailor their instructional approaches and/or their mathematics intervention programs to meet the needs of their students. Click here to explore the practice guide. Using number lines to teach number concepts in the elementary grades This infographic, developed by the REL Southeast, presents important number principles included in the contemporary state standards for which the number line can be useful tool to build understanding. Click here to explore the infographic. Improving Mathematical Problem Solving for Students in Grades 4 Through 8 This WWC practice guide provides five recommendations for improving students’ mathematical problem solving in grades 4 through 8. This guide is geared toward teachers, math coaches, other educators, and curriculum developers who want to improve the mathematical problem solving of students. Click here to explore the practice guide. Professional Learning Community: Improving Mathematical Problem Solving for Students in Grades 4 Through 8 The REL Southeast developed this facilitator’s guide on the topic of mathematical problem solving for use in professional learning community (PLC) settings. The facilitator’s guide is a set of professional development materials designed to supplement the What Works Clearinghouse practice guide, Improving Mathematical Problem Solving in Grades 4 Through 8. Click here to explore the PLC. Click here to explore an infographic about the PLC. Using the Practice Guide to Improve Mathematical Problem Solving in Grades 4 Through 8 In this recorded webinar, REL Northeast & Islands presented an overview of the practice guide approach, including how this approach produces credible, evidence-based, and useful recommendations that can be applied in practice. Also discussed was how the practice guide can be used to guide the professional development of mathematics teachers using examples. Finally, a mathematics teacher and coach shared their experiences and discussed how educators in leadership positions can support teachers as they use these practices. Click here to watch the video. Supporting Mathematical Problem Solving at Home This REL Northeast & Islands guide helps families and caregivers carry out recommended practices described in the What Works Clearinghouse educator’s practice guide, Improving Mathematical Problem Solving in Grades 4 Through 8. Click here to explore the guide. Teaching Strategies for Improving Algebra Knowledge in Middle and High School Students This WWC practice guide provides three recommendations for teaching algebra to students in middle school and high school. Each recommendation includes implementation steps and solutions for common roadblocks. This guide is geared toward teachers, administrators, and other educators who want to improve their students’ algebra knowledge. Click here to explore the practice guide. Foundational Knowledge and Skills for Success in Algebra I This REL Central infographic presents the results from a study in which educators from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education partnered with REL Central to investigate the specific foundational knowledge and skills that are associated with achievement in Algebra I. Click here to explore the infographic. Ingredients for a Successful Algebra Program in Middle School In this recorded webinar, REL Central presenters review research on how Algebra I in a middle school is situated within a broader course sequence and teacher characteristics associated with student achievement in middle school Algebra I. Click here to watch the video. Professional Learning Models to Support Student Success in Mathematics The REL Appalachia Student Success in Mathematics partnership (SSMP) focused on supporting teachers in using evidence-based mathematics instruction in their classrooms, with goal of increasing students’ readiness for algebra I and opening doors for future high school, postsecondary, and workforce success. To support this goal, the partnership launched the Professional Learning Models for Success in Mathematics project to assist the SSMP divisions in designing and carrying out evidenced-based professional development to improve mathematics teaching and learning. Click here to explore the models.

You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website or provided your information at a REL Southeast sponsored event. Our mailing address is: REL Southeast at Florida State University 2010 Levy Avenue Suite 100 Tallahassee, FL 32310