New Calculator Directives on NJASK 3

Volume XXXV, Number 3
Inside this issue:
Calendar of Events.. page 2
President’s Message.. page 2
AMTNJ Conf 2009... page 3
Max Sobel Winner.... page 5
Student Exhibits........ page 5
PAEMST Awards....... page 7
Scholarship Program page 8
Tips for New
Teachers................. page 11
Back Page Problem.. page 12
Winter 2009
New Calculator Directives
on NJASK 3 - 8
In a letter dated September 24,
2009, Lucille E. Davy, Commissioner
of Education, announced changes
for the students’ use of calculators
on NJASK for 2010. The Short
Constructed Response (SCR) section
of NJASK grades 3 through 8 will be
noncalculator active for all students
including students with disabilities.
Calculators will be permitted on only
one part of the grades 3-4 test and
on three parts of the grades 5-8 test.
This is a change from the 2009 policy,
which allowed calculators on all parts
of the grades 7-8.
The letter also gives a detailed outline
for special education modifications
for 2010.
Commissioner Davy writes:
“Previously, our assessments have
allowed the use of calculators in
most parts of the tests. One result,
however, of allowing the extensive
use of calculators on the grades 3 and
4 mathematics test is that this practice
has obscured our ability to measure
with confidence students’ grasp of
continued on page 9
NJ’s Fourth and Eighth Graders
Among Nation’s Leaders in Math
Massachusetts and Minnesota scored
Fourth grade scores surpass
better on the eighth grade test. New
national average by eight points; Jersey fourth graders continue to score
higher on the NAEP math test than
Eighth grade scores surpass
national average by eleven points students in all but three other states, the
Andover Regional Middle
School (grades 6-8) math
teachers Wendy Patchin, Debbie
Willemsen and Louise Lang
carry their ‘bags of stuff’ as
they leave the conference on
Friday. “This is how we look
after two days of workshops!”
Governor Jon S. Corzine and
Education Commissioner Lucille
Davy announced that scores for New
Jersey eighth graders on the 2009
NAEP (National Assessment for
Educational Progress) mathematics
test are among the best in the country
and have improved significantly since
2007.
According to The Nation’s Report
Card: Mathematics, 2009 issued by
the National Center for Education
Statistics (NCES), only students from
report noted. The average math score
of fourth graders in New Jersey was
247, while the average score for public
school students across the nation was
239. Corzine states, “The average
scale score for the grade eight students
at 293 is four points higher that it was
in 2007 and eleven points higher than
the national average of 282.” “We have a responsibility to prepare our
students to succeed in the competitive
world economy of the 21st century,”
said Education Commissioner Lucille
continued on page 11
AMTNJ News/Volume XXXV, Number 3 / Page 2 of 12
Association
Of
Mathematics
Teachers of
New Jersey
President
Doug Smith
President-Elect
Connie Kelley
1st Vice President
Cresenda Jones
2nd Vice President
Dianna Sopala
3rd Vice President
Anthony Trongone
Recording Secretary
William Scarpitta
Co-Treasurers
Eileen Egan
Mary Lou Lucas
Past President
John Hammett III
Newsletter
Co-Editors
Carmen Archetto
[email protected]
Jeanne Maskell
[email protected]
AMTNJ wants its
newsletter to be fair and
correct in every way. If
you have a question
or comment about any
information in this
newsletter contact either of
the co-editors.
Future Looks Bright
President’s Message
by Doug Smith They are also the ones who took over for
Goodbye and Thanks!
me while I was dealing with the death
Time goes by so of my father earlier this year. To all of
quickly. It seems them, thank you for all the work you do. I
like yesterday when consider all of you not just my colleagues,
I first became AMTNJ’s president, and now but also my friends.
Despite obstacles, our future looks
I’m writing my last message. It has been
my pleasure to be a part of a wonderful bright. December’s Special Education
organization, one whose purpose, to help Conference, run by Joan Vas and Deby
mathematics teachers teach mathematics, Ives, promises to be better than last
has not waivered despite new state year’s, if that is at all possible. Our
regulations, new state standards, and February conference, run by Anthony
even newer state standards. I am proud Trongone, looks fantastic. Of course,
of everyone – too numerous to mention our Outreach Program, run by Barbara
them all – who have persevered to bring VanDenberg, is growing and has been
you the best professional development well received wherever it takes place.
possible for you to teach by the people Our WebEx sessions, headed by Mary
Mitchell and Linda Treilman, are moving
who truly know – teachers themselves.
