Oregon Math Educator Update - April 2022

April is Arab American Heritage Month, which is a great opportunity to celebrate the contributions of Arab mathematicians to the discipline of mathematics. Two of the biggest contributions include developing the Hindu-Arabic numeration system that is used every day, and the creation of modern Algebra from the work of Muhammad Ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, a ninth century mathematician who first described the process of “al-jabr” or “balancing” equations. Al-Khwarizmi's Latinized name, Algorismus, became synonymous with computation and continues today as the modern term "algorithm."

We encourage educators to share more stories this month highlighting contributions of Arab mathematicians in their classrooms, such as Maryam Mirzakhani, who in 2014 became the first Iranian – and the only woman – to be honored with the Fields Medal. Mathematics holds deep roots in the contributions of Arab mathematicians and the Islamic world.

Photo by Markus Krisetya on Unsplash

Math Standards Guidance Document Released

The standards guidance document has been posted on the ODE math standards page. Educators can find the “K-12 Math Standards with Clarifying Guidance” within the first accordion menu under “2021 Mathematics Standards and Guidance”.  The document includes navigation hyperlinks to quickly view a grade or standard. Questions or comments about the guidance document can be sent anytime to Mark Freed.

2022 Instructional Materials Review Committee 

The Oregon Department of Education is accepting evaluator applications for the 2022 Mathematics Instructional Materials Evaluation. District administrators and supervisors are highly encouraged to share the application with teachers, curriculum specialists, or other experienced professionals with expertise in mathematics for grades K-12.

Please fill out the evaluation committee application if you are interested in serving as an evaluator this summer. Applications are due by 5:00 pm PDT on May 6, 2022. The application form outlines what committee member participation will require during this year’s evaluation.

Individuals who are selected to participate on the committee will receive up to eight hours of professional development and an honorarium for their time. No travel is required for this year's evaluation.

Please consider sharing your expertise and joining this important work. If you have any questions, please contact ODE’s Instructional Materials Coordinator Aujalee Moore.

Now Recruiting for 2022 OSAS Math Item Development in Grades 3-8

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) is seeking educators interested in developing mathematics items for Grade 3-8 assessments within the Oregon Statewide Assessment System. This professional learning opportunity will take place remotely from mid-May through mid-July, and includes both synchronous and asynchronous time for training, item drafting, and review of items. The recruitment notice provides additional information about compensation, attendance requirements, and specific dates of participation. 

Interested applicants should complete this application by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. ODE will notify successful applicants by Friday, April 22, 2022, along with information regarding next steps.

For additional information, please contact Andy Byerley, Mathematics Assessment Specialist.

(Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash)

Tools for Teachers: 

Registration Open for State Network of Educators (SNE) Workshop in July

We are excited to announce that the State Network of Educators (SNE) Workshops are scheduled to be in person in Portland, Oregon in July 2022!

SNE Workshops provide educators with a collaborative opportunity to deepen their understanding of the formative assessment process, develop instructional resources for Tools for Teachers, and build relationships with educators across the Smarter Balanced consortium. Learn more about Tools for Teachers in this YouTube video.

• The first workshop (July 13-15) will be dedicated to the creation of ELA/literacy instructional resources for grades 3 through high school.
• The second workshop (July 18-20) will be dedicated to the creation of mathematics instructional resources for grades 3 through high school. 

If you are interested in participating at one or both workshops, please visit the SNE Workshop Recruitment page to complete the Save-the-Date survey by Friday, April 29, 2022, to indicate your interest. Invitations will be sent during the first week of May. The SNE Workshop Recruitment page provides valuable information and answers frequently asked educator questions about the event.

For additional information, please contact Andy Byerley, Mathematics Assessment Specialist.

Math Visioning Tool

In order for districts to access the full potential of the Oregon Math Project Cornerstones in their 2021 Oregon Math Standards implementation, educators and leaders must first start by identifying what’s working in existing math programs, while also identifying needed shifts.

To help districts with this work, Multnomah ESD’s Math Leadership and Coaching Network has developed a Math Program Visioning Tool that is aligned with the 2021 Oregon Math Standards.

This tool provides an asset-based and equity-centered approach to creating a vision for the future of math learning and teaching. It also invites districts to identify partners and shareholders in their math program. It’s designed to be a living document that can be adapted for local context and continuous improvement. Districts are encouraged to use this tool prior to selecting a new math curriculum, designing math pathways, and/or developing your math professional development plans, as a collaborative visioning process will help align and focus your efforts.

For additional information, please contact Amy Lindahl, K-12 Math and Science School Improvement Specialist at Multnomah ESD.

Photo by Paul Skorupskas on Unsplash

Statewide OER Workshop - May 10

The Oregon Open Learning team will host a statewide OER workshop on Tuesday, May 10th from 4:00 - 5:30 pm. This virtual workshop will be an interactive professional learning event that will provide participants an opportunity to learn about open educational resources (OER) and the Oregon Open Learning Hub, Oregon’s K-12 repository for OER. 

Register for the event here and share the opportunity with your colleagues. Contact the Oregon Open Learning Team at OregonOpenLearning@ode.oregon.gov with any questions. To receive the Oregon Open Learning quarterly newsletter, sign up here.

Oregon Math Leaders Network

The Oregon Math Leaders Network is a community of math practitioners who work together to implement and support math teaching and learning in Oregon. Participants include teacher leaders, TOSAs, program administrators, college faculty, and math community partners. If you identify as a math leader, you are! For the 2021-22 school year, the network meets virtually on the third Thursday of each month, with both morning (8:30-9:30am PT) and afternoon (3:30-4:30pm) options. To receive a calendar invitation and Zoom link, please join the Oregon Math Leaders Google Group. If you’re already a member, you don’t need to sign up again -- you’ll get the invite and link. Our next meeting will be Thursday, April 21, 2022.