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the sum of it all math news
March 2021
My 9-year-old saw me putting together the sayings and dichos from the January Newsletter, and offered his own: “Try just one bite, you might be surprised and like it.”

A year ago, I would have thought working remotely, schooling from home, and Zoom get-togethers sounded awful. But much like the advice to try vegetables or foods beyond my child’s comfort zone, we’ve all tried things this year outside of our comfort zone — and some of them are actually turning into new favorites. Here are two of mine:

Zoom meet-ups: Part of me can’t wait to ditch the Zoom meet-up, but if I’m honest, this new norm has given me regular access to collaborate with people who would otherwise be too far to see regularly. It shouldn’t have taken us a pandemic to figure it out, but I definitely won’t let myself get professionally isolated now that I have some Zoom skills. Note to future self — Zoom is good in moderation!

Record it: I have always been firmly in the camp of educators who would prefer not to be recorded. When given the task to create a video or audio recording, I would retake multiple times and still be unhappy with the final cut, only turning it in when I ran out of time to retake it again. Over this past year, though, audio and video recordings clearly became an issue of accessibility, and that has forever changed how I will view this. While I still cringe a bit when I stumble over words in one of our Math Leaders Bursts, or worry that I’ve said the same thing twice during an episode of our new Sum of It All podcast, I am excited to say that we are making our work more accessible to more people by recording it. And I’ve become more comfortable just being myself, bad lighting and all. 

What have you tried this year that might have started outside your comfort zone but has become a new favorite? What do you want to remember even after things become a new normal? Share it with us on Twitter and read what others have learned using the new hashtag for our community: #SumMathNews.

Speaking of new endeavors, the latest episode of our new Sum of It All podcast drops today. Check out the Professional Learning section below to learn more about it.

Thank you to all of those who wrote in to share a saying, proverb, or dicho you heard growing up that you have heard or said recently after the January newsletter. Whether you shared them with us or others, the sharing of these sayings is another way to get to know one another and begin to understand both our shared experiences and each person’s wonderful uniqueness. Thank you for taking the time to share a piece of yourself with others. 

We look forward to continuing to collaborate with you, and wish you many mathematical adventures until we hear from you again!


