Making Connections to Strengthen Teaching and Learning: Everyday Mathematics Professional Learning Conference held in Chicago
UChicago STEM Education hosted 50 teachers, coaches, principals, and administrators from across the country for the Everyday Mathematics Professional Learning Conference at McGraw Hill July 24-25. The conference theme, Making Connections to Strengthen Teaching and Learning, provided a platform for educators to make connections as learners and also with other participants. The conference offered sessions for new and experienced Everyday Mathematics users. For example, participants learned why a spiral curriculum is important and how it is addressed in Everyday Mathematics. They learned about the features of an Everyday Mathematics lesson and the intentionality of each along with the importance of discourse and questioning in the context of instruction, to name a few. One participant shared, “LOVE the tools to take back. I will definitely be using them with staff and discussing engagement.”
Kevin Dykema, co-author of the book Productive Math Struggle: A 6-Point Action Plan for Fostering Perseverance was the keynote speaker. Dr. Gina Kling, Everyday Mathematics author, engaged the audience in the Five Fundamentals of Basic Fact Fluency. During the session, participants learned about impactful strategies for building fluency. This conference left educators inspired, ready for the school year, and better equipped to strengthen mathematics in their schools. Another participant shared, “It is good to collaborate with our colleagues in order to improve math instruction.”
To continue learning about how to implement EM, sign up (free!) and check out the Virtual Learning Community (VLC) for the plethora of resources to engage students in lessons, watch videos of teachers in the classroom, teacher created resources, and strategies to strengthen mathematical instruction.