I have been using the PowerUp WHAT WORKS website (www.powerupwhatworks.org) to find free and easy-to-use math resources for my blended math PD. Let me set the context. I am a lead trainer for the Michigan Integrated Mathematics Initiative (MI2). Part of my work involves establishing a state-wide network of trained facilitators. They, in turn, deliver a course for middle school math and special education teachers, Enhancing Mathematics Instruction for Students with Learning Difficulties, developed at Education Development Center, Inc. in Massachusetts, with funding from the National Science Foundation. The goal of the course is to help teachers provide accessible instruction in mathematics and to enhance collaboration between math and special educators. The course, facilitated by one math and one special education expert, is attended by teams of math and special education teachers who share the same students. At this point, we have over 70 facilitators and they have been implementing the course in their districts. Now, in addition to the course, the facilitators will be providing sustained, follow-up support to the participating teachers within Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Here, the teachers will collaborate on planning accessible instructional units. A colleague and I will be leading the training session to prepare the facilitators for leading the PLCs. As we were preparing for our training, we found exactly the type of evidence-based information we needed that within the Math Instructional Strategy Guides (ISG) on PowerUp. We especially focused on two ISGs, Using Precise Language in Mathematics and Visual Representation. We highlighted a key strategy in the Visual Representations ISG by incorporating resources for virtual manipulatives. Here is what we selected:

• PD Support Material
  • Differentiate the Strategy Chart: Using Precise Math Language

• Instructional Strategy Guides
  • Using Precise Language
    • Slide Show: Using Precise Language in Mathematics
    • Lesson in Action: Define Geometric Terms
  • Visual Representations
    • Slide Show: Visual Representations
    • Quick View: Virtual Manipulatives

Then we designed a blended math PD model for the facilitators to use in their districts. In this model, Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) are the collaborative context where teachers would plan units using resources from PowerUp What Works. At a later PLC, the teachers would discuss the effectiveness of the strategies they had used and revise their instructional approaches, if needed. This cycle will continue for each unit throughout the school year. In addition, between sessions, teachers would be using resources from PowerUp in their classroom instruction. Here is a description of what a PLC planning and reflection cycle might look like in a school or district:

• Pre-Launch online reading assignment:
  • Review PD Support Materials Using Precise Language, with particular attention to page 4:Differentiate the Strategy: Using Precise Math Language
• First Session: Launch and Orientation to Power Up and to the PLC planning cycle:
  • Introduction to Power Up What Works - 20 minutes
    • Explore the instructional Strategy guides for Math Language and Visual Representations and incorporate them into their lesson plans for the launch of the unit.
    • Use the suggested timing for these activities on page 6 of the PowerUp PD Facilitator Guide
  • Exploration of webiste – 1 hour 30 minutes
    • View slide show: Using precise Language in Mathematics. Discuss key questions.
    • Use Lesson in Action Define Geometric Terms
    • Explore vocabulary support tools (flashcards etc.)
    • Visit Quick View within the blog post on Virtual Manipulatives
    • Discuss in collaborative group the concepts that could be supported with manipulatives.
    • Visit Illuminations and search for lessons and interactions to support the lesson content for geometr
  • Collaborative planning for Overview of Unit – 1 hour Identification of critical vocabulary and visual representations
    • Plan to incorporate appropriate virtual manipulative into the lesson.
    • Identify the vocabulary that will be highlighted in the lesson.
    • Identify tools and plan for their implementation
  • Homework Assignment:
    • Implement plans in classroom instruction before the next PLC meeting.

Second Session: Reflection  (F2F or On-line (using Google Hang-Outs)

• Reflection on unit and the use of technology with PLC group.
• Revision of instructional plan for remainder of unit to support students.

Third Session: Planning for a New Unit

• Cycle begins again with planning for next unit (see Session 1 for ideas)
• New unit vocabulary and technology tools identified