I do have to take this opportunity to along splendidly, offering professional
thank a few people for their help and development delivered right to your
support. First, my wife, Merril, and my computer screen.
Combine this with button contests,
daughters, Megan and Sheryl, who have
put up with my many meetings and my scholarships for future mathematics
many nights away for these past 6 years teachers, job fairs, NJEA speakers,
journals,
and
other
on the ladder. To them, thank you for newsletters,
being supportive. I couldn’t have done it conferences, the future of AMTNJ
continues to change and adapt. Yet it still
without you.
Secondly, I’d like to personally thank offers the information, methodology, and
all the members of our Executive use of technology that is necessary to
Council. They are the ones who make raise the level of teaching mathematics
our organization work behind the scenes. throughout New Jersey.
AMTNJ Calendar of Events
December 11 Integrating TI Technology
into Alg I and II Conference
February 23 Where are we going
in Math Education? Conference
Middlesex County College
March Job Fair
TBA
March 30
Scholarship Application due
April 21-24
NCTM Regional May 4 17th Annual Button Contest Due
Jamesburg
San Diego, CA
AMTNJ News/Volume XXXV, Number 3 / Page 3 of 12
AMTNJ Annual Two Day Conference
A Maximum Success!
Over 700 educators attended AMTNJ’s 21st
Annual Two-Day Conference on October 15
and 16, 2009 in Somerset, NJ. The Theme
of this year’s conference was “Maximizing
Every Student’s Potential.”
More than 135 sessions at the conference
emphasized different strands such as:
Assessment, Differentiated Instruction,
working with English Language Learners,
Interactive Whiteboard, Calculators and
Computer Technology. Keynote speakers
at the breakfast, luncheon and dinner
functions demonstrated new tools such as
Above: Debra Gretina, Math Supervisor of West
Milford, Dr. Makota Yashida, A Member-At-Large
and Professor at William Paterson and Research
Specialist in Lesson Study and presentser Patsy
Wang-Iverson.
Above: NCTM Past President, Gail Burrell (right) presented the Opening
Keynote Session on Wednesday night entitled: Making Sense of Mathematics:
The Answer is the Question. This free session was simultaneously presented to
AMTNJ members at home via our new WebPD format. Pictured with Dr. Burrell,
AMTNJ 2nd Vice President Dianna Sopala.
online programs, online professional development (Webinars), cell
phones, ipods, calculators and other technologies that will help
every student be successful. National speakers such as NCTM Past
President, Gail Burrell as well as speakers from the NJ Department
of Education addressed current issues in our state including Math
Standards, NJASK, HSPA, State Assessments and End-of-Course
Assessments.
Mark your calendar now and plan to attend the October 2010
Two-Day Conference in Somerset. More than ever before, AMTNJ
conferences keep teachers up to date with issues in mathematics
education!
AMTNJ WebPD
WebPD is a two hour session of your
favoratie topic viewed from school or
home! The sessions are all after school.
Below is a small sample of some of the
WebPD’s that are being offered this year.
View the website for the entire listing.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Making Use of a SMART™ Board
Discovering Mathematics with TINspire™
Discovering MS Math with the TI-73
Strategies for Preparing for NJASK 3-5
Elementary Math Using the TI-34
Geometer’s Sketchpad
AMTNJ News/Volume XXXV, Number 3 / Page 4 of 12
“This conference was a lot more interesting than I
thought it would be! It is an amazing experience for new
teachers. We had to ‘divide and conquer’ because there
was so much to see. The fraction tiles were so cool!”
Students from Stockton University.
Rowan students and future Math teachers, Sarah Tarbell and Samantha Myers, assist at
the Hospitality Table. All valued the experiences of the conference.
Top: Mary Lou Kandigian of the Academy
for Information, Scotch Plains, was a
“first time” volunteer workshop host.
