Math & STEAM

We offer a variety of Professional Development options for Math & STEAM!

Review the offerings below to get an idea of how we can help!

You can also contact us with questions, or to get a custom-tailored plan.

Using Generative AI in the Math Classroom

Are you comfortable with using Generative AI, Educational AI tools, or AI in general for your work as a teacher or administrator? Do you want to learn more about the various AI tools, how they work, and the best ways to use their abilities? Are you struggling to determine if and how to use Generative AI and AI tools in your classroom? Do you know the ways to use Generative AI and AI tools to improve the instruction with students and not just have them do the work for students? Generative AI and AI tools can be useful resources for all these important aspects of education, if you know how to best use and implement them to work for you.

Join us to learn more about the various FREE Generative AI and AI tools that are available for teachers, administrators, and students to use. Learn how these tools work, how to communicate with them, and how to make them work for you. Just like in the 1990’s when Graphing Calculators made their appearance into mainline math instruction, Generative AI and AI tools can be used effectively to enhance students’ learning and understanding of mathematics when integrated and used appropriately.

Participants will learn 2-3 different forms of educational Generative AI and a variety of AI tools. We will discuss what they can do for you in the educational setting. You will learn how to communicate with the Generative AI and AI tools by formulating questions to make it work for you in many aspects of your educational responsibilities. Learn how to best use Generative AI and AI tools with students to help students understand and apply the mathematics they are learning. You will receive valuable resources, activities, and ideas for increasing your educational productivity and student performance using Generative AI and AI tools and resources.

Audience – Grades 6 – 8 – Administrators, Teachers, Digital Instructional Coaches, and Instructional Aides

Ready to get started?

Using H.O.T Questions and Mathematically Rich Tasks

to Make the Math Meaningful and Useful

Are you struggling to formulate good Higher Order Thinking questions to get your students to think and understand? Do you ask more Memory/Recall questions than Higher Order Thinking questions in your instruction, on quizzes, or tests? Do your students think math is a dry and boring subject where a teacher lectures or just does examples and never shows them the beauty or uses of the math they are learning? Are you struggling to make real world connections or apply the math your students are learning?

Mathematics MUST be taught in context, so it is not just a set of rules to be memorized and soon forgotten. Mathematically rich problems and asking higher order thinking questions to help students understand and master the concepts that are being presented. Join us to learn how to easily convert memory/recall questions into higher order thinking (H.O.T.) questions. Teachers will define, explore, and work mathematically rich problems and formulate and ask good thinking questions to bring an elevated level of thinking, understanding, and application for the math students are learning. Many resources for finding mathematically rich problems and higher order thinking questions will be provided.

Audience – Grades 6 – 12 – Administrators, Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Instructional Aides

Ready to get started?

Increase Engagement with Cooperative Learning Strategies in the Mathematics Classroom

Do you use direct instruction as your primary method of teaching? Are you, the teacher, doing more talking in the classroom than the students? Do you want to see students take more responsibility for their learning?

Join us to learn how students can collaborate with peers and not learn mathematics in isolation. You will learn and practice various Cooperative Learning techniques and strategies that will help you engage students and get them ALL actively involved in their learning. Cooperative Learning allows teachers to easily differentiate their classrooms so all students, including high ability and students with special needs, can participate and increase their retention and achievement for the subject they are learning. Cooperative Learning has been proven to help students develop better on-task behaviors, better attitude towards both the teacher and the subject they are learning, and a
more positive attitude toward learning and understanding. During this session, teachers will create a plan to incorporate Cooperative Learning techniques and strategies into their classrooms.

Audience – Grades 6 – 12 – Teachers, Instructional Aides

Ready to get started?

The Power of Positive - How Mindset Affects Achievement in Math

Do you think your students can’t do the math you are teaching? Are you hearing the phrase “I can’t do math” from your students or “I could never do math in school” from parents? Change these phrases to “I Can Do Math”!

In this session, you will learn how the Power of Positive refers to educators’ attitudes and approaches to the NCTM Principles to Actions Guiding Principles. It is the stimulus for increased overall performance by students. All students are capable of “doing” Mathematics if the right tools are used and accommodations are made for the students. Facilitating Meaningful Mathematical Discourse is a great way to create a positive environment. Educators can increase student performance on assessments by reminding the students “They can do the Math!” Working with Educators on the Power of Positive will increase the overall performance of students. Join us to see how examples, ideas and resources for the Power of Positive relating to the Guiding Principles are used to improve instruction and students’ attitude towards math.

Audience – Grades 6 – 12 – Administrators, Teachers, Instructional Aides