Audrey Mendivil
opportunities to learn
Visualize Teaching Professional Development Opportunity
Visualize Teaching is seeking California school districts that are using Illustrative Math or Open Up Resources who want two years of professional development on the mathematical practices, with an emphasis on mathematical argumentation, for their middle school math coaches and teachers. Stipends are included for coaches and teachers for their participation in the research study. The program is NSF-funded. More information is available directly from Project Director Teresa Lara Meloy at 617-873-9819, or Dr. Harriette S. Stevens at hstevens@berkeley.edu.
Center for Mathematics and Teaching (CMAT) Webinars 
A new round of informational webinars titled “Catching Up: Address Learning Loss with MathLinks” is available from CMAT. For those looking for ways to catch students up in grades 6-9 beginning in summer or fall, CMAT has devised a strategy and targeted resources that focus on the major work of middle school mathematics standards. Join the team in a 30-minute informational webinar at 1 p.m. March 10, 11 a.m. March 19, or 2 p.m. on March 22.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Meeting
Access more than 600 education sessions, interactive activities, networking and more at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting. The meeting will take place over two weeks, from April 21 to 24 and from April 28 to May 1, with a single registration fee for all of the sessions. The NCTM 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting offers live presentations with hundreds of on-demand and community activities available.
TODOS Virtual Summer Conference and Leadership Institute
The TODOS 2021 Virtual Conference keynote speaker is Dr. Julia Aguirre, University of Washington, Tacoma, an outspoken advocate for equity and social justice and a passionate educator. Registration is now open for this virtual learning opportunity on June 21 to 23 and the follow-up Leadership Institute on June 24 to 25.
San Diego Math Leaders Network
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 Math Leaders Burst for the month, and then join us for the Math Leaders Discussion on the third Thursday of the month from 9 to 10 a.m. Email Audrey Mendivil or Mark Alcorn for more information and to register.
NEW! Sum of It All: Thinking Classrooms Podcast
Join Audrey Mendivil and Mark Alcorn in a new podcast as they explore Peter Liljedahl’s book, Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics. You can join this asynchronous book club by either previewing or reviewing the chapter featured in each Sum of It All: Thinking Classrooms podcast. Add your thoughts and questions by joining the conversation on Twitter using #SumMathChat. Listen along here with the newest episode going live today!
SDSU Math Project: Elementary Math Professional Learning
Nick Johnson, assistant professor in the School of Teacher Education at San Diego State University and associate director of the San Diego Math Project, is offering two new sessions for elementary teachers and leaders. Promoting Engagement in Math Discussions: Leveraging Irresolution will be from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. March 23 and is designed for a K-5 audience with some experience in using children’s thinking to guide instruction. Beyond Number: Instructional Activities in Early Childhood Math will be from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. May 4 for those serving PreK to Kindergarten. You can RSVP for either session using this form.
Register now! San Diego Math Leaders Summit 2021
Join math leaders from across the county in the virtual San Diego Math Leaders Summit from 8:30 to 10 a.m. April 8. Every year, we come together at the summit to network and grow our collective work to better support all learners. This year will be an abbreviated and flexible version, but it will continue to be an opportunity to push your thinking and leave with ideas to help you lead mathematics learning. Register today and look for more details in your inbox this month. 
Find the latest math professional learning opportunities and resources on SDCOE’s math webpage.
state and local updates
California Math Council (CMC) Sponsored Framework Sessions
The Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve (Mathematics Framework) is currently under revision.The California Mathematics Council (CMC) invites you to engage in conversations about the draft Mathematics Framework. CMC is hosting a series of events to help educators and the public learn about, explore, and discuss the draft Mathematics Framework. Framework conversations are free and open to members and non-members. Visit the CMC website for current information and links to register for events. 

Revised Mathematics Framework 
The 2021 Math Framework is drafted and ready for public review. Check out the updated timeline and read and offer feedback on the drafted chapters. 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 for the next event on March 23. For more information contact Mindy Shacklett.

Integrated and Thematic Units of Study for Summer
Looking to do something different during summer session? If you haven’t checked out the integrated and thematic units of study, these units can flexibly fit a variety of distance and in-person learning situations including summer sessions. Created by SDCOE in collaboration with California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE), the units for grades K-12 are based on essential understandings in every content area, and 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
grant opportunities
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. 
worth the read

  • Learning loss can be more than a politicized phrase — it can be quantified and qualitatively described. In this blog post by two executives from NWEA, a closer look is taken at learning loss. 

  • Alan Shoenfield takes a different approach to learning loss and advocates for an academic reset, in this article out of UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Education. 

spotlights
This month we are spotlighting protocols. Whether you’re leading professional development, coaching, or workshopping with students — a protocol can help guide participants through a process, build collective understanding, or help participants arrive at a specific outcome. Each protocol is a series of steps that a team can work through in order to give structure for teams to work collaboratively and efficiently together.

If you’re new to protocols, check out Chalk Talk and imagine how you could use this with students at the end of a lesson to reflect on what was learned, or Consultancy if you’re working through a problem of practice with other teachers or colleagues.

The National School Reform Harmony Protocols and the School Reform Initiative Protocols both offer extensive lists of protocols that can be searched by name, and include access to a printable file of the protocol directions and materials needed.  

While the protocols themselves are not complex, “thoughtful use of these protocols is an integral part of building resilient professional learning communities” and can help teams, communities, and classrooms develop shared processes of developing knowledge, skill, and understanding. 
Mathematics Coordinator
Grades K-5
858-295-8863

Director
Grades 6-8
858-295-8886
Mathematics Coordinator
Grades 9-12
858-295-8856
Contact Christina Fekas-Gorman with questions or comments about The Sum of It All newsletter.
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