Math for America

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!

As we welcome back #MfAProud teachers for the start of fall programming, we look forward to another year of professional growth and enrichment opportunities, ranging in focus from mathematics and science content to pedagogical practice and leadership. What’s one goal you hope to achieve this semester? Reminder for #MfAProud Teachers 📌 Limited course registration for the Fall semester begins today, September 3 at 6:00 p.m. on the Small-World Network, and open registration starts this Thursday, September 5 at 6:00 p.m.

MƒA teachers lead more than two-thirds of MƒA courses, and outside experts in mathematics, science, computer science, and education facilitate the rest. You can now browse the 2024 MƒA Fall Professional Development Catalog on our website, which details hundreds of learning opportunities tailored to the specific interests and needs of our outstanding community of #MfAProud teachers. If you’re a MƒA teacher, remember to bookmark your favorites in advance of limited registration on September 3 and open registration on September 5. https://bit.ly/3qPHC3r

"Physics is tough. I start out by acknowledging this out loud with my students. I let them know that no matter how great their grades were in prior science classes, they will find it harder to get those same grades or better in physics (at least at first). This helps them recognize that challenges are normal. If I say ‘mitochondria’ and ask its function, the students say ‘it’s the powerhouse of the cell’ even though it does much more than that. The reality is many of them believe that memorization and regurgitation are the hallmarks of strong learning. It’s not their fault. Rote learning does not work with such a fundamental part of science. Instead I try to instill in them a respect for physics and have them work in a way that may be uncomfortable. Discomfort is where the growth is!" MƒA Teacher Talk: Master Teacher Raymond Bradshaw teaches Physics at Brooklyn Technical High School #MfAProud