Classroom Roundtables
Friday, October 26th
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Americas Hall II, Third Floor
A diverse cross-section of teachers shared coffee and dessert as well as innovative ideas and strategies on specific subjects that include dealing with math anxiety, to using an interdisciplinary approach to tackle AP literature, to starting an after-school arts program.
The following topics were covered at Forum 2007:
Building a Comprehensive High School Reading Program that Works
In one example of a national trend, reading scores at Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School began to drop in 2003. However, this three-time winner of the U.S. Department of Education's Blue Ribbon quickly reversed the decline, and reading scores there are now skyrocketing. To achieve its goals, the school offers comprehensive reading instruction that crosses all grades, skill levels, and subjects, with an emphasis on reaching transfer and at-risk students. At this roundtable, teachers from Homewood-Flossmoor will join their peers to discuss reading programs that meet a wide range of student needs.
Speaker(s): Von Mansfield, Principal, Homewood-Flossmoor High School, IL; Laura Murray, Superintendent, Homewood-Flossmoor High School, IL; Nancy Spaniak, Reading Department Chair, Homewood-Flossmoor High School, IL
Calculator Use on the SAT®
Since 1994, the use of most calculators has been allowed during the SAT. The SAT Mathematics Test Development Committee is now revisiting test specifications in response to the increasing capabilities of calculators, some of which have computer algebra systems (CAS) that can solve difficult algebra problems. Access to powerful calculators is also a potential equity issue. At this discussion, teachers will explore with the Committee the impact of calculator use on the test and learn about upcoming research. The group will focus on keeping the SAT's mathematics section an equitable assessment of students' skills and a gauge of their college readiness.
Speaker(s): James Choike, Professor of Mathematics, Oklahoma State University, OK; Deborah Hughes Hallet, Professor of Mathematics, University of Arizona, AZ; Robin O'Callaghan, Senior Director, Mathematics, The College Board, NY
From Research to Relief: Coping with Math Anxiety in College
Many college students feel anxious when faced by math. Often their professors feel frustrated and helpless because they don't know what causes the students' distress or how to alleviate it. At this roundtable discussion, teachers working at all educational levels will address this problem. Together, they will explore the many different roots of math anxiety and share strategies for moving students from panic to success.
Speaker(s): Fred Peskoff, Mathematics Chairperson/Professor, Borough of Manhattan Community College/CUNY, NY
Implications of the AP Physics Redesign
The College Board is working to improve the quality of teaching and learning of science in the nation's high schools by redesigning the AP science courses with support for the initial phase of the project provided by the National Science Foundation. The redesign courses emphasize essential content, reducing breadth of coverage, and will emphasize scientific inquiry and reasoning, increasing depth of understanding. Join this discussion with the co-chair of the physics redesign committee to learn about these important changes in AP Physics B.
Speaker(s): Gay B. Stewart, Associate Professor of Physics, University of Arkansas, AR
Innovative, Award-winning Approaches To Teaching Writing
The College Board Bob Costas Grants for the Teaching of Writing are awarded each year to six exceptional teachers for the innovative methods they use to develop their students' writing skills. Meet the 2007 recipients and learn about their winning programs.
Speaker(s): 2007 Recipients of the Bob Costas Grants for the Teaching of Writing
Innovative Strategies in the Geography Classroom
In an environment filled with the stimulus of sound bytes, i-pods, and instant messaging, it can be challenging to engage students' interest in core ideas and concepts of traditional subjects. This Roundtable will begin with a case study of field work in geography as an active learning strategy that brings abstract concepts into the context of the real world in which students live and interact. Participants will have an opportunity to share strategies that have been successful in their respective disciplines.
Speaker(s): Martha Sharma, Past President, National Council for Geographic Education, SC
LEAP Arts Technology After School Program
In partnership with the City of Peekskill School District, LEAP (Learning Enrichment Activities Program) at Westchester Community College is an enrichment program that provides at-risk middle school students with access to exceptional post-production facilities and mentoring from multi-media artists. LEAP is a part of the 21st Century grant program that provides aid and evaluation for after school funding. The goals of this grant are: early intervention, constructive use of non-school time, increasing protective factors, and development of social skills.
Speaker(s): Sherry Mayo, Dr., Westchester Community College, NY
Placing Critical Thinking at the Center of Learning
Today's labor market demands skilled workers who can think analytically while making decisions and solving problems. In North Carolina, Surry Community College (SCC) has developed a comprehensive model for general education, with critical thinking as the heart of all instruction and assessment. SCC teaches information literacy, culture and ethics, communication, technology, and quantitative literacy, all in ways that build students' reasoning abilities. At this roundtable discussion, SCC faculty will share rubrics for testing critical thinking. Together with their peers, they will explore the benefits and challenges of implementing programs like theirs.
