2025 MidSchoolMath National Conference

In this session, we'll explore the cognitive demand of proportional reasoning by guiding participants. Using thoughtfully selected tasks from the California 2023 Mathematics Framework, we'll look at how the importance of rigor, sense-making, and flexible thinking that go beyond procedural algorithms.

Drawing on insights from Susan Lamon’s “Teaching Fractions and Ratios for Understanding”, we will highlight the importance of fostering students’ deep reasoning around ratios, fractions, and proportions. Instead of relying solely on algorithms, we will look at how to equip students with tools such as ratio tables, tape diagrams, double number lines, hundred grids, graphs, and equations to help them understand and reason proportionally. Additionally, we’ll discuss how these concepts progress from elementary to high school and the importance of building a solid foundation in proportional reasoning. You'll leave feeling confident in empowering your students to become problem solvers and critical thinkers by deeply engaging with proportional reasoning.

Join the Team South African students featured in The Big Picture International Film Series, for this in-depth experience of a classroom lesson about saving the African Penguins through math.

We know that our students learn far more wrestling with our questions than listening to our lectures!

This fast-paced, example-laden discussion will model a range of questioning techniques that foster student discourse.

Are you ready to factor out the old and integrate the new? Mathematics education is undergoing a thrilling transformation, and you have the power to be at the forefront of this revolution. Imagine classrooms where students are actively engaged, take ownership of their learning, and experience a sense of joy and accomplishment. Picture teachers who are energized, supported, and empowered to make a real difference. This dream is closer than you think!

But the path to innovation isn't always smooth. Are you prepared to navigate the inevitable pushback and emerge as a champion for change? This session is your lifeline. We'll equip you with the concrete tools to:
- Deflect criticism and convert skeptics into supporters.
- Build a strong coalition of like-minded educators.
- Share inspiring narratives of student success and teacher resilience.
- Lead with confidence and inspire others to join the revolution.

Join us and become a transformative leader in math education. Together, we can create a future where every student is empowered to succeed.

This session explores the intersection of mathematics and design thinking, challenging the traditional perception of math as rote learning. The session will incorporate the human-centered principles of design thinking to address problem-solving and innovation. We'll follow the design thinking protocol to empathize, define identify, ideate creatively, generate solution as prototype and test to refine solutions, and iterate on the design process.

You'll get an overview of the Design Thinking process and use it to problem-solve real-world situations in your learning environments. Practical tools and techniques for creating innovative and user-focused solutions will be discussed for a deeper understanding of the intersection between mathematics and design thinking. Through examples and interactive exercises, you'll gain the tools and mindset to apply design thinking to their mathematical work, leading to more innovative, user-centered, and impactful solutions.

We know that our students learn far more wrestling with our questions than listening to our lectures!

This fast-paced, example-laden discussion will model a range of questioning techniques that foster student discourse.

Encore Session: This popular session is being offered twice! Please only sign up to attend one of the two sessions.