Mathematical Modeling, Sense Making, and the Common Core State Standards

Abstract

On October 14, 2013 the Mathematics Education Department at Teachers College hosted a full-day conference focused on the Common Core Standards Mathematical Modeling requirements to be implemented in September 2014 and in honor of Professor Henry Pollak’s 25 years of service to the school. This article is adapted from my talk at this conference covering Mathematical Modeling in the Common Core, what it means for educators as we move toward this future reality, and what we can do to succeed in this brave new world.

Note: This is a reprint of the lead article from the Fall 2013 issue of the Journal of Mathematics Education at Teachers College. The slides from this talk can be found online at http://journals.tc-library.org/.