Where Teachers and Mathematics Meet

A Teacher Led Mathematical Problem Solving

and

Professional Development Experience for

What is a Teacher’s Math Circle? A Teacher’s Math Circle is a group of middle-level teachers and mathematicians brought together to learn interesting mathematics through problem solving in order to present/expose these skills to their students. Teacher’s Circles provide a forum for math teachers to share problems for enlivening any math class. Teachers will collaborate to adapt the mathematics learned to their classroom.

Many teachers, like their students, enjoy discovering great mathematics. The aim of The Teacher’s Circle is to immerse a group of educators in engaging topics and equip them with an effective problem-solving approach to teaching mathematics.

Teacher’s Circles provide a forum for math teachers to share problems for enlivening any math class. Teachers will collaborate to adapt the mathematics learned to their classroom. Focused discussions will be held to determine what challenges exist to incorporating this style of teaching into the present curriculum, what resources would be most helpful to teachers, and other related topics.

What types of mathematics will we do? The mathematical problems have multiple entry levels and can be accessible to a wide variety of students.

How Do I Get Involved? The Teacher’s Circle will meet eight times throughout the school year. Teachers will gather on Thursday evenings to participate in a math circle, have dinner together, and discuss experiences in their respective classes over the prior few weeks. In this way participants can regularly explore exciting new math topics, which can serve both as a refreshing time spent enjoying the subject they teach as well as a potential source of enrichment material for their classes.

**Special thanks to the UNL Center for Science, Mathematics and Computer Education for providing the dinner!

2008 - 2009 Sessions and Handouts

Quotes from the Organizing Team

“I have used many rich problem solving activities with my Math Intervention students as well as my gifted students. It is fun and rewarding when the students I least expect are actively involved in successfully solving the problem.” -- Julie Kreizel, Mickle Middle School

“Higher level thinking problems provided my students the opportunity to surprise me with the depth of their mathematical knowledge.” --Anne Schmidt, Lefler Middle School

“ The mathematics is interesting, rich, deep, but accessible to all and best of all it is FUN!” -- Steve Dunbar, UNL

“Engaging in rich mathematical problems with highly motivated, energetic middle-level teachers is a rewarding experience.” -- Cheryl Miner, Nebraska Wesleyan University

“ Math circles will provide sustainable staff development that will have a profound effect on teachers’ content knowledge and the ability to transfer the mathematics to their students.” -- Sue Graupner, LPS