MathBits

Opportunities in December

Invitation to join a virtual MN Math Leaders PLC Are you a mathematics coach, specialist, or curriculum lead?  Are you interested in a virtual PLC for math leaders?  Join with your colleagues to discuss curriculum, instruction, or topics generated by members.  The next meeting is Tuesday, December 13 from 1 to 3 PM.  Please forward this to interested colleagues.  If you would like to join this PLC group, please email mctm@mctm.org with your contact information. 

Use the MN Achievement Level Descriptors to assure all students have access to grade level mathematics

Join a webinar via ZOOM on December 6 at either 7:30 AM or 4:00 PM

Join the Minnesota Math Leaders and the MDE Math Standards and Assessment Team in a 50-minute webinar via ZOOM to learn how you can use the Mathematics Benchmark Achievement Level Descriptors (BALDs) to assure all students have access to grade level mathematics.  Tips for how to use the BALDs for leaders and educators will be shared.  The BALDs are one of the most useful math resources on the MDE site.  Come hear why and how your site can use it. 

Link to the BALD:  https://testing123.education.mn.gov/test/plan/success/  Scroll down and click on the blue bar labeled ‘benchmark achievement level descriptors’

Note:  The 4:00 PM Webinar will be recorded and uploaded for others to view after December 6.  Attendees will receive a link. December 6 sign up Please forward this invitation to others. Questions:  mctm@mctm.org

Announcements

Annual Spring Conference 2023 

Mathematics for Each and Everyone! 

Yes, the Annual Spring Conference will return to a full conference on Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22 in Duluth! Peter Liljedahl, the author of Building Thinking Classrooms will be Friday's keynote speaker.  Three of the co-chairs from the MN Academic Standards Review will be the Saturday keynotes.

Spring Conference Registration   

Share your learning with your mathematics colleagues.  We are seeking Speaker Proposals! Not sure of how to write a session description?  Read this article for helpful hints.

Symposium 2023

The full day symposium on Thursday, April 20, returns after 4 years!  MCTM and MDE are excited to learn with Peter Liljedahl, author of Building Thinking Classrooms.  A copy of the book Building Thinking Classrooms will be included in the registration fee of $195.  2023 Symposium Registration

Do you need Financial Support to attend the Conference and Symposium?

Check out this month's Foundation Update for information about scholarships and grants to support your attendance at this year's Symposium and Spring Conference. Applications due February 20th. 

Nominate someone you know (or yourself) to be on the MCTM Board!  Elections will be for Regions 1, 4 and 7 Directors as well as the Vice President of High School.  Learn more here.  

Renew your MCTM Membership  Is it time to renew or start a new sustaining membership for $25?  Sustaining memberships go toward supporting the Annual Spring Conference, promotes networking and professional learning opportunities.

NCTM is introducing a new webinar series that can be directly applied to your classrooms, Classroom Conversations. Each month, NCTM will hand-pick a Classroom Resource — which can include Illuminations, Problems of the Week —and highlight how you can implement it into your classrooms. For more resources, you can join NCTM.

NCTM Notice and Wonder  Explore this site with activities and professional learning opportunities.  Notice and Wonder provide fun and engaging mathematics prompts to spark the sense of curiosity that leads students to understand that math is everywhere!

M3 Challenge is a free online math modeling competition for high school juniors, seniors, and sixth form students. During Challenge weekend, teams spend 14 hours using the math modeling process to analyze, make predictions about, and provide insight into an open-ended, real-world problem. Registration is open now.

Stay connected with MCTM by following us on social media.

• You can find us @mctm_mn on Twitter and Instagram.
• Follow the MCTM page on Facebook and join the MN Math Teachers Closed Group on Facebook, to connect with your colleagues.

Articles

Did you know you can find released MCA items?  Newly released this summer, learn about the Minnesota Questions Tools in this article by Angela Hochstetter and Michael Huberty at MDE.

Check out the monthly series Building a Thinking Classroom Together by Jessica Strom, VP High School as she discusses strategies for supporting your learners in woking well together. 

"Crafting word problems for your students is a way to assist students in mathematizing the world around them." Learn more about the Art of Writing Story Problems in this month's article by James Brickwedde.