Above: Presenters Janet Caldwell and
Dr. Stephen Krulik. Far Right: Neil
Cooperman , incoming AMTNJ 3rd Vice
President. Right: Nancy Schultz, Math
Specialist and Marlene Krupp, Math
Supervisor at Lyndhurst attending an
Algebra I session with Michel Luke, Math
Specialist at the Department of Education.
AMTNJ News/Volume XXXV, Number 3 / Page 5 of 12
2009 Max Sobel Award
Dr. John Hammet III, past president of AMTNJ presents Dr. Eric Milou, past
president of AMTNJ, the most prestigious AMTNJ award, The Max Sobel
Award.
Congratulations
Dr. Eric Milou!
The 2009 recipient of the Max Sobel
Award, for distinguished service as a New
Jersey Mathematics Educator, is Dr. Eric
Milou, Professor of Mathematics at Rowan
University, where he teaches undergraduate
and graduate courses in mathematics and
mathematics education. Dr. Milou, a Past
President of the Association, has served
AMTNJ and NCTM with distinction
for a number of years. Most recently,
he has been deeply involved with the
controversial statewide discussions on
mathematics standards, and continues to
keep the Association and its officers updated
regularly about progress in the matter. He
was the Program Chairperson for the 2007
NCTM National Meeting. Dr. Milou is the
author of multiple publications. He earned
his bachelor’s degree from Franklin and
Marshall College, his master’s degree from
West Chester University, and his doctoral
degree from Temple University, where
he studied with the esteemed Drs. Steve
Krulick and Jesse Rudnick. Dr. Milou’s
parents, as well as his lovely wife, Karyn,
and his three beautiful children, Austin,
Jordan and Dakota, were present when
he received this well-earned honor at the
Two-Day Conference in Somerset this past
October. Congratulations again to Dr. Eric
Milou.
Left: A group of preservice elementary school
teachers from Richard Stockton College of NJ
took a moment to discuss their day of volunteering with their professor Norma Boakes
who served as this year’s Chair of Student
Volunteers. A total of 60 student volunteers
from nearby colleges assisted our association
with the conference including 30 from Richard Stockton College. Pictured from left to
right: Lauren Murray, Shannon Lallier, Norma
Boakes (background), Heather Ross, & Kristin
Kind.
AMTNJ News/Volume XXXV, Number 3 / Page 6 of 12
AMTNJ Announces the 2009
Student Exhibit Winners
The Association of Mathematics Teachers of New Jersey is
pleased to announce the winners of the 2009 Student Exhibit
Competition. First Place winners receive a $500 Savings Bond,
Second Place winners receive a $300 Bond, while third-place
winners receive $150 Savings Bonds. All participants receive
a certificate. Sponsoring teachers receive a free membership for
AMTNJ. Information about the competition and entry forms are
available at amtnj.org
2009 Student Exhibit Winners
Grades PreK-2
First Place
Nyasia Nettles
Shapes are all Around Us
Mildred Barry Garvin
Elementary School
East Orange, NJ
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
First Place
Dustin Cheung
Enviro Lab
Warren Hills Middle School
Washington, NJ
Top Left: Tie for First Place in the grades 9-12 division,
Daniela Jaramillo, Marly Relato, Akhil Saji with “Magic
Squares” from Bergenfield HS. Above: First Place winner in the PreK-2 level, Nyasia Nettles with “Shapes Are
All Around Us” from Mildred Barry Garvin Elementary
School. Far Left: Second place wnners in the grades
9-12 division, Valerie Lualhati, Regine Reyes, Andrew
Wang with their project of Exponential Growth from
Bergenfield HS. Left: First Place winner for grades 6-8,
Dustin Cheung “Enviro Lab” from Warren Hills Middle
School.
