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the sum of it all math news
April 6, 2022
We’ve reached the point of the school year where we can no longer focus just on the present school year, but also have one foot planted firmly in the next school year. The planning, proposing, budgeting — being torn between the two years can feel like straddling two universes — one coming to a close, and the other about to be born. It’s the strangest feeling that can leave us unsettled and divided. Despite this, I also find that it’s a time of hope, both in the optimism that our work has made a difference in children's lives and in our community, and in the opportunity to make the next year better.

While we sit at this uncomfortable juncture, I would like to pass along a few words to focus our next steps. A friend recently pointed me toward Christopher Danielson’s TMC15 talk “Math from the Heart, Not the Textbook.” (You can access the written version here, or view a participant’s video recording in two parts (the first portion and the second portion.)

In the talk, his call to action is simple and yet difficult: “Find what you love. Do more of that.” Let me be very clear — this message is not intended to feed into the Great Resignation, but instead to focus your hope. You see, Christopher confesses that he loves ambiguity. And as soon as he said this, his life’s work began to make sense to me. From two of his masterfully written books Which One Doesn’t Belong and How Many, to his rectangle puzzle, and his TED-Ed One is one, or is it? speech, to his many Twitter hashtags (among my favorites: #sandwichchat, #unitchat, #vehiclechat) — they are all centered around ambiguity. Most importantly, each one of these is perfectly situated in what he loves about math. I’m not particularly fond of ambiguity but I find his work delightful, and I believe that so many of us enjoy his work because his love for math is contagious through it.

I truly believe that when we do what we love, that our love leaves a residue on our work — something that others can feel, sense, and appreciate. 

So as you look to your next steps in closing out this school year, or jump starting into the next one, I’d invite you to consider Christopher’s call to action:
  1. Find what you love
  2. Do more of that

And should you feel discouraged in trying to build something uniquely designed by your love, Christopher also wisely notes that, “What you love can also be found in what you have to do.” You just have to look for it. He closes his talk with this advice:

“Name what you love — be explicit about what makes your mathematical heart sing; what resonates in the depth of your teacher soul — and look for it in every corner of your professional life. Share with your students and share it with us, your colleagues, and your community.”

Sending you all wishes on discovering what you love, getting to do more of that, and looking forward to hearing about it.

