Interested in learning about Woodin Math? Please join us for a VIRTUAL Introduction with Christopher Woodin and Redwood Schools!
Redwood Schools is an approved Illinois Professional Development Provider.
Please reach out to Rachael Anderson at rachael@redwoodschools.org if you are interested in learning more or attending!
Who is Christopher Woodin?
Christopher Woodin, Ed.M., is a specialist in the fields of mathematics and learning disabilities. He has been with Landmark School since 1986 where he is the Math Department Head and holds the Ammerman Chair of Mathematics. He is a graduate of Middlebury College and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Chris has published several articles, including a recent one through the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity and is the author and director of WoodinMath.com. His latest book is entitled Multiplication and Division Facts for the Whole-to-Part Visual Learner, and he is currently developing a computer-based numeracy program with Nessy Learning in the UK. Chris was a past Massachusetts Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) Samuel Kirk Educator of the Year, and he served on the Massachusetts Department of Education’s Mathematics 2011 Curriculum Frameworks Panel. He presents internationally on topics involving multimodal math instruction and learning disabilities.
What is Woodin Math?
Woodin Math is a math instructional design specifically targeted for students with dyslexia and dyscalculia. Chris Woodin considered language domains impacted by dyslexia and developed a structure that fits the needs of dyslexic students. These structures include whole-to-part instructional approaches (take the whole and break apart), graphic organizer templates (scaffolding the set up and organization of math problems), as well as multi-sensory instruction (providing multiple points of access to math instruction beyond listening and writing).
What is Redwood Schools creating to accompany Chris Woodin Math?
Implementing Christopher Woodin instructional strategies into the classroom has just gotten better with the new CCSS aligned math warm up! During this training, teachers will be equipped with grade level specific instructional strategies to support diverse learners in math, including tools to implement a Woodin Math warm-up. After this training, teachers will be prepared to utilize a Chris Woodin approach and apply a fully scripted , ready-to use warm-up into daily math lessons
What will this Professional Development look like?
(Duration: 2 hours)
Christopher Woodin will give an introduction (virtually) of Woodin Math. Primary topic will be: Primary Numeracy: Develop Cardinality and Number Sense:
A student with dyslexia who is confused by typical math instruction can excel when instructed in a way that always shows the big picture first, uses visual-spatial images, and directly examines how the parts are connected to the whole. This program is quite different from how most of us were taught math, and it is different from most modern curriculum approaches as well. Number sense is developed by establishing a robust understanding of quantities so that their values may be compared. The methodology to be presented enables such comparison by limiting demands on language processing, working memory, and executive function skills.
Learning and memory research tells us that multisensory integration is absolutely vital for children who have learning difficulties, as well as the best way to teach all students. Experiential, gross-motor activities provide a powerful approach to interact with recognizable whole-to-part visual models. Students develop language skills necessary to describe math concepts and relationships as they perceive and process them. Simply put, students take patterns apart, then reassemble them while describing the process. The underlying principles and research behind the Woodmath program will be presented along with some examples of the program in action.
Redwood School’s Lead Math Instructor, Megan Frasik, will follow by introducing the Redwood Schools math warm-up created in partnership with Christopher Woodin to accompany Woodin Math.
Bringing Chris Woodin instructional strategies into the classroom has just gotten better with the new CCSS aligned math warm up! During this training, teachers will be equipped with the instructional strategies that support diverse learners in math, specific to the grade band you are teaching, as well as a training on how to implement a warm-up structure that is centered around the Chris Woodin approach. After this training, teachers will be prepared to embed Chris Woodin strategies and tools into their teaching practices as well as a fully scripted warm-up structure ready to be implemented into daily math lessons.
Warm-Up Training:
1. Overview of the math warm-up (parts 1 and 2)
2. Why should we invest in the math warm-up? How does this align to CCSS?
3. Demo by Megan - what the warm-up could look like in your classroom!
4. Practice implementing - partner work
a. Part 1 - Number Encoding / Place Value
b. Part 2 - Flashcards
5. Q&A