VCTM May eNewsletter

In this edition of the VCTM eNewsletter, you will find:

• Important Upcoming Dates for Math Educators and Students
• VCTM Fall 2018 Conference (new)
• VCTM Second Annual Statewide Math Fair (recap)
• VCTM Math Morsels (recap)
• VCTM Rookie of the Year (repeat)
• Mathematics Teacher Leadership Opportunity in Vermont (new)
• Vermont State Math Coalition Talent Search (recap)
• ATMNE Fall 2018 Conference (new)
• NCTM/NCSM Annual Meetings (recap)
• T-Cubed Summer Workshops & Summits (repeat)

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Important Upcoming Dates for Math Educators & Students

Local state events denoted with *

May-August 2018 T-Cubed Texas Instruments Summer Workshops (Various Locations/Virtual)

June 2018 T-Cubed Texas Instruments Regional Summits (Various Locations)

June 24-29, 2018 Governor’s Institute of Vermont on Mathematics (Burlington, VT)*

July 9-11, 2018 NCTM Affiliate Leaders Conference (Indianapolis, IN)

October 4, 2018 NCTM Northeast Regional Conference & Exposition (Hartford, CT)

October 19, 2018 VCTM Annual Fall Conference (Northfield, VT)*

December 6-7, 2018 ATMNE Fall Conference (Warwick, RI)

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VCTM Fall 2018 Conference

The Vermont Council for Teachers of Mathematics is proud to announce the date and location for our annual fall conference and we hope you will consider attending and/or speaking at this event! This fall, the VCTM fall conference, aptly titled Moving Mountains with Mathematics, will take place on October 19 at Norwich University (Northfield, VT) so make sure to save the date. We hope that by returning to a central location it will allow mathematics educators from all corners, peaks, and valleys of our state to attend and join together in continuous dialogue, active learning, networking and above all progress for mathematics education in our beautiful, mountainous state.

Registration is not yet open but we are currently calling for presenters at this annual event. Regardless of your presentation experience, we welcome you to submit a proposal on our website. Spots are limited and there are three options for session length (30, 50, or 75 minutes). Like previous years, we anticipate a variety of session topics that appeal to all grade bands.

As we approach the event date this summer and fall, please visit our website and be on the lookout for future announcements, including our day-at-a-glance, directions to the event, and more.

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VCTM Second Annual Statewide Math Fair

University of Vermont - April 7, 2018

VCTM would like to recognize the stellar student projects submitted and presented at the second annual statewide math fair in April. Building on last years’ inaugural fair, we are excited to report a significantly higher turnout in student participation, public attendance, and representation from a variety of schools and districts in our state. There were many smiling faces and brilliant mathematical investigations to be seen and heard throughout the morning at the University of Vermont, some of which were spotlighted in a story from WCAX!

We look forward to the future of this event as it continues to grow and offer more opportunity for rich mathematical exhibition for the aspiring and inspiring young mathematicians in Vermont. If your student(s) missed out this year or wishes to submit a project again, be on the lookout for information this fall. VCTM also wants to thank our judges, organizers, and donors for their generous assistance in producing this event as well as the constructive feedback offered from all participants!!

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VCTM Math Morsels Recap

During Vermont’s slow transition to spring, VCTM hosted six Math Morsels events where teachers were “excited about talking to other math teachers and getting a chance to share and hear our struggles.” We played games, solved problems, snacked and chatted around mathematics in a “fun, friendly, mathy” atmosphere. In our efforts to bring FREE and fantastic networking opportunities to our members around the state, the events were held in Richmond, Fairfax, Montpelier, Randolph, Newport, and Brattleboro. Participant feedback has been positive, citing refreshing connections with teachers from different levels, and appreciation for “an opportunity to share ideas about math and pedagogy/curriculum.”  VCTM looks forward to providing more of these events in the 2018-2019 school year and we hope you’ll join us! (*all quotes are taken from participant surveys)

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VCTM Rookie of the Year

VCTM is still accepting submissions for nominations for the annual Rookie of the Year Award!

The only criterion, beyond doing amazing things in the classroom, is that the awardees be in their first three years of teaching. One elementary teacher (K-5), one middle grades teacher (6-8), and one high school teacher (9-12) will be selected for this award.

