Participants will have 4 additional full-day meetings during the 23-24 school year.
What is Project EM-PACT?
Ambitious math teaching asks teachers to create situations where students can sit together, critically think about the problems they are given, and collaborate with one another. In doing this, children are provided with more opportunities to learn and a critical friend to process with. Indeed, adults learn best this way too. Project EM-PACT will provide teachers with the spark they need to create spaces where every child has the opportunity to learn mathematics, become a “math person,” and maybe even have a little fun while doing so.
Led By Courtney & Ryan Flessner
Why Participants LOVE Project EM-PACT
“I love the spark and inspiration that the sessions give me to try to be a better mathematician!”
“Project EM-PACT has been one of the most beneficial learning times in my teaching career. Thank you for taking time for us and filling us up with all of your math knowledge.”
“Project EM-PACT continues to increase my enthusiasm for teaching math.”
“Meeting during the school year is helping me to continue to grow as a teacher of mathematics.”
“All elementary math teachers in our district should take this!”
“I am walking away from these sessions with a spark. The collaboration and engagement during these days presents excitement in me and makes me feel prepared for challenges that can and will arise this year and years to come. I have made a few network connections while here that I know I can go to for ideas and support as we all continue this journey.”
“This is the most USABLE math training I’ve attended in my 22 years of teaching.”
“Collaborating and talking through these things with people from other buildings was amazing. I could use them as a sounding board and utilize the different experiences to create my goals and challenge myself.”
“I loved everything that I have learned about different ways to teach math, appropriate math language, and exposing kids to the use of multiple strategies as well as practice with critical thinking.”
Learning is a Collaborative Process
Project EM-PACT will bring teachers together to create a culture of collaboration to truly reimagine their mathematics teaching. For three days in the summer, pairs of teachers will participate in professional development together. They will learn together, set goals together, and plan together. They will determine their best next steps and how they will hold each other accountable throughout the school year. We learn best together. Teachers creating their own network of resources is crucial as they continue to learn more about ambitious and equitable mathematics teaching.
Learning is an Ongoing Process
During the school year, the entire cadre will meet 4 times as a whole group to share successes and struggles, engage in on-the-spot professional development, and modify goals and implementation plans. Additionally, pairs of teachers will have the opportunity for additional coaching throughout the year through both virtual and in-person opportunities.
Goals of the 2023 - 2024 Project EM-PACT Cadre
Increase mathematical content and pedagogical knowledge of mathematics teachers.
Connect learning to school-based textbooks and resources in order to work smarter, not harder.
Engage teachers in reflective teaching practices where they establish goals, determine evidence of success, and collaborate with teaching partners throughout their process of becoming the best mathematics teachers they can be.
Connect teams of teachers across Indiana by designing a space where they have a network of resources, and continue their journey in becoming ambitious mathematics teachers.
Day 1
What do mathematicians do?
An introduction to the 8 Effective Teaching Practices
Focus one content specific skill
An introduction to the workshop approach in teaching mathematics
Initial goal setting
Day 2
Continuing to build mathematical content knowledge
Materials exploration
Connecting the work to the 8 Effective Teaching Practices
Continue to develop goals
Day 3
Organizing our math block
Connecting what we’ve learned to a textbook resource
Finalizing goals and accountability with learning partner for the 23-24 school year
Day 4
Celebrations!
Reviewing our goals
Understanding the importance of the tasks we give our students in math class
Goal and accountability adjustments
Day 5
Celebrations!
Reviewing our goals
Understanding why we teach what we teach and why it’s important to know our standards
Goal and accountability adjustments
Day 6
Celebrations
Reviewing our goals
Taking a deep dive into grade level specific standards
Goal and accountability adjustments
Day 7
Sharing our work, our stories, and our next steps.
Understanding the value of collaborating and learning together.
If you would like to use member district credits please contact Elizabeth Johnson at ejohnson@ciesc.org.
(4 credits per participant)
This is an application-based cadre. Teachers must apply with a school-based teaching partner. This does not have to be a teacher in the same grade level, but we do request they be located at the same school, as that will be crucial in their learning partnership. Teams of 3 will be accepted. Registration this year will only be open to teachers in grades K-12.
Dates
Summer Cohort Meetings
July 11 – 13
School Year Cohort Meetings
TBD
What you get
7 days of professional development from leading math educators in Indiana.
Access to countless resources that can be easily used in the classroom.
A collaborative environment that fosters a growth mindset approach to the teaching and learning of ambitious mathematics.
