Supporting Excellent Teaching of Common Core Content and Practices with Video Clubs

Teachers face many challenges helping students meet the expectations set forth in the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) (CCSSI 2010). CCSSM content standards not only introduce new concepts at each grade level but also require teachers to learn new terminology for old concepts and consider how students' understanding of concepts builds across grades. The Common Core's Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMP) pose an even greater challenge, as these "habits of mind," or processes for doing mathematics, will be assessed in many states for the first time. CCSSM expectations demand such effective teaching practices as those outlined in "Principles to Actions: Ensuring Mathematical Success for All" (NCTM 2014). This article describes how using video clubs for professional development can help teachers effectively implement CCSSM. The authors provide an overview of video clubs and why they are useful, share key experiences from their own work conducting video clubs with practicing teachers, and provide recommendations for others who wish to start video clubs.