Second Place
Alexander Fethes
Second Place (Tie)
50 fantastic Fungi
Oradell Public Schools Justin Westley, Mark Szewczuk,
Victoria Stabile
Oradell, NJ
Kasey DiSessa & Sarah Wilchuck
Tessellation
Mansfield Township Elementary
First Place
Second Place
School, Port Murray, NJ
Jaleel Chadwick
Jaidalyn Abreu
Lauren Janowski, Jonathan Soares
Dancing with the Polygons Terrific Tessellations
Protractor Construction
Mildred Barry Garvin
Mildred Barry Garvin Mansfield Township Elementary
Elementary School ,East
Elementary School
School, Port Murray, NJ
Orange, NJ
East Orange, NJ
Grades 9-12
First Place ( Tie)
Alison Bick
Evaluation of a Cell Phone
as aNovel Water Quality
Testing Apparatus
Milburn High School
Milburn, NJ Second place:
Valerie Lualhati, Regine Reyes
Andrew Wang
Exponential Growth
Bergenfield High School
Bergenfield, NJ
Third Place
Catherine Connolly
Analysis of HSPA Test Scores
Bergen County Vocational
School
Bergen County, NJ
Daniela Jaramillo, Marly
Relato, Akhil Saji
Magic Squares
Bergenfield High School
Bergenfield, NJ
Post Secondary
Akhil Mathew
Deligne Categories and Representation Theory in Complex Rank
Madison High School, Madison, NJ
AMTNJ News/Volume XXXV, Number 3 / Page 7 of 12
The 2008 Mathematics and
Science Awards were presented
to Kim Mueller and Susan Poage
Two New Jersey Educators
Receive Presidential Awards
Two New Jersey elementary school teachers
have been selected as national winners of the 2008
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics
and Science Teaching (PAEMST).The educators
are Dr. Kimberly Mueller, a mathematics teacher
at Florence L. Walther School in Lumberton
(Burlington County), and Susan Poage, a science
teacher at Hamilton Terrace Elementary School in
Berkeley Heights (Union County).
“These teachers bring their distinctive talents
and love of their profession to the classroom
every day, enriching the academic experience of
their students,” said Commissioner of Education
Lucille E. Davy. “Their accomplishments define
them as model educators for their peers and
students in New Jersey and throughout the nation.”
Dr. Mueller has taught at Walther School for
the past thirteen years and currently teaches
kindergarten. She earned her Bachelor’s degree
at Beaver College and received the first doctorate
in Educational Leadership awarded by Saint
Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA. Her
innovative methods of teaching mathematics to
young children have been recognized by the New
Jersey Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development and have been cited by DOE as a
“Best Practice.”
Dr. Kimberly Mueller (right), a mathematics teacher at Florence L. Walther School
in Lumberton (Burlington County), and Susan Poage, a science teacher at Hamilton
Terrace Elementary School in Berkeley Heights (Union County) have been selected
as national winners of the 2008 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics
and Science Teaching (PAEMST).
Science Foundation (NSF), is the US
government’s most prestigious public
award for teachers of mathematics and
Susan Poage has taught kindergarten in Berkeley science. In alternate years, the program
Heights since 2001. She received a Master of Arts honors teachers in grades K-6 and 7-12. in Early Childhood Education with Distinction
from Kean University in 2007. In her application,
she wrote that she is “committed to providing
meaningful, hands-on experiences for the students”
and wrote and secured two grants to build an
outdoor classroom.
Candidates must have taught science or
mathematics for at least five years.
For more information about awards
in education, visit the DOE Web-site:
http://www.nj.gov/education/clear/
New Jersey’s third 2008 state finalist is Cecily
Gottling, a Suffern, New York resident and full
time math improvement teacher at the George
Washington Elementary School in Mahwah
(Bergen County).
Teachers are selected for the Presidential Awards
program based on their teaching performance,
background and experience and participation in
activities both in and out of school that relate to their
roles as teachers. Applicants must demonstrate
how their teaching enables students to better learn
concepts in mathematics and science.
The PAEMST program, established in 1983 by
the White House and administered by the National
Jeanne Maskell, co-editor of the AMTNJ newsletter posing with the AMTNJ
newsletter display at NJEA convention.
AMTNJ News/Volume XXXV, Number 3 / Page 8 of 12
Outstanding Year for the
AMTNJ Scholarship Program
by Joan J. Vas, AMTNJ Scholarship Chairperson
The Association of Mathematics
Teachers of New Jersey, through
their
Renewal
Scholarship
Program, awarded six $1,000
scholarships to previous awardees
for the 2009-2010 school year.
These awardees intend to pursue a
career in mathematics education.
Over the past thirteen years that
the program has been in operation,
to date, forty two students have
received the initial scholarship
with renewal opportunities for
the next three years. This years’
renewal awardees along with
their schools and initial year of
the award are listed to the right.