Recipients will be invited to attend the fall conference (at no charge) where they will be announced and recognized as Rookie of the Year. They will receive free VCTM membership for the following year, be requested to write an article for the eNewsletter, and VCTM will offer them an invitation to present at the following VCTM Fall Conference. In addition there will be a small cash award and certificate given to recipients.

Submissions will be accepted through June 1, 2018. You will be asked to include a letter of recommendation as part of your nomination. You can submit your nominations through our online form linked below and posted VCTM website.

Rookie of the Year Nomination Form

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Mathematics Teacher Leadership Opportunity in Vermont

From Heather Bouchey, Acting Vermont Education Secretary:

Dear Mathematics Educators,

We are looking to recruit three exceptional high school mathematics educators in Vermont to pioneer an exciting mathematics initiative with the Vermont State Colleges, Agency of Education, and VSAC GEAR UP.

Selected educators will spend one week this summer working together to design a math class to bridge the gap between high school and college. You will work with college math faculty, other high school teachers, and education professionals. Together, you will address the challenges students face in the transition from high school to college math by:

1. Formulating rigorous and achievable learning outcomes;
2. Designing a delivery model to engage students and build success;
3. Creating curriculum materials and lessons; and
4. Designing assessments to measure student growth and understanding.

Your work will create a pilot course that will be piloted in a few select Vermont high schools to provide students with improved self-efficacy, improved math fluency, and decreased math anxiety.

What is involved?

• Stipend: $3,000 for summer work paid by VSAC’s GEAR UP program
• One week summer curriculum design workshop (July 30 - Aug 3) 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in central VT location
• Overnight accommodations provided if needed
• Three meetings during school year (2018 – 2019) to follow-up (substitute coverage and meals included): October 24, 2018 and January 23 & April 3, 2019

Schools/teachers/faculty who commit to this design phase are not committing to delivering the course.

You can access the application here.

We hope that you will consider applying for this exciting opportunity!

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Vermont State Math Coalition Talent Search & Expanding Horizons

The fourth and final Talent Search Contest of the year concluded in March, capping off another great series of high-level problem solving executed by promising young mathematicians in our state. The solutions and top scorers for all four Talent Search Contest problem sets are posted publicly on the Coalition’s website:  www.vtmathcoalition.org.

Just a few weeks ago on May 3rd, the top ten placing students were honored for their achievements accompanied by their teachers and families at the annual VSMC dinner at the DoubleTree by Hilton Conference Center in Burlington. Several of these students presented their novel solutions of various problems to a captivated audience. Some didn’t hesitate to delve into the tediousness of algebraic manipulation while others intricately walked through narrow pathways to achieve a clear and final result. Kudos to these folks and all of those students that participated. If you are a parent or teacher and have a student that missed out this year, be on the lookout for the first release of the 2018-19 Talent Search sometime this fall.

Lastly, please consider bringing college-level mathematics in to your classroom with the plentitude of presenters and topics offered through VSMC’s Expanding Horizons program. This opportunity is available at no cost to you and is a fantastic way to enrich your curriculum and bring the real work of pure and applied mathematics to your students.

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ATMNE Fall 2018 Conference

Exciting things are underway in preparation for the Fall 2018 ATMNE Conference hosted by RIMTA (Rhode Island Mathematics Teachers Association) in Warwick, RI this December 6-7. Among many great speakers will be NCTM President-elect Robert Berry delivering much-anticipated information about NCTM’s new charge with Catalyzing Change. Please check out the conference flyer for event details including a quick link to register!!!

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Recap from NCTM & NCSM Annual Conferences

VCTM representatives joined other math educators around the country in late April at NCTM’s annual meeting and exposition, reporting back much excitement around the innovative practices, curricular directions, and most notably the release of Catalyzing Change. Please check out the NCTM annual meeting event page for conference highlights, including some videos recapping the most memorable moments.

Please take note of the upcoming national events hosted by NCTM, including the Affiliate Leaders conference and regional conferences. Dates and further information on these events can be found on the NCTM event calendar or at a quick glance in the “Important Upcoming Dates” section of this newsletter.

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T-Cubed Summer Workshops & Summits

As announced in our March eNewsletter, whether you’re looking for noteworthy professional development opportunities or simply tutorial and training on some of the top tools of mathematics instruction, consider the many workshops and regional summits offered by Texas Instruments in their T-Cubed Series during this coming summer. Some of these events are even offered virtually if travel is not possible or your schedule is booked!