Monday, September 12, 2011

MEDIA ALERT and Event Calendar

Calling All Math Teachers to Atlantic City!

NCTM's Regional Conference, Oct. 19–21: The Odds-on Favorite for Math Teachers!

WHO: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)

Local Host: Association of Mathematics Teachers of New Jersey

WHAT: NCTM's Regional Conference and Exposition, "Technology and Mathematics: Get Connected!" will offer more than 275 sessions and workshops, covering all levels, pre-K–grade 12. The three-day conference will feature many presenters from across the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions, including New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. Other presentations will be given by educators from throughout the United States and Canada and from as far away as Taree, Australia. Topics will range from empowering students through reasoning and sense making to learning new activities and lessons for the SMART Board and guidance on how to implement the Common Core State Standards.

WHEN: October 19–21

WHERE: All conference activities will be held at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

Presentations: At the Opening Session, "Got Technology," keynote speaker Greg Tang will offer a mind-bending, spirit-lifting, paradigm-shifting look at what technology, when done right, can do for math education. This session will kick off the conference on Wednesday, October 19, 5:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

On Thursday and Friday, October 20 and 21, an interactive workshop will offer tips for all new and preservice teachers on how to manage their classrooms, work with parents, and handle homework. The sessions will run from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to noon Friday.

On Friday, October 21, NCTM President Mike Shaughnessy will discuss the Council's role in implementing the Common Core State Standards and accompanying assessments. This session, "NCTM and Issues around Implementing and Assessing the Common Core," is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

A new strand unique to this regional conference is "Teaching Mathematics to Students Who Struggle." Throughout the conference, many sessions will support teachers who work with students across the spectrum from those who occasionally are challenged by particular topics to those who have disabilities that frequently make mathematics perplexing.

Registration: Attendees may register on site in Exhibit Hall B of the Atlantic City Convention Center on Wednesday, October 19, 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m., and Thursday and Friday, October 20 and 21, 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Exhibits: Hundreds of the latest education products will be on display in Exhibit Hall B of the Atlantic City Convention Center on Thursday, October 20, and Friday, October 21, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

WHY: To facilitate an exchange of ideas among mathematics educators on the best teaching practices and how students learn mathematics, thus enabling teachers to return to their classrooms better prepared to teach mathematics to all students.

Preview all the conference offerings at the Atlantic City Regional Conference and Exposition.

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is a public voice of mathematics education, supporting teachers to ensure equitable mathematics learning of the highest quality for all students through vision, leadership, professional development, and research. With more than 100,000 members and 230 Affiliates, NCTM is the world's largest organization dedicated to improving mathematics education in prekindergarten through grade 12. The Council's Principles and Standards for School Mathematics includes guidelines for excellence in mathematics education and issues a call for all students to engage in more challenging mathematics. Its Curriculum Focal Points for Prekindergarten through Grade 8 Mathematics identifies the most important mathematical topics for each grade level. Focus in High School Mathematics: Reasoning and Sense Making advocates practical changes to the high school mathematics curriculum to refocus learning on reasoning and sense making. NCTM is dedicated to ongoing dialogue and constructive discussion with all stakeholders about what is best for our nation's students.

Media interested in arranging interviews or attending the conference, please contact Gay Dillin, Communications Manager, gdillin@nctm.org, (703) 620-9840, ext. 2189.