The Curriculum: A Tool for Professional Development
One of the guiding principles of the Investigations curriculum focuses on the importance of teacher content knowledge:
“Teachers are engaged in ongoing learning about mathematics content, pedagogy, and student learning. The curriculum provides materials for professional development—to be used by teachers individually or in groups—that supports teachers’ continued learning as they use the curriculum over several years. The Investigations curriculum materials are designed to be used as much as a dialogue among teachers as a core content for students.” (Implementing Investigations, p. 4.)
Designed as a tool for teacher as well as student learning, the curriculum includes embedded professional development resources that “support teachers in their ongoing learning about content, practices, and pedagogy. They are designed to help individuals plan, observe, and reflect on lessons; and to be a source of professional learning.” (Implementing Investigations, p. 42.)
Professional development resources embedded in each curriculum unit include the following:
Mathematics in This Unit
This essay, organized by Main Math Idea, describes the mathematical ideas that are the focus of the unit. It includes information about the relevant mathematics students encountered previously and will encounter in the future. Related Math Focus Points from each session are listed under the Main Math Ideas.
Grade 3, Unit 6, pp. 4-5
Dialogue Boxes
Based on actual classroom interactions, Dialogue Boxes illustrate how students express mathematical ideas, typical confusions, and how some teachers have chosen to guide particular discussions.
Grade 3, Unit 6, pp. 128-129
Teacher Notes
Often written in response to issues that arose in field-test classrooms, these essays provide information about math content, pedagogy, and assessment.
Grade 3, Unit 6, page 120
Mathematical Practices in This Unit
This essay describes the two highlighted Standards for Mathematical Practice that are the focus of the unit, in detail, and provides examples from the unit of how to engage students in those practices.
Grade 3, Unit 6, p. 6
Other Features
Each Investigations unit includes many other features that help teachers learn more about mathematics teaching and learning. These include: the Math Focus Points for each session and for discussions; questions that focus teachers’ observations of students at work; information about understanding and supporting the range of learners; and sidebars about mathematics, pedagogical issues, the math practices and relevant professional development resources. Examples of these session-level features can be seen in the following sample sessions:
Online and Face-To-Face Professional Development
The Investigations Center also offers online and face-to-face professional development. Learn More »