Even as we recognize the incredible challenges of this year, we all learned strategies and skills no one would have thought possible just 14 months ago.
We would like to take the space here in our last newsletter of the 2020-21 school year to highlight and celebrate the amazing accomplishments of math educators as they navigated and adapted to the many formats of learning this year brought.
While we hope for schools to be able to open more traditionally this fall, mathematics learning moving forward can be transformed by these silver linings from this stormy year.

New Learning

"I flipped my class by recording my direct instruction so that students could access learning when they wanted to and review lessons as needed. This gave students more ownership of their learning. I also used my zoom classtimes as drop in math support instead of trying to use it for "direct instruction" so that students could ask questions about the concepts. This offered multiple times throughout the week for students to receive help when they needed it."

"Waterfall online or in person with white boards.... more math routines in my tool kit"

"Math Labs in remote environments. This has allowed many more people, schools, leaders to be involved."

Bringing with me into the new school year

"Desmos!"

"love, love, love the 1-1 zoom help sessions. Got to really know kids without the pressure of looking silly while asking clarifying questions or asking for help! Hope we can keep that going next year. Got really into Desmos- fun and engaging! learned how to use jamboard- great tool! The free math apps are also really cool for kids to use and then cut/paste work into documents."

"Everett has adopted a common problem-based math curriculum K-12 in Illustrative Mathematics and despite remote learning has continued with a research-based professional development system called Math Labs building. 2021-22 is set to begin merging NCTM's Catalyzing Change 4 key recommendations with Math labs where principals and math coaches support the learning of teachers and students."

Celebrations/Silver linings

"The fact that my students hung in there and that they were successful despite this crazy year!"

"My kids are super resilient, they are brave and they are resourceful. I am so darn proud of them and what they have worked through... and a lot of them on their own!"

Here are a few of the books/audio books that are on our summer reading list:

Figuring Out Fluency in Mathematics Teaching and Learning by Bay-Williams and SanGiovanni

Culturally Responsive Education in the Classroom: An Equity Framework for Pedagogy by Adeyemi Stembridge

Access & Equity: Promoting HIgh-Quality Mathematics Grades Pre-K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 edited by Fernandes, Crespo, Celedón-Pattichis, White, and Civil

Teaching Math to Multilingual Students: Positioning English Learners for Success by Chval, Smith, Trigos-Carrillo, Pinnow

The Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching is K–12 STEM Teaching’s Highest Honor

Six Washington math and science teachers have been selected as finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Award, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) announced today.

The state-level finalists are:

Mathematics

• Kevin Cullen, NBCT teaches AP pre-calculus, calculus, and computer science at Friday Harbor High School in San Juan Island School District.
• Kristi Martin teaches integrated math at A.G. West Black Hills High School in Tumwater School District
• Tyronne McEuen teaches geometry at Chiawana High School in Pasco School District

Science

• Johanna Brown teaches AP and college prep chemistry and AP computer science at Pullman High School in Pullman School District
• Colleen LaMotte, NBCT teaches 6th and 7th grade science at Einstein Middle School at Shoreline Public Schools
• Dianne Thompson, NBCT teaches biology, biotechnology, and AP environmental science at Meadowdale High School in Edmonds School District

Read the full news release to learn more.

The Washington State Fellows’ Network is a grassroots program supported by a partnership between OSPI and the Association of Educational Service Districts (AESD). This three-year program is designed to build teacher leaders in Mathematics, Science, ELA and Early Learning through ongoing professional learning and collaboration. Although Fellows have traditionally met four times each year within their region, in 2020-21 math fellows met virtually to develop relationships across the state.

All applicants are encouraged to consider a multi-year commitment to reap the full benefits of the program; prospective applicants who can commit to only one year may still participate. 

• 2021–22 New and Returning Fellows Application
• 2021–22 Emeritus Fellows Interest Survey

More information and frequently asked questions can be found on the Fellows’ page on OSPI’s website.

Exploring Math Through Stories

Great stories are a wonderful way to get young people of all ages excited and interested in mathematics. The annual book prize, Mathical: Books for Kids from Tots to Teens, recognizes the most inspiring math-related fiction and nonfiction books that bring the wonder of math to life.

Cao Chong Weighs an Elephant (Mathical Honor Book)

Written by Songju Ma Daemicke • Illustrated by Christina Wald 

Ages 5-8  

Key Math Concepts

• Math-Life connection
• Problem Solving

Resources

Want to enjoy Mathical books with the children around you? Feeling uncertain about guiding them through the  book?

• Cao Chong Weighs an Elephant DREME Storybook Guide (PDF, © Stanford University, DREME Network)
• For Creative Minds – Activity & Resource Guide (English PDF)
• Para las mentes creativas – Activity & Resource Guide (Spanish PDF)
• Teaching Activity Guide (PDF)
• Online quizzes: Reading / For Creative Minds / Math
• Author interview (PDF)

Copyright © 2020 All Rights Reserved. Mathematical Sciences Research Institute.

Registration now open for the 2021-22 school year

The Bridge to College Math Virtual Summer Institute will have two format options.

1.   Virtual Summer Institutes:

• New Bridge Teachers: August 3 & 5, 2021
• Returning Bridge Teachers: August 4, 2021
• A combination of virtual and asynchronous learning.

2.   Online Self-Paced Course:

• Available in New and Returning Teacher formats
• Opens mid-August and must be completed by August 31, 2021.
• A completely asynchronous version

•  The New Teacher Summer Institute is mandatory for new teachers and prepares teachers to begin teaching the course with additional professional learning throughout the school year.

•  The Returning Teacher Summer Institute is available to returning teachers; it is required for those who have not yet completed their required professional learning and optional for all others.

•  All virtual sessions include asynchronous follow-up work.

To Register: Districts register for the course at BtC. Registration information for teachers will follow.

We are excited to announce that the Modeling Our World with Mathematics (MOWWM) Summer Institute is now open for registration.

The Modeling Our World with Mathematics (MOWWM) Summer Institute is a free training designed to provide teachers with the familiarity and support to implement the full course and its accompanying assessments in the 2021-22 school year. Teacher familiar with the course will also have the opportunity to engage with updated materials.

Details

The Summer Institute will have two optional formats:

1. Virtual Summer Institute:

• New MOWWM Teachers: August 10 & 12, 2021
• Returning MOWWM Teachers: August 12, 2021
• A combination of virtual and asynchronous learning.

2. Self-Paced Course:

• Available Late August, 2021
• Available in New and Returning Teacher formats
• A completely asynchronous version

•  Teachers who are new to MOWWM complete prework and attend both days of the training

•  Teachers who have previously taught MOWWM attend only the second day

•  All virtual sessions include asynchronous follow-up work