Oakland County Math: Equity Edition

This special edition includes an unbelievable collection of opportunities to learn and collaborate around equity in mathematics education and education more broadly. Please share these opportunities and get signed up!

Empowering Mathematics Educators addresses relevant topics, sparks vibrant dialogue, and models applicable strategies!

• free to MCTM members or $20 per session.
• SCEHs are included with registration
• 7:00-8:30 p.m.
• upcoming dates: February 15th, March 15th, April 15th, May 17th
• click here for more details and registration for Febr 15th
• watch the MCTM website and social media (#EmpowerMathEd)

Phrases like "learning gaps", "students' deficits", or "assess learning loss" are prevalent in today's conversations. Educators are often trained, and sometimes required, to identify what students are "missing" and remediate accordingly. However Clifton and Harter point out that "leveraging [students'] strengths to address their challenges yields greater success than marshalling efforts into overcoming weaknesses and deficits. (2002)"

What does strength-based teaching and learning look like in mathematics classrooms? In what ways can we lead change to a strength-based approach?

Join Dr. Karen Karp and Dr. Beth Kobett as they facilitate learning about promoting strengths in the school community. drawing from their new book Strength-Based Teaching and Learning in Mathematics: 5 Teaching Turnarounds for Grades K-6

• March 11
• 10:00-11:00
• free
• CLICK HERE for advance registration

Teaching Math for Social Justice (TMSJ) is much more than the lessons teachers might implement in their classrooms. It is about the relationships they build with and among students; the teaching practices that help them do that; and the goals to develop positive social, cultural, and mathematics identities—as authors, actors, and doers. Join the authors, Robert Q. Berry III, Basil M. Conway IV, Brian R. Lawler, and John Staley, of "High School Lessons to Explore, Understand, and Respond to Social Injustice" as they unpack ideas from the book to promote thought and action toward TMSJ in the high school classroom.

• Presenters: Robert Q. Berry III, Basil M. Conway IV, Brian R. Lawler, John W. Staley
• Date: March 31, 2021
• Time: 4 PM Pacific
• Click here to register.

In blog post as NCTM president in 2018, Dr. Robert Berry wrote: "There is a compelling body of research dating back nearly 40 years documenting the consistently inequitable impacts of tracking and the role it plays in perpetuating and exacerbating biases and inequities found in American society. Given the body of research and the negative effects of tracking, we must wonder why many schools continue to engage in tracking."

Drawing from NCTM's Catalyzing Change series, Dr. Berry will share impacts of tracking and share recommendations for detracking.

• May 13th
• 10:00-11:00
• free
• CLICK HERE for advance registration

This speaker series provides opportunities for math teachers across Wayne, Washtenaw, and Oakland Counties to learn how to engage all students in meaningful culturally responsive mathematics increasing engagement and relevance for all students. The series seeks to:

• develop a shared understanding of culturally responsive mathematics instruction,
• explore ideas of how to nurture and develop students’ mathematical identities, and
• learn how to enhance/transform current mathematics practice to become more culturally responsive.

Dates and Topics include:

• February 24, 4:30-6:30 pm - What is CRMT?
• March 2, 4:00-6:00 pm - Cultivating Genius - A special session with Dr. Gholdy Muhammad author of Cultivating Genius
• March 23, 4:30- 6:30 pm - Taking Action
• April 27, 4:30-6:30 pm - Taking Action Continued
• May 18, 4:30- 6:30 pm - CRMT in Practice

Participation is FREE to educators in Oakland, Washtenaw, & Wayne County educators.

Wayne RESA, Oakland Schools, and Washtenaw ISD are excited to invite a cohort of teachers, high school students, and preservice teachers to work collaboratively in writing culturally responsive math tasks. These tasks will be piloted in teachers' classrooms in the first semester of the 2021-2022 school.

Stipends will be available to participants:

• Teachers will recieve up to $30 per hour
• Students will also be eligible for a monetary stipend.

Priority will be given to teachers from schools with a designation of TSI, CSI, ATS, or partnership districts. However, all teachers are eligible and encouraged to apply.

Oakland Schools is proud to stand with our districts to support student learning and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. We recognize that the disruptions caused by the pandemic have impacted our community in inequitable ways, therefore making an intentional focus on equity a necessary component in school reopening plans.

With that in mind, we are thrilled to announce this FREE National Speaker series, Making Equity the Center of School Reopening in 2021 and Beyond, featuring a collection of award-winning and nationally renowned speakers, teachers, and researchers.

• February 25, 7-8 pm – Dr. Bettina Love, Racial Equity
• March 25, 7-8 pm – Dr. April Baker-Bell, Anti-Racist Pedagogy in Literacy
• May 26, 7-8 pm – Dr. Amy McCart, Leading Equity-Based MTSS for All Students
• Click here for more information and registration.

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