VDOE :: Middle School Mathematics: Online Strategies for Teachers


			$Middle School Mathematics: Online Strategies for Teachers$

$photo of teacher with students$ In this set of video clips, Virginia educators demonstrate strategies and activities that can be used to teach the sixth- and seventh-grade mathematics Standards of Learning (SOL). The topics selected for these videos, though not comprehensive, represent key concepts from the sixth and seventh grade SOL.

Introduction by Dr. Patricia Wright
Superintendent of Public Instruction

(The video buttons on this page link to Flash Video files which require the Adobe Flash Player plug-in. Download the free player.)

Online Strategy Groupings
Strategies Across the Strands:	Strategies for Problem Solving, Vocabulary Development, Calculator Use and Building Organizational Skills
Computation and Estimation:	Some Best Practices for Fraction and Integer Concepts and Operations
Number and Number Sense:	Examples of Properties, Ratios, and Order of Operations Teaching Strategies
Geometry:	Angle, Similarity and Polygon Classification Best Practices
Measurement:	Exploration of Volume, Surface Area and Units of Measure
Statistics and Probability:	Engaging Activities and Questioning Techniques for Statistics
Patterns, Functions and Algebra:	A Demonstration for Creating and Extending Patterns

Strategies Across the Strands
Working with Vocabulary/Concept Development (Grades 6 & 7) Dr. Lois Williams, VDOE mathematics specialist, on the Frayer Model for vocabulary/concept development. Handout available.	Vocabulary (Grades 6 & 7) Dr. Lois Williams shares a technique to assist students who confuse common mathematics terms such as radius and diameter.
Multi-Step Problem Solving (Grades 6 & 7) Cheryl Gray, Spotsylvania County Schools middle school mathematics specialist, on how to approach multi-step problems with data presented in a table. Handout available.	Notebooks for Organization (Grades 6-8) Dr. Lois Williams explains an organizational system for middle school mathematics classes. Added 10/04/07
Scientific Calculator Use (Grades 6-8) Dr. Lois Williams explains the use of scientific calculators in Virginia middle schools. Added 10/04/07 Handout available.
Computation and Estimation
Fraction Concepts (Grades 6 & 7) Dr. Ena Gross, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) professor of mathematics education, on the prerequisites students need for fraction computation.	Fraction Computation (Grade 6) Dr. Ena Gross on one method sixth graders can use to approach multiple-choice fraction computation problems.
Integer Models, Part I (Grade 7) Theresa Wills shares five different models for integer operations. Added 10/04/07	Integer Models, Part II (Grade 7) Theresa Wills demonstrates the uses of five integer models for instruction. Added 10/04/07
Number and Number Sense
Ratios (Grade 6) Denika Gum, Albemarle County Public Schools sixth-grade mathematics teacher, uses manipulatives to help sixth-grade students grasp the concept of ratio.	Rules for Order of Operations (Grade 7) Dr. Lois Williams shares an activity to get students to use writing in mathematics to remember the rules for the order of operations. Handout available.
Properties, Part I (Grade 7) Noel Klimenko, mathematics specialist with Fairfax County Public Schools, describes instructional steps leading to the understanding of properties. Added 10/04/07	Properties, Part II (Grade 7) Noel Klimenko demonstrates the instructional steps leading to understanding of properties. Added 10/04/07
Geometry
Angles (Grade 6) Dr. Margie Mason from The College of William and Mary, demonstrates strategies to develop concepts related to angles. Added 10/04/07	Properties of Polygons (Grade 7) Dr. Margie Mason offers models for helping students compare and contrast classes of quadrilaterals. Added 10/04/07
Similarity (Grade 7) Debi Godfrey, teacher in Henrico County, explores strategies for determining similarity. Added 10/04/07
Measurement
Converting Units (Grade 6) Dena McElligott, Virginia Middle School Mathematics Teacher Corps member in Virginia Beach Public Schools, shares a problem-solving strategy for converting units. Handout available.	Liquid Measure (Grade 6) Dena McElligott demonstrates a manipulative that helps students see the relationships among the customary units of liquid measure.
Measurement in Square Units (Grade 6) Dr. Lois Williams offers a hands-on strategy to help students understand and convert square units. Added 10/04/07	Units of Measure (Grades 6 & 7) Karen Cribbs models a visual approach to the concepts of linear, square and cubic units.
Volume and Surface Area (Grade 7) Karen Cribbs, Hanover County Public School secondary mathematics specialist, demonstrates a hands-on introduction to volume and surface area.
Statistics and Probability
Box and Whisker Plots (Grades 6 & 7) Brian Domroes, Spotsylvania County Schools middle school mathematics specialist, on techniques for engaging students with box and whisker plots.	Statistics (Grades 6 & 7) Brian Domroes provides analysis-level questions for statistics.
Calculators and Statistics (Grades 6 & 7) Eurice Dawley, of Norfolk City Public Schools demonstrates a lesson on mean and the scientific calculator. Added 10/04/07
Patterns, Functions and Algebra
Extending Patterns (Grades 6 & 7) Denise Walston, Norfolk Public Schools senior mathematics coordinator, presents an example for extending patterns. Handouts available.