Teach Like a Champion: Right it Right

Returning to Doug Lemov's book, Teach Like a Champion, let's look at his second technique: Right is Right.

Lemov describes the difference between a partially right answer and an all the way right answer. Demanding an all the way right answer makes children pay more attention to the details of the question and shows them your question matters.  Also, as soon as kids hear you say yes or right, they check out of needing to go any further.Great teachers, he says, always expect an all the way right answer. To do this, he says you should

• not round up. Don't add to the student's answer to get the expected details, then attribute the added information to the student.
• hold out for all they way. Don't confuse effort with mastery. Praise effort for what it is. Praise a correct answer for what is is. Don't say "yes, right, except. . . "
• expect students to answer the question you ask. The right answer to a different question is not what you need. 
• expect the right answer at the right time. Don't let kids get ahead of you; if they do, they are likely getting ahead of important ideas and others in the class.
• use (and expect kids to use) technical vocabulary. Push kids for the precise, technical vocabulary that they need for the highest levels of learning.

As Lemov says, always expect the types of answers students give to be ones that push them the extra step, and are the types of answers given by kids in the most top performing schools.

Math in Focus

Math in Focus will be our next program to review. It will be available to you on Friday. It is based on Singapore Math. In the mean time, here and here are PDFs that the MiF rep sent to us regarding MiF and the Common Core .in grades 1 and 4 as examples Take a look if you have some time, since that will prepare you to dig in to the materials. We will meet here in the library on Friday afternoon to give the MiF overview.

Everyday Math

Everyday Math materials will be in my room until Thursday. If you would still like to look at them, please come down and check some out. Just as a reminder, kinder is currently using EM, as are 4 and 5. Lorrie has also used EM and can also be a resource for you. Here are some basics about the program.

• Daily Structure 60 min+ (Review with Math Message, Facts Practice, New Concept, Ongoing learning and practice with games and math boxes, HW) 
• K-2 Calendar Routines (not explicitly laid out for teacher- not spelled out in lesson). Calendar activities are less extensive and more focused just on traditional calendar activities
• Concepts are taught in units and then they spiral back into lessons within Math Boxes
• Students have their own workbooks called Math Journals 1^st-5^th
• Online suite of tools 
• Minute Math has some extra “quickie” problems by strand that teacher can use whenever 
• Teacher’s Manual lays out when concepts are taught throughout the program.

Please give us all feedback on the use/structure/approach of EM!

Reviewing Math Materials

The math materials review is underway. We will be looking at 3 different programs: Everyday Math, Math in Focus (Singapore Math) and Saxon Math. Thanks to all of you who have come in to grab some materials and check them out. Here are a few general considerations as you look at the materials.

Everyday Math	Math in Focus	Saxon Math
Units based with spiraling review: Mastery by end of the year	Units to mastery	Incremental, integrated by lesson: mastery by the end of the year
60+ minutes	45-60 min (not including calendar routines)	60-75 min
2/29-3/8	3/9-3/16	3/15-3/30

 The bottom number is the dates we have the materials here in our school.

You can find the form right here for reviewing the materials.