PETERBOROUGH, N.H., April 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Calling all math enthusiasts! Staff Development for Educators (SDE), one of the nation's leading providers of professional development for K-12 educators, is pleased to announce its seventh annual National Conference on Singapore Math Strategies, taking place July 6-10, 2015 in Las Vegas.
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The National Conference on Singapore Math Strategies is geared at helping K–6 educators from across the country transform their math instruction through best math practices. With more than 20 expert presenters and 90+ focused sessions, educators will discover ways to effectively implement in their own classrooms the highly acclaimed teaching method based on the national curriculum in Singapore.
"This event should really be titled 'Singapore and so much more!'" enthuses Mikell Lang, Program Planner at SDE. "The grade-specific content strategies go way beyond just Singapore Math to provide innovative and exciting ways to teach math—you'll leave with strategies that are not only ready-to-go, but also with the confidence to implement them, no matter which math curriculum you're following."
The conference will feature full-day, half-day, and 75-minute sessions, distinguished speakers, experts, and authors, including world-renowned Singapore Math expert and inspirational speaker Yeap Ban Har. The conference is built for those who are new to Singapore Math and those further along in implementation. SDE offers a listing of suggested first steps and foundational topics to enhance the experience for a Singapore Math novice, including full-days devoted to Foundations of Number Sense with presenter Michael Godfrey, and another day devoted to Foundations of Model Drawing with expert Ricky Mikelman.
Beloved education speakers and authors Char Forsten (Step-by-Step Model Drawing), Jana Hazekamp (Why Before How), and Eliza Thomas (Math Play) also headline the long list of nationally and internationally-leading math minds ready to provide high-quality, current, and relevant strategies that teachers can bring back to their classrooms and deliver immediately.
The wide variety of mathematics-focused sessions reflects the topics educators asked for, and teachers will be able to choose sessions that address their specific classroom needs, grade level, and implementation level—all to provide deeper and more meaningful content. Educators will discover multiple "jumping off" or entry points in the conference, to meet the needs of a full range of experience, grades, and functions, including Singapore Math adopters and supplemental users. Suggested tracks for each grade range are available to help teachers plan their conference experience.
Administrators will also benefit from this focused conference, with sessions designed to explore being an effective instructional coach, walkthroughs, strategies to get parents on board, and perseverance.
"This event is well-known for being fresh and providing interactive and fun takes on mathematics instruction, " says Lang. From the first session to the last, attendees will find numerous opportunities to make the connection between concept and practice, and will find hands-on "Make & Take" and "See It in Action" sessions to help them interact and demonstrate just-learned skills.
A highly anticipated highlight of the conference is the Live Classroom Demonstration session held on the last day. This year's demonstration on "mental math" is a great way to discover ways to problem-solve and teach in real-world solutions, as seasoned professional Anni Stipek takes students from the concrete to the pictorial to the abstract to solidify methods mentally.
"This is an unforgettably motivating chance for teachers to watch Singapore Math in action. It's so much fun to see faces light up as teachers witness the excitement they can replicate in their own classrooms," Lang raves.
This conference is the fastest and most enjoyable way for teachers to get thoroughly up-to-speed on key aspects of Singapore Math. Singapore students have repeatedly ranked at or near the top on international math exams since the mid-1990s. Unlike American math instruction which often emphasizes drilling and memorization of formulas, Singapore Math focuses on children understanding math on a deeper level.
"This is the best conference if you're looking to gain confidence in your own math instruction," says Lang confidently. "You'll learn hundreds of methods and intervention strategies that you can use instantly. Come learn that you CAN teach math and that it CAN be fun!"
About SDE
SDE provides professional development for PreK through Grade 12 educators. Through Onsite PD, PD Events, Web-based PD, and PD Resources, the company empowers teachers and administrators across the country with ongoing professional development that is not only research-based, innovative, and rigorous, but also practical, motivating, and fun. All SDE training is presented by the nation's top authors and educational experts, with the goal of creating extraordinary classrooms that prepare students for the evolving demands of the 21st century.
Educators interested in learning more about SDE's national conferences and the many other professional development opportunities offered by SDE can visit the company's website, www.SDE.com, or call 1-800-462-1478.