MAST 4 Teachers
MAST 4 Teachers Professional Learning for Educators will take place Wednesday, August 20th from 8:30-12:30. Join by clicking the link on the flier below!
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.
Coming Soon
Available July 28th - Ep. 12 - Social Emotional Learning: More than Just Chair Yoga with Principal Rhiannon Beery and Superintendent Darin Hannum of Bainville Public Schools
August - Ep. 13 - Getting Ready: New School Year & New Standards Coming, with your state’s ELA, Math, and Science Coordinators
September - Ep. 14 - Looking Forward: 5th graders report out on what they need from school, with teacher leader Tracy Babcock and her 5th grade class
Check Out Recent Episodes
Math
The Office of Public Instruction is offering two math webinar series beginning in August!
Register for the Montana Math Monthly Implementation webinar now!
Register for the Big Sky Standards: Real World Data webinar series now!
New Resources have been added to the math standards revision website including:
- PK-12 Guidance Document
- One-pagers to support district communications with stakeholder groups
- Tools to support alignment work
- Recommended pathways, course alignment, financial literacy guidance, and more!
Math Minute
July’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 advice for starting small with IEFA and Math integration, 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!
STEM
Register now for the 2025 STEM Summer Institute: July 28-30 at MSU in Bozeman
Get involved with the Montana STEM Ecosystem: Reach out to Heather Jameson (heather@mtafterschoolalliance.org), Strategic Initiatives Lead
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Keep updated on:
Find many other resources and opportunities on the Montana OPI Science Page.
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ELA
NCTE Convention & Grant Opportunity
The National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention will take place November 20-23 in Denver, CO. Check out the convention website to register and learn more.
Grant Opportunity: A grant from the Rise Up Foundation and its founder, author Alane Adams, offers fifty K–8 classroom educators a scholarship to the 2025 NCTE Annual Convention in Denver. Learn more and apply by August 17.
Back to School Professional Learning Webinars
NCTE members can register for free for the following webinars:
Facing History and Ourselves is also offering free virtual and on-demand Back-to-School Professional Development offerings and instructional resources.
International Literacy Day is September 8!
The International Literacy Association (ILA) is launching a month-long campaign that celebrates literacy through the Children’s Rights to Read initiative. You can learn more here.
You can also learn about the International Literacy Association’s 2025 Book Award Winners in children’s and young adult literature
ELA Content
Check out the Montana OPI ELA page to learn about professional learning opportunities, instructional resources, standards revisions, and more!
Montana’s English Language Proficiency (ELP) Standards
These standards support the academic success of Academic English Learners and Multilingual Learners (AELs & MLs) by recognizing and building on the rich linguistic and cultural assets they bring to the classroom. These students, that include speakers of Indigenous, heritage, immigrant languages, or diverse varieties of English, contribute to a vibrant and inclusive learning environment. Affirming students’ cultural identities and fostering academic English development in the four domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing are essential for full participation in all content areas. The ELP Standards are aligned with Montana’s academic content standards and the Indian Education for All Essential Understandings, and they serve as a guide for schools and districts to implement high-quality instruction, integrated literacy strategies, and community-centered supports. These standards reflect Montana’s commitment to ensuring all students thrive in school, graduate with confidence, and are prepared for college, careers, and lifelong learning.
Montana & The WIDA Consortium
Montana is a proud member of the WIDA Consortium, a national network that develops standards and assessments for English language learners. While Montana follows the same framework, we refer to them as the English Language Proficiency (ELP) Standards, whereas WIDA officially calls them English Language Development (ELD) Standards. These aligned standards ensure consistency and rigor in supporting multilingual students across the state.
For detailed information on funding, forms, and procedures, please visit the English Learners section of the Montana Office of Public Instruction website.
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