Math for America

“This fall, I am co-facilitating a Professional Learning Team focused on Illustrative Mathematics (IM) to support teachers in navigating this new curriculum and sharing effective strategies for modifying content as needed. Many districts across the city have mandated the use of IM, which encourages students to explore and discuss mathematical concepts through a variety of engaging instructional routines and protocols. While the program offers valuable opportunities for building strong mathematical understanding, teachers have questions about how to effectively implement the curriculum and adapt lessons to meet their students’ diverse needs. MƒA has provided an excellent platform for math teachers to collaborate and share insights as we work with on this together. They’ve given us opportunities to discuss mathematics in a space free from the usual classroom and administrative pressures. Experiences like these inspire me and have significantly transformed my classroom, reinforcing my commitment to teaching in New York Public Schools.” MƒA Teacher Talk: MƒA Master Teacher Benjamin Allen teaches Mathematics at M.S 137 America’s School of Heroes in Queens #MfAProud

At this month’s MƒA Thursday Think speaker series, Jeremy Fielding presented “You Spin Me Right Round: Tesla’s Greatest Invention” and taught teachers how induction motors work, highlighting the role of electromagnetism and making them come alive with props easily transferable to the classroom. Following the talk, teachers explored and built their own induction devices. Join us on November 19 for “Pondering Playfulness: How to Unveil the Mathematics That Matters” as teacher and youtuber, Eddie Woo, discusses the pedagogical principles behind a range of activities, providing a low floor, high ceiling, and wide walls approach to encourage mathematical thinking. Learn more at mathforamerica.org/events #MfAProud

🎳✨ We had an absolute blast last weekend during our MƒA Family Bowling Night! The evening was filled with strikes, cheers, and building community. Friendly competition and support from all the different MƒA families made it even more special. A huge thank you to our volunteers - Arah Lewis, Ben Morgenroth, Danilsa Fernandez, Dash Anderson, Elizabeth Whelan, KC Reddy, Meera Zucker, Migdalia Sanabria, Shirvonne McCarthy - for making this event a success! #MfAProud Photo Credit: Keith Lau

Mathematics is a constant in school, but how it’s taught has changed dramatically in recent years. One primary motivation for those changes is to prepare students for a more unpredictable and complex future. In a story for National Geographic, MƒA President Maria Klawe and MƒA Master Teachers Dawoun Jyung and Danilsa Fernandez offer their expertise on how today's teaching methods prioritize creative problem-solving over traditional formulas and equations. https://lnkd.in/gG6atC97

MƒA News: We've awarded 109 new four year fellowships to New York City K-12 public school STEM teachers. These teaching professionals join the larger MƒA community which now grows to 976 highly accomplished mathematics and science teachers who teach in nearly 400 schools reaching approximately 100,000 students across all five boroughs. Read the full announcement on our website. #MfAProud https://bit.ly/3UoEcQT

MƒAdventure: This summer, MƒA teachers went on a twilight Horseshoe Crab walk at Plumb Beach in Brooklyn where they observed fascinating marine invertebrates as they came to shore to spawn under a full moon. #MfAProud teachers, have you ever observed living fossils in their natural habitat? What are some ways you can bring experiences like these back to your classroom?

"I enjoy math most when I’m solving puzzles or looking for patterns; to engage and excite my students, I share that passion and give them opportunities to experience math the same way. For example, when I teach Euclidean proofs in geometry, I ask my students to organize two piles of claims and justifications. Some students quickly discover that the number of these statements doesn’t match up and assume they must have lost an item. When I inform them they haven’t lost a sorting piece but instead need to figure out which claim or justification is unnecessary, they become even more invested. This approach leads to robust debates about which puzzle pieces don't belong. The success of these sorting activities is not just based on finding the correct answer, but rather on the thinking and decision-making needed to make connections between concepts and applications. My students feel mathematically empowered as we celebrate their mistakes, the patterns they notice, and the language they create. They know I believe in them." MƒA Teacher Talk: Master Teacher Renu Budhraja teaches Mathematics at Millennium Brooklyn HS #MfAProud

Picture this: you receive a grant from MƒA that enables you to explore the natural world by taking an exhilarating 10 day trip to the Galapagos Islands. Amid tagging giant sea turtles, eradicating invasive species in the Santa Cruz highlands, and cleaning up microplastics on beaches, you discover lesson frameworks and hands-on nature-based learning opportunities for your students. Read about this once-in-a-lifetime journey featuring MƒA Master Teacher Laura Ralph on the MƒA blog. #MfAProud https://lnkd.in/eR_v7TSP Ecology Project International Billion Oyster Project

In a story first broadcasted on Spectrum News NY1, MƒA President Maria Klawe and MƒA Master Teachers Jason Ovalles and Meredith Klein shared their thoughts on New York City's rollout of the Illustrative Math curriculum for nearly all high schools. The curriculum takes a problem-based approach to learning algebra, and was used in 260 schools last year. Reaction from teachers who have used the new curriculum is mixed.

#BacktoSchool 📚✏️🎒 As we dive into the new school year, we’d like to wish teachers within the MƒA community and beyond a year full of new opportunities, ongoing collaboration, and memorable moments. From day one, your commitment, hard work, and professionalism shines bright. If you are an MƒA teacher, we encourage you to tag us and use #MƒAProud on your #BackToSchool posts!