Diagnosing Teachers’ Needs

As an Instruction Math Coach, I am considering the themes of math instruction with my cohort of teachers.

• Content knowledge
• Understanding network of connections

• Disposition towards mathematics
• Personal feelings about math

• Pedagogical content knowledge
• Developing and maintaining learning communities
• Knowing how to “unpack” big math ideas

• Underlying beliefs about learning
• Teaching styles
• Learning styles

• Interpreting student thinking
• What do students know and how do they show it?
• What are misconceptions, partial knowledge and common confusions

• Assessing prior knowledge
• What might we assume students already know and how can they access this?

• Habits of planning
• Lesson planning and long term planning: when and how detailed

• Engagement with curriculum material
• What is role of core curriculum vs. standards based instruction?