Creating Mathematicians

through Math Circles

Christine Koerner

Director of Secondary Mathematics

Oklahoma State Department of Education

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http://bit.ly/2L1YwSe

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Christine Koerner

Director of Secondary Mathematics

Christine.Koerner@sde.ok.gov

Alignment to Learning Forward Standards

• The federal education law, Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), redefines professional development with a purposeful influence from Learning Forward. 
• Learning Forward, a national association recognized as leaders in professional learning, has established standards for professional learning that set a high bar for quality learning experiences.
• This session aligns to the following standard(s):
• Learning Communities Professional learning that increases educator effectiveness and results for all students occurs within learning communities committed to continuous improvement, collective responsibility, and goal alignment.

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Math Experiences

What percent of students say that their last mathematics learning experience was negative?

How close to being a mathematician are you?

Learning math could be

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joyful

fun

interesting

challenging, AND

cooperative?

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What if...

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Introducing Math Circles

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Number/Color Strips

Organize how your group feels they should be organized.

Liar’s Bingo!

Can you fool me?

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Can you catch the lie?

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Guiding Principles for starting Teacher and Student Math Circles

LOVE - teachers who love math inspire students to love math

IDENTITY - students and teachers see themselves as validated, unencumbered cultural/mathematical beings

HEALING - restoring creativity, amplifying voice, and healing spirit

UNITY - building a safe and inclusive community of mathematicians who learn and grow together

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How do students come to see themselves as a Mathematician?

The extent to which students are provided opportunities to “walk the walk and talk the talk”

• to contribute to conversations about disciplinary ideas,
• to build on others’ ideas and have others build on theirs
• in ways that contribute to their development of agency (the willingness to engage),
• their ownership over the content,
• and the development of positive identities as thinkers and learners.

How close to being a mathematician are you?

Learn More

• NCSM Position Paper on Student Identity
• Math Teacher Circles
• Math Circles
• http://bit.ly/2L1YwSe (presentation link)
• Liar’s Bingo Strips (keep playing!)
• Liar’s Bingo Answer (you sure you’re ready?)
• Interested in participating in/starting a math circle in your area? Complete the survey on the next slide!
• Petals Around the Rose Challenge (Thank you, Sabrina, for sharing!)

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Christine Koerner

Director of Secondary Mathematics

Christine.Koerner@sde.ok.gov

http://bit.ly/2L1YwSe

Please take this survey!

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