In several network meetings, we’ve recently shared dichos, or sayings, and proverbs, that we grew up hearing. It’s an idea from Zaretta Hammond’s book Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain. It comes from our need for social-emotional connection with others, such as learning about each other, our cultures and upbringings, and our current experiences in the world.
One that I grew up hearing is “You are powerful and powerless all at the same time.” I saw this tweet last week, and it appealed to me both as a mathematician and for visually representing this saying from my upbringing.
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As I start this new year, for me this is about being both powerful and powerless all at the same time, and finding the balance in that. The image reminds me that every part of that circle matters. Without it, it wouldn’t be a circle. But there are millions of other parts (infinitely many other parts) that matter equally as much.
This tension between powerful and powerless is the same tension between action and inaction, panic and comfort.
Hidden somewhere in between each of those is a place where we grow, stretch, and change. A place where collectively we have impact even though individually it might seem too small to note.
In this new year, the San Diego County Office of Education Math team wants to support you in finding ways out of the panic and comfort zones and into a place of stretch and growth. We continue to develop new ways to support our collective work, in search of that balance in making a difference for our students and their experiences as mathematicians.
If you are willing to share a saying you’ve heard growing up that you have heard or said recently, send it to us. The first 10 people to will get a beautiful math postcard. Just include your name, the dicho, saying, or proverb, and an address to audrey.mendivil@sdcoe.net.
We look forward to continuing to collaborate with you, and wish you a year of stretch and growth.
Audrey Mendivil
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TODOS Live! Webinar
The first TODOS Live! webinar of the new year will be Jan. 19 at 4 p.m. Register for the professional learning, Developing ELs’ Math Language, presented by Jim Ewing at the event site.
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Math Leaders Networks
Math Leaders meetings will continue to focus on how we can leverage a routine and an element of high-quality math instruction to better support students and teachers across San Diego County. Access the January Burst on Number Talk and Goals, and then join us for the Math Leaders Discussion from 9 to 10 a.m. Jan. 21 by registering here.
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National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference
Reimagining Mathematics Education: Learning from the Past in Order to Move Forward is a virtual conference Feb. 1 to 6 with live sessions scheduled from 12:30 to 6 p.m. daily. Learn more and register on the conference website.
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Upcoming California Math Council
California Math Council (CMC) is going virtual this year. If you missed CMC South and North, there is one more opportunity. A smaller, more intimate learning environment is put together by CMC-Central for March 12 to 13. For more information visit the CMC website.
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Save the Date! TODOS Virtual Summer Conference
Dr. Julia Aguirre, University of Washington, Tacoma, is an outspoken advocate for equity and social justice and a passionate educator who will be the keynote speaker for TODOS 2021 Virtual Conference. Mark your calendar for June 21 to 23 for this learning opportunity.
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Revised Framework
The 2021 Math Framework is being drafted and nearly ready for public review. Check out the updated timeline and gear up for the first public review beginning in February. If you’d like to get regular updates from the California Department of Education, join the mailing list.
Mathematics, Policy, and Leadership Network
Interested in learning more about policy news and events? Join SDCOE for our Mathematics, Policy, and Leadership Network. Next meeting will be February 10 from 10:000am-12:00pm. For more information contact Mindy Shacklett.
Integrated and Thematic Units of Study
In collaboration with California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE), the San Diego County Office of Education has developed integrated and thematic units of study, designed for flexible use in a variety of distance and in-person learning situations. Based on essential understandings in every content area, these units can be used to accelerate learning for students while ensuring access to all content areas. Learn more about these free and open source units at bit.ly/SDCOE-Learn.
CANMEE Lesson Study Course
The California Action Network for Mathematics Excellence and Equity (CANMEE) is offering an opportunity to learn about lesson study in a virtual environment. This symposium brings together lesson study practitioners and those interested in lesson study to share what’s happening in their regions, determine what we’re doing in common, and discuss how we can leverage resources. For more information, contact Dr. Kyndall Brown, executive director of the California Mathematics Project Statewide Office.
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These grants are available to local educators and have been modified to be reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis to better support teachers in implementing distance/remote learning. From integrating technology, to providing manipulatives, to supporting access and equity for all students, GSDMC has a grant or scholarship for you.
Get support to involve families and communities in fun, interactive, exciting math activities, such as hosting an appropriately physically distanced math festival. This scholarship can help to cover the costs. Applications are ongoing.
Did you attend CMC-South? If so, you’re eligible to apply for these grants and scholarships, which include money for classroom resources and professional learning.
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A chance to reconsider the idea of “doing the math for real,” this blogpost offers insight through a personal story on reconsidering how we begin to view doing the math differently.
Are math coaches and specialists worth the cost? Check out Phi Delta Kappan’s one-of-a-kind research on the topic here, as they have worked to separate this type of professional support from other initiatives to get a clear picture on the exact impact of match coaches on campus.
Make Schools More Human by Jal Mehta takes lessons from the pandemic to look at both the ways education is broken and how we can fix it.
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This month, we are spotlighting the ways that math is visualized. With distance and remote learning in mind, we picked a few of our favorites to help you “see” math differently:
For our elementary colleagues, Mathigon has entered the scene pretty recently and offers many free tools that can feel playful, fun, and beautiful, such as the polypad and visual multiplication. If you’ve enjoyed Prime Climb and noticed the connection in visual multiplication, you might also like Prime Line, a chance to visualize numbers through their prime composition on a number line.
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Mathematics Coordinator
Grades K-5
858-295-8863
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Director
Grades 6-8
858-295-8886
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Mathematics Coordinator
Grades 9-12
858-295-8856
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Get up-to-the-minute information about what's happening at SDCOE and in our districts across the county. |
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