EPCTM - Meetings

OUR NEXT CONFERENCE — SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2008

We typically have conferences twice a year, once in the fall (usually in early November) and again in the spring (usually in early April). Our next conference is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, 2008, at Kutztown University. Our program typically consists of three concurrent presentations in the morning (suitable for elementary, middle, and high school) and another three in the afternoon. The schedule and descriptions for the conference are listed below.

Thanks to our collaboration with CETP-PA (Collaborative for Excellence in Teacher Preparation in Pennsylvania), Act 48 credit is always available to attendees. (For more information about CETP-PA, click on the CETP-PA logo below.)

MORNING SESSION

Technology in the Classroom
Sarah Kleppinger
Kutztown University

Want to keep up with the fast paced technological world? In this presentation, you will learn ideas on how to use the new, and old, technology equipment in the mathematics classroom.

Espousing Your Philosophy of
Teaching and Learning Mathematics
Brad Slonaker
Kutztown University

What are your beliefs concerning the teaching of mathematics? What is compelling about the use of manipulatives in the teaching and learning of mathematics? The combination of these two questions will be explored during this presentation. The introduction of an instrument; a colorful, interactive tool which when manipulated enables one to espouse their platform of knowledge and beliefs, will be offered. Participants will be asked to reflect upon and inquire into their practice of teaching mathematics.

Geometer’s Sketchpad Activities
Carlen Blackstone
Emmaus High School

Explore how to use already-created Geometer's Sketchpad activities to help students see general geometric relationships and gain practice in naming objects and articulating concepts. Applications include parallel lines, triangle relationships, polygons, and circles. As a bonus, you will go home with a special activity involving food that brings geometry to life.

KEY

Elementary & Middle School	Middle School & Junior High	Junior High & High School

AFTERNOON SESSION

So, What’s Your Number Name?
Keith R. Kull
Kutztown University

A person’s number name is a ratio of the number of letters in the first name compared with number of letters in the last name. A related activity is a person’s money name. That money name is created by assigning a monetary value to each of the letters of the alphabet, (a is 1 cent, b is 2 cents, c is 3 cents, etc.). The money name then is the total of the values associated with each letter of the name. In this session, you will learn about these activities and more!

Variety Pack II — Seconds Anyone?
Michael Duarte
Lower Macungie Middle School

Couldn’t get enough ideas from the last Variety Pack? This time come for seconds! Participants will review differentiated instruction techniques that will assist in creating a positive learning environment in the mathematics classroom. We will look at several cooperative learning activities, various review games, and interactive lessons for the middle and high school classroom. Each of these activities can be modified to meet the needs of any secondary mathematics classroom.

Learning Styles, Open-Ended Problems,
and Teachable Moments
Donna Spatz
West Chester Area School District

This session will briefly examine learning styles of the students in math classes and of the participants. Various interesting open-ended problems and other activities that help inspire students to learn mathematics will be presented.

KEY

Elementary & Middle School	Middle School & Junior High	Junior High & High School