The first CPM meeting is September 5th, register here!

My favorite session at the #TMC18 conference was the CPM Flex session that we had at the end of the day Saturday.  (The Flex session is an open hour on the last day of the conference where anyone can propose and hold an impromptu session.)  The CPM session evolved from meeting teachers who were also using CPM in other sessions.  Once we discovered we were teaching CPM, discussions ensued, and it was obvious that we needed focused time together to brainstorm and discuss our experiences.  Our discussions were incredible, and we all decided that they must continue throughout the school year!

CPM Working Document

Our one hour flex session was incredible, and it went by too fast.  We all shared our successes, concerns, and ideas for improvements for next year on a CPM Working Google Doc.  I loved brainstorming with other educators who were using the same curriculum that I was.  The CPM Working Document is viewable to anyone.  **If you would like to collaborate with us, leave a reply to comment on the document with your email address and I will add you.

CPM Monthly Virtual Meetings

Typing on the document was great, but our conversations were even better.  We decided that we would like to meet virtually once a month, to talk with each other and update the working document together.  We will meet the first Wednesday night of the month, at 9PM EST.  Our first meeting is September 5th, sign up here!  I will update this post with more information once I know it, and then also post it on Twitter.  If you want, sign-up to receive info here:  CPM Sign-Up

I’m so excited to connect with an learn from other CPM teachers this year!

About CPM

I loved using CPM this year. For my entire teaching career, I have not had a good curriculum to teach with.  Sometimes I didn’t even have a textbook.  So, with the help of the #MTBoS, I created (and “borrowed”) all of my material.  This was enjoyable, as I loved creating the material for each day, but it was also exhausting, and at times, overwhelming. I’m at a larger school now, and working with other teachers across multiple subjects, so we needed a curriculum that we could all use.  I was very happy when I found CPM two years ago, as many of the activities in their Algebra 2 book were things I was already doing.  However, the CPM activities are written very well, with better scaffolding and questioning.  And, CPM included things I wanted to do, like spiraling homework.  It was also rated, scoring all greens, on EdReports.  So we decided to try it out.

Before using CPM, I never realized the importance of a cohesive, comprehensive curriculum (note: not a textbook series).   The CPM series threads together concepts from chapter to chapter, always including past material and going deeper each time.  It is really enjoyable to experience it unfold throughout the year.  Additionally, concepts are taught in a consistent way, with consistent ideas and terminology, in subsequent subjects.   No longer do I hear, “That is not the way that Mrs. X taught it last year”.  This consistency has allowed students to build on their previous learning, instead of feeling like they are learning entirely new and different math each year.