Unlike the vast majority of the Kenan Fellows projects, our DPI project is not a set of lessons or a unit. Katie, Christina, and I were charged with creating a professional development series aimed at educating early elementary teachers about an approach to mathematics instruction and assessment known as AMC (Assessing Math Concepts). When we began our Kenan project, I was definitely the AMC-outsider. Both Katie and Christina had lots of experience with AMC.
My feelings of intimidation were quickly erased as my mentor, Katie, and Christina filled me in and helped me get set up to use AMC in my classroom. I soon found that AMC was exactly what was missing from my math instruction. Intuitively, I knew that the gaps that some of my students had in their understanding of mathematics stemmed from kindergarten or earlier, but I didn’t know exactly how to address those holes and still press on with my pacing guide.
Using AMC in my classroom has helped me to balance my curriculum and the somewhat remedial experiences with numbers that some of my students need. The best part is that the kids love the AMC activities that we do. What I have learned about early elementary mathematics through my Kenan experience will stick with me forever. I’ll be using the work of Kathy Richardson whether I am teaching second grade, sixth grade, or working with my own (eventual) children.
I have included a link to a video of one of my student’s completing and AMC assessment with my fellow fellow, Katie. This is one of my students who is probably benefitting the most from my newfound knowledge of AMC.