Legends of Learning is hosting a fluency contest for students in grades K-8. Please see the attached flyer for additional information and to get involved.
High School Math Reform Conference
A two-day conference is planned in Chicago this March. See the attached flyer for additional details and registration information.
STEM Research Study
Kenya Overton, as part of her doctoral journey, is working with a professor in the Neag School of Education at UConn who is conducting a study on STEM teacher turnover within Connecticut. They are seeking math or science teachers with at least 10 years of experience in the profession and self-identify as Black or African American.
With funding from the National Science Foundation,they are studying STEM teacher movement and attrition in Connecticut. From data gathered by the CT State Department of Education, they uncovered dramatic variation in science and math teacher movement based on individuals’ race and gender. However, that information is very limited and they can only speculate about the underlying stories that explain this phenomenon. Consequently, they wish to conduct interviews with science and math teachers who could share their perspectives with us.They are particularly interested to learn from Black teachers who have been in the profession for approximately ten years. The plan is as follows:
- For those who agree to participate in this study, they will arrange for three interviews for which each participant will receive an average of $200 per session. The first interview will be an individual interview scheduled at a time convenient to the participant in early 2024. This interview will be approximately 75 minutes in duration and could take place either in-person or virtually. The second interview would involve three to four STEM teachers in a focus group and will require about 90 minutes. Once again, depending on participant preferences, the focus group could be in-person or virtual. This would be scheduled in late spring. The third and final interview would take place during summer and would be individually scheduled. We anticipate this interview would require 75 minutes.
- The goal for this study is to identify factors supportive of math and science teachers remaining in the teaching profession. They anticipate uncovering a range of personal, workplace, and institutional variables that contradict the common sad stories of teachers leaving their schools or departing the career. Knowing what traits, characteristics, and systems that promote math and science teacher retention would inform discussions about diversifying the STEM teaching profession and also enlighten schools and universities about approaches that could remedy long-standing shortages of math and science teachers.
If you are or know of any Black math or science teachers who might be interested in participating, I encourage you to pass this message along to them. Interested persons can email Kenya Overton at kenya.overton@uconn.edu or Dr. John Settlage at john.settlage@uconn.edu to provide their contact information. They will then follow-up with additional information about the study so they can make an informed decision about participating.
Your assistance with promoting this study to potential participants is greatly appreciated. The challenges of diversifying the teaching workforce must attend to retention as much as to enticing new entrants into the profession. Your support assist in capturing the realities of STEM teacher turnover which will in turn inform practice and policy.
Fellow Spotlight
Jackie Rankin, Bulkeley High School, Hartford Public Schools
Noyce Fellow Jackie Rankin, along with Hartford-colleague and Noyce Fellow Kate Grayeb, are spearheading an effort to support Hartford math in taking up and implementing the Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) (Liljedahl, 2020) instructional model. Jackie and Kate were asked by her math director to co-lead this work with a cohort of 30 teachers from grades 6 through 12 who are piloting BTC. In this role, they present webinar-type sessions for teachers, to inform them of the key ideas and philosophies of BTC and facilitate collaborative study groups throughout the year to support teachers as they implement the model in their classrooms. In addition, Jackie was TEAM trained (mentoring training for the state) as part of the Noyce program and is hosting a student teacher from UConn this year. Jackie is excited to mentor and collaborate with her student teacher and highlight the benefits of teaching math and teaching in Hartford. Extending her leadership activities, Jackie presented to teachers, coaches and math leaders at the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in New England (ATMNE) annual conference in October in Portland, Maine. The session focused on effective task design- drawing on BTC principles – to enhance engagement and student autonomy. Jackie is teaching Algebra 1 and a Freshman intervention course called Transition to Algebra this year.
Fellow Spotlight
Kelsey Onofrio, Joseph Melillo Middle School, East Haven Public Schools
Kelsey Onofrio is one of two 8th-grade teachers at Joseph Melillo Middle School in East Haven. As a Fellow, she has stepped into multiple leadership roles this year at the school-level and beyond. Last spring, Kelsey opened her classroom for math coaches from Hartford Public Schools to observe the Building Thinking Classroom (BTC) model in action. Within her school, Kelsey will be a TEAM mentor for the first time, supporting a new 7th-grade math teacher. Drawing on her experience working with the BTC model, Kelsey was asked to lead an interdisciplinary initiative to bring the model to all subject areas at her middle school. In addition, Kelsey was invited to participate as part of East Haven’s team in an interdistrict consortium through The Acceleration Networked Improvement Community (NIC) and Partners for Educational Leadership. Reaching out state-wide, in August, Kelsey – along with Fellows Marta Soto-Johnson and William McKinney – hosted a Back-to-School Webinar on BTC and how to design curricular tasks that promote student autonomy. The webinar was attended by educators from across the state and is posted online at this link.
