New Standards on Satchel
Keep up to date on standards and guidance documents on Satchel, which allows you to easily search and navigate newly implemented, adopted, and existing content standards, including Montana's new 2025 English Language Proficiency Standards, the 2026 Montana Mathematics Content Standards, and the 2026 World Language Standards.
The Last Best Learning Podcast
The mission of the Last Best Learning Podcast is to deliver digestible and relevant professional learning that honors educators’ capacity in an increasingly busy world.
Our state’s educators empower minds, elevate futures, and inspire self-discovery - and we walk beside them.
We invite you to join us in this innovative approach to professional development, tailored to address the unique challenges faced by educators in Montana's ever-changing educational landscape. At the end of each month, the podcast will be uploaded to the
K-12 Content Standards webpage as well as the Podcast YouTube channel.
Check out our most recent episodes:
Coming Soon
December - Ep. 17 - Combatting Conflict, with special returning guest John Sommers-Flanagan of the Happiness Project
Math
The Office of Public Instruction is offering two math webinar series!
Register for the Montana Math Monthly Implementation webinar now!
You may register at any point in the series, so if you missed previous sessions, don’t worry! Recordings are available on the math standards website, and linked below!
1 PDU is available for each live session engagement.
Want to join us for future learning?
You may register at any point in the series, so if you missed previous sessions, don’t worry! Recordings are available.
1 PDU is available for each live session engagement (except the asynchronous session in December).
Standards Resources
New Resources have been added to the math standards revision website, including:
Math Minute
November's volume of the MT Math Minute is live and ready to view! Each month, our Math Coordinator compiles relevant features, classroom resources, IEFA implementation ideas, and sometimes, teacher spotlights! This month's edition features resources for integrating mathematics learning concepts with the context of winter activities, new math standards resources, professional learning opportunities, and helpful classroom resources. Future editions will include district and school spotlights when available. Districts, schools, or teachers interested in being featured in future Math Minute editions can fill out this form.
Want to receive these in your mailbox each month? Subscribe now!
Instructional Strategy Spotlight!
Looking for a new classroom instructional strategy to get students excited about math and engaging in discourse? Check out this quick, 5-minute video on Open Middle Problems!
STEM
MEEA Travel Grants
The Montana Environmental Education Association (MEEA) has opened applications for travel grants, and the “Get 'em Outside Grants” will be opening soon. Watch the website for updated information under Resources.
Montana Science Teachers' Association is looking for passionate science professionals to serve as officers. MSTA offers:
- Leadership Development: Build valuable leadership skills that will benefit you in your teaching career and beyond.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with science educators from across Montana and nationally.
- Impact: Help shape the direction of science education policy and professional development in our state.
- Support: Work alongside a dedicated team of passionate educators who are committed to enhancing science teaching and learning.
Join our collaborative community! If you are interested in a position or would like to nominate a colleague, please email Suzi Taylor, MSTA executive director, at taylor@montana.edu
Shell Teacher Awards
Do you know an outstanding K–12 science teacher—or are you one yourself? The Shell Science Teaching Awards recognize exceptional educators who inspire students, schools, and communities through exemplary classroom science teaching.
The Shell Science Teaching Award recognizes one outstanding K-12 teacher who positively impacts their students and community through exemplary science teaching. The winner receives $10,000 plus an all-expense paid trip to the NSTA National Conference in Spring 2026.
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Golden Eagle Challenge
Eagles are magnificent birds who often spend winter months in Montana! Raptor View Research Institute and MPG Ranch will connect in February for a live-to-learn about these amazing birds. In the meantime, introduce your students to the research, natural history, and ecology of these birds. Lessons for all grade bands! Golden Eagle Curriculum and Activities
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Montana STEM Ecosystem
Get involved with the Montana STEM Ecosystem: Reach out to Heather Jameson (heather@mtafterschoolalliance.org), Strategic Initiatives Lead
Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition
The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition is back for another year of imagination, innovation, and technological vision! ExploraVision challenges students to form teams and research a current technology, then envision what it could look like ten years in the future and how it might affect the world. It's project-based, NGSS-aligned, and open to students from kindergarten through 12th grade in the United States and Canada.
With ExploraVision, your students develop tools critical to a future in STEM—innovation, teamwork, and even presentation skills! See what longtime ExploraVision supporter, Bill Nye the Science Guy, had to say here.
Find out about more opportunities on OPI’s science website!
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Keep updated on:
Find many other resources and opportunities on the Montana OPI Science Page.
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ELA
Upcoming Hub Course: Preparing Students for the MAST Performance Task
Be on the lookout for a new course on the Learning Hub: Preparing Students for the MAST Performance Task. This course is designed for 3-8 teachers and will guide participants through a review of the rubrics and ELA content standards relevant to the writing assessment, writing strategies to use all year long with your students, and instructional resources and approaches to practice the Performance Task–including exemplars, prompts, and more.
Monthly Instructional Strategy Spotlight
November’s strategy focuses on Harvard’s Project Zero Thinking Routines and how you can use them in your ELA classroom. Watch the short video here.
OPI ELA Updates
Check out the Montana OPI ELA page to learn about additional professional learning opportunities, instructional resources, standards revisions, and more!
Chinese Experience in Montana Footlocker
MTHS partnered with Mark Johnson—author of The Middle Kingdom under the Big Sky (winner of the 2023 W. Turrentine Jackson Award and The Caroline Bancroft History Prize), educator, and expert on Montana’s Chinese history—to create a new footlocker exploring the Chinese Experience in Montana. With classroom testing support from teacher-leader Jodi Delany and historical guidance from MTHS historian Melissa Hibbard, this footlocker features rich objects such as dragon marionettes, tomb-sweeping offerings, red envelopes, calligraphy materials, historic photos, translated immigrant letters, and more (see pictures on p. 5 of the User Guide). The eight standards-based lessons—many usable without the physical footlocker—engage students in analyzing primary sources, exploring Chinese calligraphy, creating graphs from census data, learning about anti-Chinese prejudice and resistance, participating in a tea ceremony, and examining the history of Chinese restaurants in Montana. Download the User Guide. Reserve the footlocker through the Footlocker Request Form (schools pay a $25 fee; MTHS covers shipping) and find full details on our hands-on history footlocker webpage. And don’t forget to sign up for our Social Studies Tuesday PDs—first session is October 21, 4:30–5:30 p.m.
The Mansfield Center is partnering with the National Chamber of Commerce Foundation to host the 2026 Montana Civics Bee for middle school students, giving participants the chance to build their civics, writing, and public-speaking skills while connecting with peers across the state. Students in grades 6–8 must submit a 750-word (max) essay proposing an idea to improve their community by February 3, 2026. Top scorers will advance to a regional bee in spring 2026, with finalists moving on to the Montana State Civics Bee in Helena for cash prizes. The state winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the National Civics Bee for a chance at $100,000 toward college. To apply, visit the National Civics Bee webpage and create an account; additional preparation materials are available on the resource platform. Questions? Contact Kate Koenig at kate.koenig@mso.umt.edu.
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