Math Learning Communities Summer Institute - Community College System of New Hampshire

2025 Math Learning Communities Summer Institute

We have started the planning for our 2025 Summer Institute! The only detail we have so far is that it will be in August, so keep your eyes open for more details posted here or on our Facebook page when we have them!

2024 Math Learning Communities Conference – Creating Connections

On August 16, 2024, we celebrated the reboot of the NH State Math Learning Communities (MLC) with a free day of professional development and community-building for high school math teachers of juniors and seniors, curriculum directors, and administrators.

Keynote—Joleigh Honey presents Strategies for Success: Do you ever experience moments where it is difficult to get students to reason about problems or explain their reasoning to others? Or notice that it is a handful of students that seem to carry the class? Or wonder how to take some of your current awesome moments to the next level? This keynote, Strategies for Success, will incorporate new ideas that bring student thinking to life and provide specific tips to build a strong community of learning in your classroom. This fun, interactive session will also highlight research-based Frameworks and Practices that can be used immediately in any classroom.
- Here is a link to Joleigh’s Strategies for Success presentation.
Lunch: Who doesn’t love a free lunch!
Breakout Sessions: Attendees were able to choose one breakout session from the following which provided further development of, and practice with, successful learning strategies.
- (1) What does a student-centered classroom look like? – Improving student access to success in math
  - This session will build upon strategies and ideas aligned with today’s Keynote Address. We will also rely on NCTM’s Principles to Actions: Ensuring Mathematical Successes for All and Peter Liljedahl’s Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics to provide the rationale and guidance to create a classroom learning experience that offers more students a chance to be successful in mathematics. Participants will engage in several activities that highlight the importance of an interactive, student-centered classroom. We will explore how using quality tasks and resources can promote student engagement and increase conceptual understanding. We will also take a look at some student-encouraging and student-discouraging assessment practices.
- (2) Seeing Math Learning Communities aligned with NHED and National Initiatives
  - See how the goal of the Math Learning Communities aligns with the NHED Exploring Math Pathways in NH High Schools work, the work in other states on expanding math pathways, the Data Science 4 Everyone (DS4E) national framework initiative, NCTM’s Eight Teaching Practices, and with Steven Leinwand’s and Eric Milou’s call for Invigorating High School Math (2021).
    - Here is a link to Anne Wallace’s presentation.
- (3) Harnessing the Power of Vertical Learning Surfaces
  - Join me for an interactive workshop where participants will engage in solving thinking tasks on vertical learning surfaces, inspired by Peter Liljedahl’s Building Thinking Classrooms. In this session we will use vertical whiteboards, but any non-permanent medium you can hang on a wall for students to work will do. We will explore practical tips that empower students to become active problem solvers, improve collaboration, and communicate strategies. Come experience the visual benefits of this teaching strategy that can be implemented on the first day of school!
    - Here is a link to Kim Knighton’s presentation
- (4) Using Technology to Engage Students, Visualize Abstract Concepts, and Model Real-World Phenomena
  - In this session, we will explore how Desmos can be used to engage students and visualize abstract concepts. We will walk through two hands-on activities. In the first, a “drawing” competition, students create geometric figures using linear equations. The process helps them grasp the value of having multiple representations of a line and to “see” domain and range. In the second, students will launch foam rockets and film the flight path — and then use Desmos to model the parabola with a function. We will discuss how each activity can be easily adapted to work with your students and time constraints. Attendees will leave with digital copies of the activities that can be easily modified. While not required, if you bring a laptop to this session you will experience the activities for yourself.
- (5) Advancing Ownership of Understanding and Responsibility through Problem Solving Educational Orientations
  - Participants of this breakout session will leave with answers to the questions, “How do we get students to be active agents, central to the learning process?”; “How do we design learning experiences that address the specific needs of all students?”; “How do we assess students’ problem-solving efforts?”. Participants will see students’ efforts through examples of classroom tested, teacher approved, problem-solving learning experiences.
- (6) Math Learning Communities information session
  - High school administrators and curriculum directors, please join this session to find out more about the Math Learning Communities program in NH and how it can improve your students’ readiness for math in college, careers, and life. We’ll discuss all the benefits of becoming a partner in our program, and how this is a great time to partner during this curriculum development year.
Community Conversations: Attendees broke out into conversation groups led by members of our project leadership team (PLT) to discuss topics they would like to see included in the MLC courses as well as how strategies such as those presented in the keynote will be incorporated to improve student engagement and success. These conversations not only informed the members of the PLT as they embarked upon designing the MLC courses, but also begin the development of a statewide community of high school educators which will be cultured through this program.

About the NH Math Learning Communities

Adding up to Success: NH Community Colleges and High Schools partnering for Math Excellence!

In the past, our very successful, state-wide, two-tiered program helped students who struggled with mastering mathematical concepts or failed to thrive in math courses taught using conventional methods. Our new Tier One course will continue to help students strengthen and expand upon their prior knowledge and abilities in order to apply fundamentals using innovative teaching methods emphasizing discovery through modeling, applied reasoning, and practical applications of the skills learned. The Tier Two course will continue to challenge students with new math concepts emphasizing applied problem solving and critical thinking. This course will be taught at high school for both high school and college credit through the Community College System of New Hampshire’s Early College program.

If you would like to schedule a meeting with the Project Director to talk about how the program can help your students and faculty you can do so at Book time with Kris Conmy .

Kris Conmy
Math Learning Communities Program Director
Community College System of New Hampshire
26 College Drive
Concord, NH 03301-7425
603-230-3592
[email protected]
www.ccsnh.edu/mlc