October 2022
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Happy Fall! As the school year takes off and the temperatures begin to cool, we hope you take time to enjoy whatever fills your cup. Several options below will offer you the opportunity to find something “math-y” you enjoy. Join a Math Teacher Circle, meet us at the Monthly Math Meet-up, or sign up for an upcoming workshop. You could also nominate an amazing teacher for PAEMST or share a story about an outstanding Oklahoma Math Teacher to be featured in our next newsletter. Whatever brings you joy, we hope you make time to do it.
Strategies to Assess and Address Unfinished Learning in Middle Level Mathematics
 Register here to ensure a spot. If you register and do not see a response email, check your spam folder.
College & Career Ready/ Ready for High School Math Training Workshop
In addition to the students who, in a typical year, would need extra support, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted learning for the majority of Oklahoma students, and national studies indicate that the core subject most impacted is mathematics. We now face a collective challenge – how to support students to be algebra-ready. Mathematics skills build over time, and algebra readiness is critical for success in higher-level mathematics and other postsecondary opportunities.
The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is continuing to develop teacher capacity to teach the College Career Math Ready course and the Ready for High School Math course. Ready for High School Math (HSMR) is a course that emphasizes the understanding of math concepts and develops the critical-thinking skills students need throughout their high school studies. The curriculum is designed for eighth/ninth grade students. College Career Math Ready (CCMR) is a course designed to help seniors master math skills before transitioning from high school to postsecondary education and the workplace. In this course, students increase their problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills.
Teachers who have been trained receive the curriculum needed to implement the courses in their school. Math teachers holding an intermediate mathematics or advanced certification are eligible to teach both courses. There will be in-person training for both courses in December 2-3, 2022, at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma! Register now to ensure a spot.
If you have any questions about the math ready courses, feel free to contact Anthony Purcell, Director of High School and College Math Readiness at anthony.purcell@sde.ok.gov,or Brigit Minden, Director of Secondary Mathematics at brigit.minden@sde.ok.gov.
Math Teacher Circles
Oklahoma Regional Math Teacher Circles (MTC) are beginning to plan their meetings for the fall. Oklahoma has active MTC in Stillwater, Edmond, Ada, and Tulsa. Math Teacher Circles are for any educator, PreK-20, who is interested in engaging in mathematics and building a mathematics community. Find one near you and join in for an evening full of math, fun, and fellowship. For more information on Oklahoma Math Teacher Circles as well as the goals of the Math Teacher Circle, click here.
Central Oklahoma Math Teachers' Circle Meeting
The next Central Oklahoma Math Teachers’ Circle Meeting will be held on the University of Central Oklahoma campus on Thursday, October 20, 2022, from 6:00-8:00 pm.
Amy Schachle, a leader of the Tulsa Math Teachers’ Circle, will be facilitating the activity for the evening. Amy is a Senior Instructor in Mathematics at the University of Tulsa who has led sessions for the Tulsa Girls’ Math Circle, Sonia Kovalevsky Day (for middle and high school girls), and professional development workshops for K-12 teachers. We’re excited to have her join for the evening!
A link to the registration form will open on Monday, October 10, 2022. The link will be emailed out to those who have expressed interest in attending the MTC meetings, as well as posted on the Central Oklahoma Math Teachers' Circle Facebook page. Join the Central Oklahoma Math Teachers’ Circle email list by completing the form using the below link.
Central Oklahoma Math Teachers' Circle Interest Form
Monthly Math Meet-Ups are Back!
Do you love to talk about all things math? Do you enjoy sharing your passion for math in the classroom? Do you miss visiting with other educators across the state? Well, great news! OKMath Monthly meet-ups are back!
Our first meeting will be on October 16, 2022, @ 4:00 PM. We will be extending our EngageOK session “Classroom Management and Engagement for the Mathematics Classroom”. This summer we looked at how to adjust classroom routines to better support today’s students. We discovered tips, research based strategies, and teacher vetted classroom routines that increase students’ focus and actual time on task in K-12 math classrooms. Each Monthly Meet-up will highlight a different strategy shared in this session. View the slides and resources from the EngageOK session and register here to join us this month for a deeper dive into Creating Class Norms. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Want to see the other sessions we shared at EngageOK? Check them out here.
Mark your calendars! Each meeting will take place on a Sunday at 4:00 pm.
Date/ Topic:
- October 16 - Creating Class Norms
- November 20 - Teacher Talk Moves
- January 22 - Instructional Intervals
- February 19 - Puzzle Problems/ Math Tasks
- April 16 - Stations/ Centers
Computer Science/ Algebra Integration
Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, Senate Bill 252 will require all public and public charter elementary and middle schools to offer instruction aligned to the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Computer Science. By participating in the upcoming free Bootstrap professional learning cohorts and implementing the free and open computer science/mathematics curriculum, middle schools will meet the Senate Bill 252 requirement of providing integrated computer science coursework aligned to the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Computer Science.
