Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Calling All Math Teachers to Albuquerque, Nov. 2–4!

NCTM's Regional Conference: A Focus on Reasoning and Sense Making in Technology

RESTON, Va., October 24, 2011—The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the New Mexico Council of Teachers of Mathematics will host a regional conference and exposition in Albuquerque, November 2–4. The conference theme, "Technology and Mathematics: Get Connected!" invites educators to expand their view of how technology can be used as a tool to support effective mathematics teaching and enhance mathematics learning, as well as add to their own math knowledge and increase their instructional skills.

Presenters during the conference will come from all corners of New Mexico, including Las Cruces, Espanola, and Alamogordo, as well as Albuquerque. Other presentations will be given by educators from surrounding states and throughout the United States, and from as far away as Brisbane, Australia. The conference will offer more than 250 sessions and workshops, covering all levels, pre-K–grade 12.

Keynote speaker Tim Tyson will explore some of the unprecedented changes that have taken place in the last 100 years, including the role of children, the transition from an agricultural era to the information age, and the impact of globalization on our lives. He will present the Opening Session, "Is It Time to Upgrade? Making the Case for Change," on Wednesday, November 2, 5:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m., at the Albuquerque Convention Center, Ballroom C.

On Thursday and Friday, November 3 and 4, 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. on Thursday and from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Friday.

On Thursday, November 3, NCTM President Mike Shaughnessy will present "Empowering Students through Reasoning and Sense Making: Video Clips and Tasks," in which he will discuss NCTM's ongoing high school initiative on reasoning and sense making. This session will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Grand Pavilion VI.

Unique to this conference is a strand devoted to the Common Core State Standards. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in workshops to learn strategies and activities aligned with teaching the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, and hear the latest from experts on what the Common Core means for their classroom, curriculum, and students.

All conference activities will be held at the Albuquerque Convention Center and the Hyatt Regency Hotel. In addition, hundreds of the latest education products will be on display in Exhibit Hall NE/SE on Thursday, November 3, and Friday, November 4, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Preview all the conference offerings at the Albuquerque 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 90,000 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, contact Gay Dillin, Communications Manager, gdillin@nctm.org, 703/620-9840, ext. 2189. During the conference, Nov. 2–4, call cell: 703/609-8607.