This problem is adapted from Two-Minute Teacher's Guide: Choosing Systems of Equations - Student Choice in Algebra 

Race and Equity Conversations in Math

TEDx Talks - Math as Social Justice by Gina Cherkowski - Have you ever considered math as a human rights issue? Have you ever considered what the label “stupid” can do to a student?  Watch recording 

Save the dates:  2021-2022  District Mathematics Leaders meetings:    

Our PSESD District Math Leadership team meets together to support each other through continued learning and networking. During the 2020 – 21 school year we have continued to focus on leading in math education by focusing on racial equity while supporting teachers and students in response to the pandemic. We will continue this important work as we support giving all students access to grade level learning while providing just in time support. This group learns from each other and keeps up-to-date on what’s happening in mathematics in the state.     

Regular meetings occur five times throughout the year and will be held via Zoom from 9:00am-12:00pm until it is feasible and wise to return to in person. ALL math teacher leaders are welcome. 

Register here for PSESD District Math Leaders!  

Clock hours will be available through PSESD.

Puget Sound Council of Teachers of Mathematics (PSCTM) Winter Dinner Monday, February 7, 2022 – With presenter, Arlene Crum, Director of Mathematics Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction After diving into mathematics course-taking and the methods and materials within them, OSPI is working with educators across the state to improve both the way that we are teaching mathematics and the student access to experience it in meaningful ways. Arlene will share information about the new Modern Algebra II course in development (available for the pilot in 2022-23) as well as the Instructional Materials Review Project that will publish a list of the curricular materials aligned with Washington Educational Priorities. Bring questions about these projects and other questions about state mathematics.  Registration link

Timely Tech Tools:  Mathigon/Polypad - 
Mathigon is an amazing on-line mathematical resource for manipulatives, simulations, and more.  This session will focus mainly on Polypad, but participants can explore the other Mathigon tools as well.  We will explore ways to use this tool to get students to share their thinking and represent mathematics in novel ways.  PdEnroller Registration 

Bridging for Math Strength:  Strength-based formative assessment and bridging activities to support instruction for K-8 students.  Read More   Watch webinar introduced Bridging for Math Strength Resources that will assist in bridging concepts from prior grade-level content to the current grade-level content.

Adrianne Burns shared:  Used @MathforLove game design principles to make bingo even better.   Some expressions have 2 different strategies on the board so students choose which to cover first.  Addition and Subtraction Number line Strategies Bingo Slide deck

Edutopia - Innovative Ways to Make Coronavirus a Teachable Moment By Sarah Gonser:  When the world feels dangerous, harnessing learning can provide some measure of clarity and perspective.  Read more

Sara Vanderwerf:  5x5 Most Amazing Just for fun game - You use a sheet of 5×5 grids to play this game.  Here is the game board for students.5×5 game.  Information/Directions to play the game.  Michelle Schoenberg made a Desmos Version of the 5×5 Game. Check it out HERE!

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The Two-Minute Teacher’s Guide is a set of online instructional resources that is meant to support teachers as they prepare their lessons. The videos are kept short so that they can fit into a teacher’s busy school day and they are designed with the recognition that teachers are not typically granted ample time to prepare. Nevertheless, by leaning on teachers’ existing practices and experience-based intuitions, the research-based suggestions provided by the Two-Minute Teacher’s Guide can go a long way.  Learn More

Are you an elementary teacher who wants to deepen your content knowledge? Join these professional learning opportunities being offered by Regional Math Coordinators from across the state.  

• K - 2 Math Foundations: https://www.pdenroller.org/esd171/catalog/event/137309 
• 3- 5 Math Foundations:  https://www.pdenroller.org/esd171/catalog/event/137314 

Join a cohort of Washington Math Educators as we engage with Graham Fletcher’s Foundations of Fractions Course created for Grassroots Workshops. Washington State Cohort participants will have:  
• Full access to the 6-module online workshop.   Course access opens February 8 and closes May 28, 2022. For more information  
• Access to two live Q&A sessions with Graham Fletcher exclusively for our Washington Cohort!  
• Up to 15 FREE Washington State Clock Hours offered through OSPI.  

Apply for a scholarship now! A limited number of scholarships up to $250 are available for Washington educators. Apply before January 15!   