Congratulations to our
2006
Christina Wilps
The College of NJ
Christopher Mango
Rutgers University
2007
Samantha Braidi
Rochester Institute of Tech
Alissa Gallo
Rowan University
2008
Sarah A. Lovelan
Villanova University
Elena Rongone
The College of NJ
NCTM Appoints
Committee Chairs for
2011 Regional Meeting
NCTM has recently announced appointments for chairs
for the October 2011 NCTM regional meeting which will
be held in Atlantic City.
John Hammett has been appointed as Program Chair for
Atlantic City, and Nadine Williams has been appointed
Local Arrangements Chair.
AMTNJ joins NCTM in thanking John and Nadine for
taking on these important roles.
President Doug Smith, thanks Joan Vas for all
of her contributions to AMTNJ and mathematics
education
awardees!! Thank you to all of our
nominating teachers for taking the time
to identify these outstanding candidates.
Each of them is in either their sophomore,
junior or senior year of school.
The funds distributed for both new
and renewal scholarships comes from
membership contributions and the
annual budget for AMTNJ. The renewal
scholarship program operates mostly
from contributions.
AMTNJ’s continued support of aspiring
mathematics teachers is second to none.
No other professional organization has
as extensive a Scholarship Program as
AMTNJ. During the 2009-2010 school
year AMTNJ will continue to offer
opportunities for scholarships to our
graduating high school seniors.
AMTNJ would like to thank all of
you for your generosity in support of
this program. Contributions can be sent
to AMTNJ, P. O. Box 7, Glassboro, NJ
08028. Checks should be made payable
to “AMTNJ Scholarship Program.”
AMTNJ News/Volume XXXV, Number 3 / Page 9 of 12
New Calculator Policy
continued on page 4
foundational math skills in mathematics operations.
As students develop mathematical proficiency through
the grade levels, fluency continues to be important
as additional emphasis is placed on problem solving
and mathematical applications. … It remains our
expectation that calculators will continue to be used
appropriately in mathematics classroom instruction as
required by CCCS and in support of the development
of mathematical proficiency. The test booklets will be
plainly marked to indicate where calculators may or
may not be used, and these guidelines will be reflected
in our training and ancillary materials as well.”
The calculator use policy for the High School
Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) remains unchanged.
The complete letter can be found on our website:
http://www.amtnj.org
NJ ASK 3 - 8 2010 TEST DESIGN
1
2
11MC,
19 min.
3
8 MC, 1 ECR,
24 min.
4
8 MC, 1 ECR,
20 min.
2
Calculator Active
5
8 MC, 1 ECR,
24 min.
6
8 MC, 1 ECR,
24 min.
GRADE
5
10 SCRs,
20min.
13MC,
1ECR,
30 min.
5 MC, 1
ECR,
18 min.
10 MC, 1
ECR,
25 min.
10 MC, 1
ECR, 25
min.
5 MC, 1
ECR, 18
min.
Time allotments
SCR- 2minutes, MC-1.5 minutes, ECR- 10 minutes
Grade 3 and 4
Day One: 63 min, Day Two: 68 min
Grade 5
Day One: 68 min, Day Two: 68 min
Grade 6 and 7
Day One-64 minutes, Day Two-69 min
Grade 8
One Day Only: 133 min
(total testing time increases by 5 minutes )
Part
Non Calculator Active Caculator Active
1
PART
Not Calculator
Active
GRADE GRADE
3
4
8 SCRs,
20 min.
DAY
1
Grade 6
Grade 7
10 SCR
Grade 8
20 Minutes
2
8 MC, 1 ECR, 22Minutes
3
8 MC, 1 ECR, 22Minutes
4
10 MC, 1 ECR, 25Minutes
5
10 MC, 1 ECR, 25Minutes
6
6 MC, 1 ECR, 19 Minutes
KEY
MC- multiple choice,
SCR- short onstructed response,
ECR- extended constructed response.
Test design changes:
• 2 more SCR items at grade 6
• 3 less MC items at all grades to offset
additional ECR item
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AMTNJ News/Volume XXXV, Number 3 / Page 11 of 12
NJ’s Fourth and Eighth
Graders Among Nation’s
Leaders in Math
continued from page 1
E. Davy. “The NAEP tests are the only exams that
allow national state-to-state comparisons, and it’s clear
that New Jersey students are responding to our school
districts’ focus on math and science.”