Bootstrap, a non-profit organization based out of Brown University, has partnered with OSDE to provide free computer science/mathematics integration professional learning opportunities and free and open curriculum for pre-algebra and algebra teachers.
Pre-algebra and algebra teachers may apply for the next Bootstrap cohort taking place December 9-10 (in-person, Stillwater), January 7 (virtual), February 4 (virtual) and March 4 (virtual).
Applications for this training are due on Friday, October 28, 2022.
Access the application here.
For more information, visit the OSDE Computer Science/Mathematics Integration webpage.
Imagine Math is back for another year! Use this program to differentiate instruction and see academic growth!
Why Imagine Math?
View the Imagine Math 3+ Overview (3 min.)
Who is eligible?
All 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students in Oklahoma Public Schools will be eligible for Imagine Learning’s Imagine Math licenses. Imagine Learning is also offering all additional individual PK-4 licenses at a 50% discount.
What about professional development?
All PD is included in the grant! Registration information for virtual and in-person PD sessions will be sent once your grant application is processed.
Apply now!
Click here to apply for the 2022-23 OSDE – Imagine Math Grant!
Note: Last year’s registrations do not carry over; everyone must register again this year.
For more information, visit the OSDE Math website.
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 Guides for prekindergarten through sixth grade are newly available for music, physical education and visual art, as well as kindergarten through fifth grade for health.
Written by subject matter experts in the OSDE’s Office of Curriculum and Instruction, the guides are color-coded by subject. The front side of each guide focuses on grade- and subject-specific expectations and learning goals for the school year and what to do at home to help children reach them. The reverse side includes guiding questions to foster additional skills including curiosity, communication and comprehension, or to connection across school subjects.
Each of the guides is a printable, one-page flyer convenient for at-home use or while meeting or talking with teachers during conferences or other occasions. Suggestions in each guide were designed to be easily integrated into existing family routines and schedules. Guides are available by individual grades and subjects, for all subjects within a single grade and for all grades within a subject.
To access the Oklahoma Family Guides, visit sde.ok.gov/oklahoma-family-guides.
The National Science Foundation is currently accepting nominations and applications for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) program. PAEMST are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K–12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teaching. Since 1983, more than 5,000 teachers have been recognized for their contributions to STEM education. Awardees serve as models to their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of STEM education. Up to 108 awardees may be recognized each year.
The PAEMST program is open to outstanding STEM teachers in the 50 states; Washington, D.C.; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; Department of Defense Education Activity schools; and the U.S. Territories as a group.
Anyone—principals, teachers, parents, students, or members of the general public—may nominate a teacher by completing the nomination form available on the PAEMST website. To submit a nomination, you will need the teacher’s name, email address, and school contact information. If you know more than one teacher deserving of this award, you may submit more than one nomination. Teachers may also apply directly at www.paemst.org.
Presidential Awardees receive a certificate signed by the President of the United States; a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities; and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. They also join a network of award-winning teachers from across the country. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on the behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Nomination deadline is January 9, 2023. Application deadline is February 6, 2023. This application round is for secondary teachers (grades 7–12). Elementary teachers (grades K–6) will be eligible to apply during a future cycle.
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Walking into a classroom with bright paper chains draped across the ceiling and pink flamingos, while being met at the door with a smile from Stephanie Guinn, is what students at Hennessey High School see every day. Her students describe her as “energetic”, “optimistic”, and “interactive”, and were happy to share their love of Mrs. Guinn. One student shared, “I never feel dumb asking a question. It’s obvious [Mrs. Guinn] wants to see her students succeed.”
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October’s Oklahoma Math Teacher Spotlight, Stephanie Guinn of Hennessey High School, has been teaching for 28 years at five different schools, including some time in Texas and the Department of Corrections before landing at Hennessey for a second time. She finds ways to connect with her students by using a “Question of the Day” that is not math related but is a way to find out what is going on in her students’ lives. Students write their answers on a strip of paper, which Mrs. Guinn uses to lead a group conversation at the beginning of class, then proceeds to add the strips to the ongoing chain hanging from the ceiling. Different colored paper strips represent varying seasons and school color strips represent game days giving the room an array of colors.
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When asked what her advice would be for math teachers, Mrs. Guinn said, “Don’t worry about making mistakes or about always being right. Show the students you are human too! Or, let them call out your mistakes. It makes them feel smart!”
Is there an Oklahoma Mathematics Educator who has made a positive impact on your life? Do you want to shine a spotlight on them and showcase their talents and the difference they have made in your life? If so, use this form to recommend them, and they might be featured in an upcoming newsletter!
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