Fellow Spotlight
Shawn McClory, Manchester High School, Manchester Public Schools
Shawn McClory teaches statistics, geometry and AP Statistics at Manchester High School. Stepping into some new leadership roles, Shawn is hosting a UConn master’s intern this year. Together they are exploring how to help students find more meaning in math class and connect it to their future endeavors. Shawn will continue to improve his own teacher practice while mentoring a future classroom teacher. Shawn is also a TEAM Mentor this year for a second-year math teacher. Extending beyond his classroom, Shawn hosted UConn’s senior math education cohort for a session, leading them in activities and discussion about implementing problem solving tasks and supporting high engagement. He facilitated a similarly focused district back-to-school professional development session. In October, he presented Launching Problem Solving Tasks to Maximize Engagement at his first regional conference, the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in New England (ATMNE), in Portland, Maine. Shawn is extensively involved in other aspects of the school and community. He is currently the treasurer of the local teachers union, the Manchester Education Association (MEA); coaches basketball and golf; and serves on Climate Committee and as the advisor to LINK- a student leadership and mentor group that organizes events and programs to build camaraderie between student leaders and the ninth graders.
CCLM Winter Roundtable Event
CCLM would like to invite you to register for our Winter Roundtable Event. Please see details below:
EVENT: CCLM Winter 2024 Panel & Roundtable Event
WHEN: Friday February 2, 2024 9:00-2:30
WHERE: Albertus Magnus College
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER
Discussion Focus: The Essential Conditions identified in the Equity in Mathematics Education: A Joint Position Statement for Connecticut which was fully endorsed by the State Board of Education September 6, 2023.
Math Research Partnership Opportunity
In collaboration with Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Research and Reform in Education, The Math Learning Center (MLC) is seeking district partners for a research project involving our newest edition of Bridges in Mathematics Third Edition. As you may have heard,the latest edition of Bridges in Mathematics is designed to promote deep understanding of mathematical concepts, proficiency with key skills, and the ability to solve complex problems. During Bridges instruction, students are actively engaged as capable mathematical sensemakers, drawing upon their knowledge bases to support learning. Bridges also supports teachers in delivering engaging, rigorous, standards-based instruction while incorporating equitable and effective teaching practices.
The goals of the research project are to:
- Examine short-term and long-term program impacts of Bridges on student learning
- Understand educator implementation of Bridges
- Refine professional learning experiences for Bridges educators
Benefits of the project include:
- Bridges curriculum kits for participating K-5 classrooms at no cost
- Professional learning workshops at no cost
- Stipends for teacher participating in research activities
- Opportunities to give input on data collection instruments
- Sharing of findings through reports or presentations
To be eligible, districts must:
- Serve a diverse student population
- Have at least 13 elementary schools
- Are not currently using Bridges or Number Corner
Interested districts can learn more about the research project by completing the form at bit.ly/B3Research_Interest or by contacting MLC’s Director of Research, Emily Saxton, at emilys@mathlearningcenter.org.
Free Workshop Coming Soon (Middle School)
Grades 6 & 7 mathematics teachers are invited to join a free online workshop about Visual Access to Mathematics, a professional learning course with a focus on English learners/multilingual learners (Els/MLs). This will take place on Monday, December 4, 2023 from 3:15 – 4:45 pm. This workshop will provide a sneak peak into the Visual Access to Mathematics professional learning course that will be offered starting in 2024. For more details and information on how to register, see the attached flyer.
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Open in new tab Defined Professional Learning Opportunities in Fairfield County
Defined Learning
The CSDE, in partnership with Defined, is providing an immersive and collaborative professional learning opportunity to engage educators in Defined Learning on December 6th from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST at Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy. Click here for more information and to register.
Defined Learning is one of three components of the Defined ecosystem available to all CT districts at no cost. This immersive and collaborative experience brings together educators to introduce the Defined Learning resources and discuss best practices to utilize them in the classroom. Please bring a personal electronic device such as a laptop. All inquiries can be sent to Cheryl Tokarski at Cheryl.Tokarski@ct.gov.
Defined Careers
The CSDE, in partnership with Defined, is providing an immersive and collaborative professional learning opportunity to engage educators in Defined Careers on December 7th from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST at Stamford Public Schools. Click here for more information and to register.
Defined Careers is one of three components of the Defined ecosystem available to all CT districts at no cost. This immersive and collaborative professional learning experience brings together school counselors and educators to deepen their understanding of how to utilize Defined Careers in the classroom, in advisory, and for career guidance. Please bring a personal electronic device such as a laptop. All inquiries can be sent to Cheryl Tokarski at Cheryl.Tokarski@ct.gov.