Don’t need a scholarship? Enroll through PdEnroller 

Three Practices that Compliment an Asset-Based Approach to Teaching and Learning in Math Classrooms By Joe Dostilio, Kristin Klingensmith, Beatriz Strawhun, and Laurie Speranzo - As we start another non-traditional school year, it is vital to take an asset-based approach to teaching and learning. This requires us to resist the notion that students have not been learning during the pandemic. Students have been learning and they bring assets back to our math classrooms.  Read More

The Learner’s Way Idea:  Agency and Math - Of all the subjects that our students engage in, mathematics is the one most requiring an injection of learner agency. What is it about mathematics that engenders it to modes of teaching that are so heavily teacher-directed? How might this change if we seek to understand the place that learner agency plays in producing learners who will emerge from our classrooms with a love of mathematics and a deep understanding of its beauty?  Read More

Edutopia Teaching Strategies: A Framework for Boosting High School Students’ Math Confidence - Activities designed to help students believe in themselves may improve their math skills.  Read More

TEDxGeorgeMasonU – The M in STEM by Padmanabhan Seshaiyer:  Dr. Padhu Seshaiyer explains the importance of using the universal language of mathematics to bridge the various sciences. Specifically focusing-in on how important an early introduction to mathematics is for K-12 students.  Watch TEDx Talk

Washington Post: Geometry before algebra? Schools will try more new angles in 2022. The pandemic gives schools an urgency to address learning loss — and room to experiment. Read More 

OSPI Math 
K-12 Mathematics Newsletter October Edition
OSPI Mathematics at Home Fall Edition 

Opportunity to Join OSPI's Elementary Content Integration TEACHER CADRE - K-5 Teachers! You're invited to join an OSPI statewide cadre of elementary educators developing expertise on integrating content across science, ELA, and math.  For more information and registration 

Opportunity to Join OSPI's Elementary Content Integration LEADER CADRE - School, District, and State Leaders that support elementary education! You are invited to join an OSPI statewide cadre of education leaders improving school systems through transforming elementary learning to effectively integrate content across science, ELA, and math.  For more information and registration 

This BULLETIN NO. 001-22 updates expectations for districts interested in offering Bridge to College courses 2022-2023 school year. Per the statewide placement agreement, students who earn a B grade or above in Bridge to College courses are considered college-ready and are eligible to enroll in college-level mathematics or English at all Washington community and technical colleges (and Eastern Washington University). Successful completion of a Bridge to College mathematics or English course also meets a high school graduation pathway requirement for the designated content area. (HB 1599)  

Registration Process Registration will open in early February on the OSPI Bridge to College web page. To assure adequate professional learning support for Bridge to College teachers, districts are strongly encouraged to complete the registration process by June 1 (even if unsure about specific teacher assignments). After the new school year is fully underway, districts will be sent an invoice for the professional development fee (see below) for each teacher who is registered to teach the Bridge to College course in 2022–23. 

For additional information about the course, please contact OSPI Director of Mathematics, Arlene Crum at arlene.crum@k12.wa.us or 360-725-6233. 

Call for Pilot Districts - OSPI is partnering with Washington educators as well as higher education, business and industry, and the military to develop a Modern Algebra II course. The course will focus on algebraic understanding that is key for all students, will build that understanding through mathematical modeling that includes topics that are flexible and relevant to students, and will be recognized by universities across the state as meeting application expectations.  Implementation of this new approach to preparing students for college and career readiness will include professional learning and support for teachers. Districts interested in finding out more or applying to become pilot districts in 2022-23 should complete this Interest Form by January 21, 2022. 

Mathematically Productive Instructional Routines (MPIRs) have moved to OER Commons. 

Modeling Our World with Mathematics is now on OER Commons!  Course materials and assessments will still be able to be accessed on the OSPI Learn Moodle. 

OSPI Educator Resource - Resources for teachers and districts, including instructional materials and course supports.

PSESD offers access to additional services and resources in our monthly newsletters.
To subscribe to PSESD's monthly newsletters:
ELA newsletter please click here.
Science newsletter please click here.
Computer Science newsletter please click here.
To view archived Math Newsletters

• Meet with you and your math leaders to identify needs as well as areas of interest such as Common Core Content, the Standards for Mathematical Practice, and high leverage mathematics teaching practices
• Conduct professional development sessions targeted at identified needs and areas of interest which are informed by research, on-going, and job-embedded
• Support math coaches in classroom coaching, debriefing and leading PLCs
• Support math leaders in conducting district wide instructional materials reviews to consider the match of district needs, research informed best-practices, and available instructional materials
• Support math coaches and teachers in crafting and leveraging an assessment system that utilizes assessment resources already in place, including summative, interim/benchmark and formative assessments
• Assist in collaborations within district between math teachers and other departments such as Special Education, English Language Learning, Blended Learning or content areas such as Science.