Math for America: Year 6

This year is my sixth year as a Math for America Master Teacher. Last week I attended my last two sessions of the school year (a single session course on writing in math class & the last Thursday Think of the year with Peter Liliedahl). I am also signed up for this year's Summer Think next month, which I always look forward to!

Since I am home on my parental leave, I wanted to take some time to reflect on my MfA courses this past school year:

• Book Club: Mathematics for Human Flourishing: I have participated in this book club for a few semesters now and always grateful because it makes me remember the heart of what it means to actually do math - the human-ness of doing math. Definitely a must read!
• Establishing & Maintaining Cogenerative Dialogues: This PLT probably had the greatest impact on my classroom this year because as a result of these sessions, I actually started up a cogen with some of my homeroom students. The experience overall was really positive. We consistently met every Tuesday during lunch and I feel like I got to really know these students in a meaningful way. I really hope to continue to run cogens in my classes nest school year. I even got to bring my ELA teacher counterpart to one of our sessions, which was awesome.
• Developing a Math Tools Center That Works: These sessions were a good reminder about the benefit of using manipulatives & other math tools in my classes.
• Co-teaching in Inclusive Secondary Math Classrooms: This was another course that I was able to bring one of my colleagues to, which was great because she & I co-teach together and one of our school's core values is inclusion. 
• Delta Math Plus: I got more comfortable with Delta Math features. I mean I already knew Delta Math was amazing, but it's always fun to get the chance to play around with it more.
• Under Construction: Building a Thinking Classroom: After reading Building Thinking Classrooms and leading a single session on it last spring, I was excited to dig into it some more with some awesome teachers. Even though I was only able to attend two of the sessions I was inspired to try more with BTCs next school year. Initially I had started using some of the practices back in 2021-2022, but didn't really use them much this year. Like I said earlier, also getting to hear Peter Liliedahl speak at last week's Thursday Think was really inspiring
• Mathematical Modeling in Middle School: This was a good course since mathematical modeling is a big part of the high school Next Generation Math Standards.
• Writing in Math Class: This was my first session post baby #2, and it felt great to be back at MfA. I liked this single session course because a goal of mine to to have my students write more in math class (even though I am not a fan of grading writing). I was introduced to the PBAT math rubric, which I would like to incorporate into my classes somehow next year, if possible.
• Info Session Host & Small World Network Mobilizer: This year I also got to share my MfA experience with potential MfA applicants during an info session & was also able to be a SWN Mobilizer, which I always enjoy doing because it makes me feel more connected to the MfA community at large.
• Lastly, I am looking forward to this year's Summer Think, who's theme is exploring the joy in teaching & learning.

This was also my second year asa NYS Master Teacher, although I did not do as much as I would have liked with it, I hope to participate more in the upcoming year.