Building Concepts: Expressions and Equations

Designed for middle grades mathematics educators that are beginning with or already using TI-Nspire™ technology and the Building Concepts lesson series, this workshop focuses on strategies for engaging students in new ways of visualizing and thinking about expressions and equations. By the end of the workshop, they should be able to say:

Pedagogy
I can use the Building Concepts progressions to develop and enhance conceptual understanding and improve reasoning.

• I can connect mathematical concepts through a coherent story within and across grades and share my part in the vertical alignment of concepts.
• I can leverage technology to enhance visualization in support of learning and developing concepts
• I can implement effective teaching practices to support developing concepts, and I can empower learners to drive the conversation by asking and answering questions of others.

Content
I can facilitate meaningful mathematical discourse so that students develop confidence and flexibility when using expressions and equations and their equivalent forms.

• I can use variables to represent numbers.
• I can write expressions in equivalent forms.
• I can reason about and solve one-variable equations.

Overview

This in-person workshop is available in one- and two-day options to accommodate educator-specific needs. A half-day workshop option is also available. The two-day workshop offers a more extensive exploration of topics. A virtual workshop is also available in multiple two- or three-hour sessions.

Technology	Beginner to advanced users of: TI-Nspire™ CX handhelds TI-Nspire™ software, and/or TI-Nspire™ App for iPad®
	Introduction to the progressions and Building Concepts lesson series Focus on visual models of exponents, variables and expressions to establish a foundation for visualizing, writing and solving equations Exploration of how students’ understanding of expressions and equations is developed within and across grades six, seven and eight
	Introduction to leveled learning progressions and questioning strategies for formative assessment Focus on reasoning about the structure of the expressions within linear equations so students can make strategic choices when solving them Development of implementation plans, including anticipated challenges and solutions