Speaker(s): Steve Atkins, Dean, Edison College, FL; Connie Wolfe, Dean, Arts & Sciences, Surry Community College, NC; Jami Woods, Associate VP of Curriculum Programs, Surry Community College, NC
Senior Project: Self-Enrichment Through Independent Exploration
Every student should graduate from high school prepared to undertake the intellectual endeavors that come up at work, in college, and beyond. In Texas, Alice High School's “Senior Project” meets that goal by introducing rigorous independent study to students at all levels. At this roundtable discussion, teachers from Alice will explain how their students choose research topics, create portfolios, engage in community outreach, and present their work in a public forum. All participants will share methods for designing and implementing project-based learning, with a focus on engaging and empowering the students involved.
Speaker(s): Marin Perez, AP English IV Teacher, Alice ISD, Alice High School, TX; Julie Brandt, Senior Project Coordinator/AP Government Teacher, Alice ISD, Alice High School, TX; Roger Hill, AP English III/English IV Teacher, Alice ISD, Alice High School, TX; Jean McLerran, AP U.S. History/Government Teacher, Alice ISD, Alice High School, TX
Silly Susie and Wally Nut Meet the SAT®
Once students understand grammatical structure and the rationale behind it, they read more critically, solve more math problems, and write more clearly. This insight has guided the PSAT/NMSQT® and SAT preparation at an urban high school for more than twenty years. At this roundtable discussion, participants will explore the school's successful test-readiness programs, sharing practical methods for using The Official SAT Study Guide™ and maximizing limited classroom time.
Speaker(s): Martha Geller, Director, College Information Center, Walnut Hills High School, OH
Spanish Language Instruction and Heritage Speakers: Meeting the Need for a New Pedagogical Approach
Teaching heritage students Spanish is completely different than teaching students who do not hear the language at home. Native speakers often adopt a "know-it-all" attitude in the classroom, which can limit their academic success. Hackensack High School in New Jersey has developed AP® Spanish Language and Literature courses that directly target Spanish heritage students. At this roundtable discussion, faculty from Hackensack will share their materials, and all participants will brainstorm about best practices for designing and implementing curricula for native students' needs.
Speaker(s): Omar Mirabal, AP Spanish Teacher, Hackensack High School, NJ
The Map Project: A Year-Long Math Adventure, from Algebra to Calculus
Maps are great tools for teaching mathematics. During this conversation, teachers will explore “the map project”-a series of scaffolded, hands-on, individualized assignments based on algebra, geometry, calculus, and other kinds of math. This innovative project and others like it can engage students at any level in math instruction and inspire them to go further. At this roundtable, participants will see samples of student work with the map project and hear kids' perspectives on this unique learning experience. The discussion will also cover methods for using maps to explain derivatives, linear equations, distance and midpoint formulas, polynomial graphing, and many other concepts.
Speaker(s): Seth Blum, Math Teacher, Manhattan International High School, NY
The Oxymoronic English Teacher: How to Make More Student Writing = Less Teacher Work
Due to email, text messages, blogs, and online social networks (like MySpace, Facebook, and LiveJournal), students today might be writing more than their predecessors did. But are they writing well, and does the U.S. classroom prepare them for the varieties of academic writing required in high school and college? Historically, English teachers have spent more time assigning and grading prose than instructors in any other subject. How can they improve that process and its impact on students without increasing their workload? At this roundtable, English teachers will share ideas for writing projects that students enjoy and that take less time to evaluate than traditional assignments.
Speaker(s): Jennifer Pinkard, AP/IB NBCT English Teacher, Fort Myers High School, FL
Using Technology to Prepare Students for AP English
In many subjects, teachers now use computer technology to engage their students, keeping classroom assignments diverse and current. During this conversation, colleagues will share ways that the Web can enhance AP English Literature, help students succeed in the course, and streamline access to handouts and other reading materials. Among various online tools and techniques, participants will learn about a project in which students interpreted Shakespeare's sonnets for video. They created short, YouTube-style movies with modern takes on the bard's English, sharpening their analytical abilities in the process.
Speaker(s): William Sullivan, English Faculty, Suffield Academy, CT
“When Are We Ever Going to Use This Math?”
Presenting math as a life skill engages students in the subject matter. This approach allows teachers, administrators, and students to avoid the frustrations resulting from ”teaching to the test.” Teachers can frame review as an opportunity to address common misunderstandings that could affect students outside the classroom. Students begin to see practice as a way to “think on their feet” while increasing accuracy, developing logic, and reducing anxiety. This conversation will explore novel methods for mathematics instruction, with participants trading tips that help all students succeed.
Speaker(s): Robin Schwartz, Adjunct Professor, College of Mount Saint Vincent, NY