Audrey Mendivil
opportunities to learn
View the latest San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) math professional learning opportunities, or click on the links below.
Rosenthal Prize Summer Institute 
If you believe that curiosity, inquiry, and experiment are essential parts of learning mathematics, and are interested in teaching engaging, hands-on lessons that leave middle grade students wanting more, this Summer Institute might be the perfect fit for you. In this unique opportunity, travel to the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City from July 21-23 (expenses covered), and receive a stipend to take your learning back into the classroom. Applications due by May 15.
National Math Festival
Get ready for live online spring events as part of the 2022 National Math Festival on April 23. This event is free and open to the public, with activities designed for all ages, from very young children to teens and adults. Celebrate the fun, beauty, and power of math online through games, puzzles, uplifting and intriguing talks, book readings, and hands-on activities.
Spring Learning Opportunities
The National Math Festival has many film screenings and free programs designed for math teachers and learners. There is also an exciting podcast episode, the return of a dance performance, class visits to Title I schools, Weekly Puzzle Newsletter, and more.
Meet a Mathematician
Have you ever wanted to pick the brain of a mathematician? This is your chance! Join MoMath’s Steven Strogatz in the #MeetAMathematician series. Register at http://meetmath.momath.org for these once-a-month opportunities.
On-Demand Professional Learning
Provided by Amplify, four short courses for those who teach mathematics offer inspiration and practical tips for the classroom. Learn more and register for one or more courses.
Rethinking the Purpose of Math
Elementary teacher Tisha Jones shares that “Math isn’t just about numbers, it’s about thinking,” in her 2017 TEDx Talk. The 12-minute video offers a starting point to discuss with your team — what is the purpose of math?
Delete Deficit Thinking
Brought to you by NCSM, The Game Changers series podcast interviews Rachel Lambert on how changing beliefs can transform the math classroom. With a specific lens on supporting students with disabilities, this is one episode you don’t want to miss.
A Micro-Learning Experience
Don’t feel like you have enough time for professional learning? This two-minute video by Mike Flynn offers a quick look into Flipping the I Do, You Do, We Do Approach, followed by personal reflection and a conversation with a colleague or coach might be all you need to try something new in your classroom.
Creating Lessons for Multilingual Learners
Join fellow math teachers this summer in a paid professional development opportunity hosted by San Diego State University where you’ll learn research-based design principles, discuss and do math with colleagues, and develop lessons for your classes. You’ll leave this summer series knowing how to create lessons where multilingual learners learn key math ideas while participating in discussions. Find more information and registration links here.
Greater San Diego Math Council (GSDMC) Annual Conference
The 2022 GSDMC Conference Stay Class-y San Diego has been postponed to Aug. 6. Register by May 31 for the best discount. Registration includes presentations from leading national and local educators, a toolkit of materials, lunch, a chance to win other prizes, and recognition for the 2021 Outstanding Educator Mathematics Awards winners.
CMC-S Annual Conference Call for Speakers
If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of speaking at a conference, this is your year! Not only is there support available to create your proposal, but the regional math conference is known for how well it treats its speakers. Speakers get complimentary registration to the conference, and can also get travel and materials paid. Apply now to share what you love.
Find the latest math professional learning opportunities and resources on SDCOE’s math webpage.
the sum of it all podcast
Join us for the Sum of It All podcast Season 6: Mathematizing Literature from SDCOE’s Audrey Mendivil and Mark Alcorn, as they explore what could happen if we approached any story with a math lens. Grab a copy of Allison Hintz and Anthony T. Smith’s Mathematizing Children’s Literature: Sparking Connections, Joy and Wonder and explore the ideas and strategies to thoughtfully mathematize learning experiences. The asynchronous book club for educators makes it easy to read along, learn, and explore. The conversation continues on Twitter with @Mark4Math and @Audrey_Mendivil with #SumMathChat.
state and local updates
Open for Public Review: Revised Mathematics Framework 
The 2021 Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve (Mathematics Framework) is open for the second round of public feedback. The drafted chapters are available for reading and comments can be submitted. Join other educators across the state to learn more about specific chapters at Framework Feedback Forums.
2022 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching 
The 2022 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Finalists for California were announced by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and another San Diego County educator was recognized. Therisa Cash is a state finalist and will go on to compete at the national level. Earlier this year, two San Diego County educators, Khamphet Pease and Marlys Williamson, both SDSU alumnae, were awarded with the national 2022 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). We extend our congratulations and gratitude to all three educators for all they do for San Diego County students.
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 April 19. Email Mindy Shacklett to join.
grant opportunities
Multiple grants and scholarships are available through MET, which annually awards more than $150,000 to teachers, schools, and organizations addressing a range of needs such as professional development, coursework, research, and conference attendance. The current round of funding closes May 1.
All San Diego County teachers who have an innovative class project idea can apply online for a grant before April 15. Available to full‐time teachers in San Diego County looking to fund special learning opportunities for their students, the grant will fund $500 toward projects that have clearly defined learning objectives tied to students’ academic needs, display creativity, and benefit a significant number of students.
Grants from GSDMC are available to local educators and awarded on a rolling basis to support teachers during the pandemic. From integrating technology to providing manipulatives and supporting access and equity for all students, GSDMC has a grant or scholarship for you.
Apply for one of several grants and scholarships, which include funding for classroom resources and professional learning. Applications due April 30.
worth the read
Mathematics is supposed to make sense, and when “ideas build on ideas, much like a plot line develops in a novel,” students are able to develop as mathematical thinkers. Ted Coe makes the argument that for mathematics, it’s time to focus on individual student thinking and not on the assumption that a student’s grade level tells us of their mathematical experiences.
Phil Daro reacts to the 2nd draft of Calilfornia’s Math Framework, and suggests in this article that California's new math framework offers a path to greater excellence and equity. As a lead author on the Common Core mathematics standards, Daro shares seven important issues this drafted framework addresses toward improving the teaching of mathematics. 
Recognizing that we must do better in serving the needs of students with disabilities, Toni Barton offers this opinion piece in the Hechinger Report with four ideas to consider.
Researchers Daniel Reinholz and Lisette Torres-Gerald are “celebrating disabled brilliance and creating a new narrative about how to think about disability and mathematics” in their opening piece on their new website: Sines of Disability: Disrupting Ableism in Mathematics and Beyond.
Opening Up to Math by Sarah Strong offers practical advice backed by research to use open-ended questions in math. She offers interviews from students and tips for teachers to ensure that you feel confident that you, too, can open up your math problems.
As we develop professional learning plans for the summer and beyond, you won’t want to skip the research brief, Dispelling the Myths: What the Research Says About Teacher Professional Learning from the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, which compiles research to dispel six myths about professional learning for teachers.
Research shows that good spatial skills often predict future success in math, and we know that all students can improve in this area with practice. Elizabeth Gunderson shares How to Foster Spatial Skills in Preschool and Elementary Students with practical ideas across the curriculum.
High school teacher Alessandra King shares how she took a prompt at a recent conference and turned it into A Fun Activity to Promote a Sense of Belonging in High School Math. An insightful look into how she develops belonging in math class, the collection of student-created math memes are a must-see!
spotlights
First impressions matter, so having a math opener that “warms students’ minds up, and gets them thinking, focused, and prepared for what’s next” is absolutely essential. Dan Finkel describes math openers as “low-risk and high-impact,” building “student perseverance, engagement, thinking, communication, and numerical fluency. They’re also the first step to building a classroom culture that puts student ownership of ideas at the center.” His top three sites for openers are Math for Love, Steve Wyborney's collection, and Berkeley Everett's new set of images.