Commissioner Davy noted that New Jersey students
with disabilities showed particular improvement
on the eighth grade math test; the average score for
those students increased from 251 in 2007 to 259 in
2009. The national average grade eight math score for
students with disabilities was 249 in 2009.
The NAEP tests in various subjects – including
math, reading, writing and science – are administered
nationally on a rotating basis to a representative sample
of fourth and eighth grade public students in the 50
states, the District of Columbia and the Department of
Defense schools.
This year, 168,800 fourth graders and 161,700 eighth
grade students across the country took the math test. The NAEP math score scale ranges from 0 to 500.
“...scores for New Jersey eighth
graders on the 2009 NAEP
mathematics test are among the best
in the country and have improved
significantly since 2007....”
New Jersey students have a history of strong
performances on the NAEP tests. In the 2007 test,
New Jersey eighth graders were the best writers in the
nation for their grade level, and fourth graders trailed
only Massachusetts in reading scores.
An NCES report issued in July indicated that New
Jersey has made significant gains in closing the
achievement gap between white and black students
in fourth grade reading from 1994 to 2007; the gap
dropped from 40 points in 1994 to 33 points in 2005,
and to 26 points in 2007. The report card can be viewed
at http://www.nationsreportcard.gov/.
Tips for New
Teachers
Do you have a favorite idea or classroom strategy
to share with a new mathematics teacher? Send
us a short paragraph and (if possible) a picture
of you using the strategy in the classroom. Send
your name, school address, and email to James
Clayton, Ed. D., St. Peter’s College, Jersey City,
NJ. [email protected]
AMTNJ will publish the best ideas in upcoming
editions of the Newsletter. Please let us know if
we may publish your contact information.
Here’s a sample from my own bag of tricks.
We teachers, both novice and veteran alike,
tend to assume that we utilize questioning
expertly. Sometimes it takes an observer to
remind us to allow “wait time.” Don’t call on
an individual student immediately before or
immediately after asking a question. The other
students tend to sit back and become passive.
Also, to be sure that everyone is engaged, ask
other students to react to each other’s reply.
--Jim Clayton, St. Peter’s College, Jersey City.
Host a Workshop
at your school
Upcoming Dates for the Outreach Program.
For more sessions, visit amtnj.org or host your own!
Jan 12th- Simulations and Probability
Location: Ridgewood High School
Presenter: Angelo DeMattia
Feb 9th Connecting Representations Using
Graphing Technology
Location: Ridgewood High School
Presenter: Dan Ilari
Feb. 13 NJASK gr 3-5 and 6-8
Location: Rutherford
Back Page Problem Contest
A winner will be randomly selected from all
AMTNJ members who submit a correct entry
before January 8.  The winner will receive free
registration to the AMTNJ Regional Conference
October 10. Send in your name, school address,
email, and the answers to: Dr. Bruce Bukiet
Associate Professor of Mathematical Sciences
New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ
07102 or e-mail: [email protected].
Congratulations
to the winner to the June contest,
Rodrigo Lipon from Hackensack.
Solution to the June 2009 Contest
The King’s New Son-in-Law
Visit us at:
www.amtnj.org
Sit in 33rd seat. Pattern for 3 seats sit in seat
3 then at next step double and subtract 1.
Seats Seat to sit in
6
12
24
5
9
17
48
96
192
33
65
129
November 2009 Contest
Cancelling YUK!!
Sometimes performing mathematical
operations incorrectly can lead to a correct
answer. For example, if we divide 16/64
and cross out the sixes (YUK!!!), we
get 1/4, which is correct for the wrong
reason. Find all cases where this incorrect
operation (cancelling out the tens digit of
the numerator with the same ones digit of
the denominator or vice versa) leads to a
correct result, where the numerator and
denominator are two digit whole numbers.
Don’t consider cases like 11/11 where the
ones and tens digit are the same. Hint:
counting 16/64 and 64/16 as two of the
cases, there are 8 cases in total and the
numbers cancelled are always a 6 or a 9.