Robert Kaplinsky and Melissa Canham presented at the 2012 UCLA Department of Mathematics: Curtis Center for Mathematics and Teaching Conference on March 3, 2012. Attendees were a mixture of classroom teachers and professional development providers.

The first presentation, Practicing Questioning Skills as a Tool to Assess Student Understanding, helped teachers to practice their questioning skills to meet the expectations of the Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice. The Common Core State Standards require students to “justify their conclusions, communicate them to others, and respond to the arguments of others.”

The second presentation, Preparing Elementary Students for Fraction Success with the Common Core Standards, helped teachers learn about the deep fraction understandings that students will be expected to have and strategies and activities teachers can do with their students to prepare them to meet these needs.