Getting stuck is a normal part of mathematical problem-solving. Getting unstuck is much harder. What questions can unlock student thinking? Math Teacher Circles recently created a tool to help all learners take control in these situations, featuring questions that learners can draw on at three stages of an investigation: getting started, making sense of ideas, and going further.
 
High school students in San Diego and Imperial counties are invited to partner with math Ph.D. students from UCSD to read math books or do research. The 10-week online summer reading/research program is free and open to all local high school students.
 
Check out this virtual tour of the Turtle Manufacturing Facility, the new site for Talking Math With Your Kids. It’s never too early to plan a summer tour, and perhaps even time it to coincide with volunteering at Math-on-a-Stick
  • For primary grades, the Flower Petal Puzzle from Math For Love comes highly recommended by Fawn Nguyen. (Check out Fawn Nguyen’s tweet to see students engaged in math debates over the puzzle).
  • From Will Dunn and Justin Aion comes this 12 Dots Puzzle. Perfect for laminating and leaving a whiteboard marker for students to try — this non-tech example of FlowFree is perfect for pushing all thinkers to work creatively.
  • A compilation of 90 number talks for middle schoolers from middle school teacher Fawn Nguyen includes introductory slides on her routine and how she helped students build their number sense and mental math strategies, alongside their speaking and writing skills in math. 
  • Starting with the answer can open up endless possibilities for sense-making. Check out Kristie Orlando-Bangali’s version of “The Answer Is” and how it showcases students’ brilliance and creativity.
  • Jenna Laib recently updated her set of Slow Reveal Graphs that support students in making sense of data. Choose a particular set of data by representation, topic, or grade level to encourage your students’ in developing their noticing skills and becoming informed citizens.
Contact Christina Fekas-Gorman with questions or comments about
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