"When was the last time you planned a classroom activity to promote the joy and beauty of mathematics?" Check out how Karen Hyers, MCTM President, does just that in this month's President's Message: Bringing Joy.

Opportunities in November

Education Minnesota PD grants available Members seeking funding for professional development can apply for a grant from the Education Minnesota Foundation for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. ESPs and teachers can request up to $2,000 while higher education faculty qualify for up to $3,000. Applications are due by Nov. 4.

Information about the MCTM Foundation opportunities for Grants/Scholarships and how to support the efforts can be found in this month's MCTM Foundation Update.

3-D Series for Rural Educators is back on Thursday, Nov. 3rd. This webinar is suitable for all grades K-12. Learn more about this opportunity.

Invitation to join a virtual MN Math Leaders PLC Are you a mathematics coach, specialist, or curriculum lead?  Are you interested in a virtual PLC for math leaders?  Join with your colleagues to discuss curriculum, instruction, or topics generated by members.  The first organizing meeting is Thursday, Nov. 3, from 1 to 3 PM.  Please forward this to interested colleagues.  If you would like to join this PLC group (even if you can't make this first meeting due), please email mctm@mctm.org with your contact information. 

Announcements

Nominate someone you know (or yourself) to be on the MCTM Board!  Elections will be for Regions 1, 4 and 7 Directors as well as the Vice President of High School.  Learn more here.  Nominations are due November 15th.

Consider nominating an MCTM member for an Honorary Membership.  Nominations are due November 15th. Learn more about what it means to receive MCTM's highest award.

Renew your MCTM Membership  Is it time to renew or start a new sustaining membership for $25?  Sustaining memberships go toward supporting the Annual Spring Conference, promotes networking and professional learning opportunities.

Annual Spring Conference - Mathematics for Each and Everyone! Yes, the Annual Spring Conference will return to a full conference on Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22. Peter Liljedahl, Building Thinking Classrooms will be the Friday keynote speaker.   Registration will be available in early December.  For those planning ahead, the full conference fee will be $275. Presenter registration will be $150.  Watch for requests for proposals.  Share your learning with your mathematics colleagues.

Symposium  The full day symposium on Thursday, April 20, returns after 4 years!  MCTM and MDE are excited to learn with Peter Liljedahl, Building Thinking Classrooms.  The registration for the Symposium will be available early December.  Come and learn with your team.  There will be time for team collaboration.  A copy of Building Thinking Classrooms will be included in the registration fee of $195.  

Renew your MCTM Membership  Is it time to renew or start a new sustaining membership for $25? Sustaining memberships go toward supporting the Annual Spring Conference, promoting networking and professional learning opportunities.

NCTM is introducing a new webinar series that can be directly applied to your classrooms, Classroom Conversations. Each month, NCTM will hand-pick a Classroom Resource — which can include Illuminations, Problems of the Week —and highlight how you can implement it into your classrooms. For more resources, you can join NCTM.

MN Math Leaders Webinar Mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 6 at either 7:30 AM or 4:00 PM for a 50- minute virtual webinar featuring Sara VanDerWerf, Angela Hochstetter, and Mike Huberty from MDE. 

Topic:  How Math Benchmark Achievement Level Descriptors can be used to give all students access to grade level instruction. Look for registration information later in November.

Stay connected with MCTM by following us on social media.

• You can find us @mctm_mn on Twitter and Instagram.
• Follow the MCTM page on Facebook and join the MN Math Teachers Closed Group on Facebook, to connect with your colleagues.

Articles

Ten Takeaways from NCTM Los Angeles shared by Laura Wagenman, VP Elementary

MCA Scores and Data are Here...NOW WHAT?  Learn about how to use MCA Benchmark Data and Individual Student Reports in this article by Angela Hochstetter and Michael Huberty at MDE.

The Power of 3D a message from your MCTM President, Karen Hyers, about the the ways 3D can have you noticing, wondering, learning and growing as an educator.

Learn more about incorporating Visibly Random Grouping into your classroom in the monthly series Building a Thinking Classroom Together by Jessica Strom, VP High School

Consider new strategies to differentiate in your classroom this year in this article by James Brickwedde.