We embrace the vibrancy of Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring and celebrating the profound impacts American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America have had—and continue to have—on the shared body of science, mathematics, engineering, technology, and related fields.
Hispanic Heritage Month, which spans September 15th to October 15th, took root in 1968 when it began as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson. It was later expanded to a month-long celebration by President Reagan in 1988. The significance of September 15th lies in its commemoration of the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Additionally, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16th and September 18th, respectively.
In this special edition of our newsletter, we are excited to share profiles of influential Hispanic math educators who have made significant contributions to the field. These profiles are available in a PowerPoint presentation created by Dr. Kris Childs that you can access here.
Join us in celebrating their achievements and inspiring our students with stories of perseverance, innovation, and excellence.
Information courtesy of www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov.
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ODE Announcements
Nominations are Open for 2024-25
PAEMST Awards
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K–12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teaching.
Anyone—principals, teachers, parents, students, or members of the general public—may nominate exceptional STEM teachers who are currently teaching grades 7-12 for the 2024-25 award year. Teachers may also apply directly on the PAEMST website.
Nominations can be submitted beginning on August 1st and will be accepted through the end of the application cycle on February 6, 2025. Nominators are encouraged to give their nominees as much time as possible to complete the application, and it is recommended that all nominations are submitted by January 6, 2025.
Beginning this school year, nominators can submit nominations for both the current 7th-12th grade cycle as well as for next year's K-6th grade cycle. All nominees will be notified of their nominations, and 7th-12th grade nominees will be able to begin their application immediately. Questions related to the Oregon PAEMST nomination and application can be directed to Mark Freed, ODE Math Education Specialist.
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OSAS Math Test Blueprints Now Published
The Oregon Statewide Assessment System (OSAS) summative test blueprints for 2024-25 for grades 3 – 8 and 11 along with answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) are published on ODE’s Math Assessment webpage. As OSAS increasingly aligns with the 2021 Oregon K-12 Math Standards, the blueprints are organized by domain and target, maintain a focus on priority targets, and include new Data Reasoning targets at all grade levels. The overall test length is not changing, and overall testing times are estimated to be similar to those in Spring 2024. Questions related to the OSAS Math Test blueprints can be directed to Andy Byerley, ODE Math Assessment Specialist.
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Smarter Balanced Teaching & Learning Innovation Awards
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) invites Oregon public school districts, including public charter schools and Education Service Districts (ESDs), to apply for the Smarter Balanced Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards.
These awards celebrate the most innovative and effective practices that use resources from Smarter Balanced, including OSAS Interim Assessments in ELA and/or Math, Tools for Teachers, and use of OSAS ELA and/or Math test results, including cross-sectional reports. Smarter Balanced will offer up to $10,000 to a public school district in Oregon. Awardees will be featured on Smarter Balanced platforms highlighting their innovations.
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Research and Resources
New NCTM Publication: High School Mathematics
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) has released a new publication at this year’s national conference, titled “High School Mathematics Reimagined, Revitalized, and Relevant.” This publication aims to transform high school mathematics education by making it more engaging, inclusive, and applicable to students’ lives and future careers.
The book proposes a shift from traditional teaching methods to a more student-centered approach that emphasizes real-world applications and critical thinking. It encourages the use of mathematical and statistical modeling to make learning more relevant and meaningful. This reimagined approach is designed to inspire students and help them see the value of mathematics beyond the classroom, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
You can find more information about this publication directly from the NCTM website.
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New NCSM Position Paper: Leading with Technology
The National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM) has recently published a position paper titled Leading with Technology: Enhancing Mathematics for All Students. This paper emphasizes the critical role of technology in modern mathematics education and advocates for its purposeful integration to enhance teaching practices, curriculum, and student assessment.
The paper highlights the importance of integrating technology in a way that supports and enhances mathematical concepts and skills, rather than replacing traditional teaching methods. It underscores that technology, when used thoughtfully and strategically, can significantly benefit learning outcomes. By increasing student engagement and supporting personalized learning, technology can provide access to mathematical learning for students with diverse needs.
You can find this and other position papers on the NCSM website.
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K-5 Quarterly Newsletter
ODE’s Office of Teaching, Learning, and Assessment now publishes a quarterly newsletter for K-5 educators. This newsletter provides resources, opportunities, guidance, and ODE updates tailored specifically to support the integrated and well-rounded instruction that elementary education entails. It aims to streamline information related to K-5 academic standards and instruction into one convenient communication. Sign up for the newsletter today!
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Opportunities for Educators
Data Science For Everyone: Chart the Course Initiative
The “Chart the Course” initiative by Data Science for Everyone (DS4E) is a collaborative effort aimed at expanding data science education and literacy across K-12 schools. This initiative invites educators, policymakers, and the general public to participate in shaping the future of data science education. By engaging a wide range of stakeholders, DS4E aims to develop a national framework for data science education that prepares students for higher education, high-paying careers, and active community engagement.
Educators have the opportunity to contribute by voting on key learning outcomes for K-12 data science education, ensuring that the curriculum is comprehensive, inclusive, and reflective of the skills students need to navigate the modern information era.
The process involves three main steps:
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Download the draft learning outcomes to review the proposed educational goals.
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Cast votes for the top K-12 data science learning outcomes through a virtual ballot.
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Share the initiative on social media to raise awareness and encourage broader participation.
If you’re interested in contributing to this initiative, you can find more details and participate in the voting process on their website. Deadline for submitting your vote by October 15, 2024.
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Join the 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 invited!
The 2024-25 virtual meetings will continue to take place on the third Thursday of each month at 8:30 AM on Zoom. Register now for the 2024 Virtual OML Network Meetings.
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OCTM/ODE Afternoon Learning Sessions
In addition to the monthly Oregon math leaders network meetings occurring in the morning, the Oregon Council of Teachers of Math (OCTM) will be partnering with ODE to offer afternoon learning sessions for teachers. Each month will feature a different topic and speaker that will be available for all teachers.
Each session will occur on the third Thursday of the month at 4:00 PM PT unless noted otherwise. Save the dates below and look for registration links here and on the ODE Math Homepage as speakers and topics are identified throughout the year. Registration links for the first two sessions are provided below, and we’ll see you there.
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Stay Connected!
If you have an opportunity or announcement to share statewide, please contact the ODE Math Team.
The materials contained in the Department of Education’s Oregon Math Educator Update are drawn from both internal and external sources and inclusion of external materials does not necessarily indicate Oregon Department of Education endorsement.
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