Upcoming Professional Development

Contact Thea Keppel at keppeltm01@buffalostate.edu with any questions or concerns regarding event registration


Buffalo Math Collaborative
Dr. Kara Imm

A professional learning community of K- 9 teachers and leaders, across grand bands, schools, and districts who come together to:

  • Design learning experiences for kids, study them in real time, and reflect on what and how mathematical learning is happening
  • Deepen the mathematical pedagogical content knowledge needed for teaching (our own mathematics + how children make sense of mathematics)
  • Share ideas in a space designed to build on teachers’ love of kids and math (#lovekidslovemath)
  • Provide a model for empowering our students mathematically through cognitively demanding tasks and routines that feature equitable access and that foster student agency, ownership, and identity. 
BMC meeting locations:
  • Willow Ridge Elementary
  • Union East Elementary
  • Maryvale Middle School
  • Amherst Middle School
  • Sweet Home Middle School
  • Cleveland Hill Middle School
Dates: Weeks of 10/27, 1/26, 3/16, and 5/18
 

Buffalo Math Collaborative Flyer


Chautauqua Math Collaborative
Dr. Kara Imm

A professional learning community of teachers and leaders, across grade bands, schools, and districts who come together to:

  • Design learning experiences for kids, study them in real time, and reflect on what and how mathematical learning is happening
  • Deepen the mathematical pedagogical content knowledge needed for teaching (our own mathematics + how children make sense of mathematics)
  • Share ideas in a space designed to build on teachers’ love of kids and math (#lovekidslovemath)
  • Provide a model for empowering our students mathematically through cognitively demanding tasks and routines that feature equitable access and  foster student agency, ownership, and identity. 
Location: Falconer Central School District
Dates: Thursdays, October 30th, January 29th, March 19th, and May 21st

Chautauqua Math Collaborative Flyer


Mathematical Landscapes in Practice: Number Sense, Addition & Subtraction - Pedagogical Moves to Create a Learning Community in Grades K-8 
Denea Czapla and Rachael Burke

The Western Region of the New York State Master Teacher Program is excited to offer an extension of our mathematical landscapes of learning series that focuses on the pedagogical moves teachers make to nurture a community of mathematicians across the elementary and middle school grades. The mathematical content will be situated within Cathy Fosnot’s landscape of learning framework and will explore the coherent development of topics along the K – 8 spectrum. Video case studies across the grade levels of classroom practice will be analyzed and discussed using the TRU Framework, from Dr. Alan Shoenfeld at the University of California, Berkeley. These video cases provide opportunities for participants to share their grade level expertise and to enhance our understanding of the content connections across the landscape.

January’s sessions will highlight building a welcoming math community for learners to take risks, gain confidence, and take charge of their learning with a focus on the landscape of number sense, addition and subtraction throughout grades K-8. Sessions will feature mathematical models and tools for thinking, including number bonds, number lines, Building Thinking Classroom principles, number strings, and more. Real world contexts and situations will be used as we consider how to best develop students’ conceptual understanding, mathematical identity, and a supportive, nurturing classroom community.

Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays, January 13th, 15th, 20th, and 22nd; 5:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: Buffalo State University, Science & Math Complex 259

Mathematical Landscapes Registration

Mathematical Landscapes Flyer


Preparing for NYSSLS Assessments and Required Investigations

As teachers begin to shift their instructional practice to meet the NYS Science Learning Standards, an important focus should also be on assessing student achievement of those standards. This workshop will provide teachers and administrators with insight into best practices for 9-12 classroom- level assessment as well as updates on state-level assessments.

Participants will explore the newly released Chemistry & Physics Investigations designed to provide multiple measures of student performance throughout the 9-12 grade band. Participants will also collaborate to determine best practices for implementing the investigations.

Date: Saturday, January 31st, 9am-2pm 
Location: SUNY Fredonia, E114 Thompson Hall 

NYSSLS Workshop Registration

NYSSLS Workshop Flyer


Introduction to a Julia Robinson Math Festival and Materials
Annette Rouleau

Julia Robinson Math Festivals (JRMF) help students build confidence, joy, and a sense of belonging around math. At a Math Festival, students and families explore a variety of hands-on, play-based math puzzles and games. The NYS Master Teacher Program at Buffalo State University will have 2 JRMF kits for teachers to sign out and use with their school community to support the JRMFs across WNY. The Math Festival Kits come with reusable, hands-on supplies for 10 different activities that can serve over 100 students at one time at the elementary and/or middle school level. This introductory session will focus on acquainting you with the Math Festival materials in the kits, setting up for a math festival, and participation in an actual Julia Robinson Math Festival. A huge thank you to Cheektowaga Union East for hosting the introduction session as well as our first WNY JRMF! Union East Elementary will be holding a Family Math Night for students and their families on Feb 3 that participants will help set up and facilitate. Participants are strongly encouraged to stay for the Family Math Night so you have a sense of the evening and are ready to bring a JRMF to your school in March or April

Date: Tuesday, February 3rd, 4pm-5:30pm; pizza break; 6pm-7:30pm JRMF for Cheektowaga Central families.
Location: Cheektowaga Union East, 3550 Union Rd, Cheektowaga, NY 14225

Introduction to JRMF Registration

Introduction to JRMF Flyer


Introduction to Building Thinking Classrooms
Annette Rouleau

Annette Rouleau is a former elementary teacher who studied for her doctorate at Simon Fraser University under Dr. Peter Liljedahl. She has taught mathematics pedagogy courses to both preservice and in-service teachers and also conducts professional development workshops on Building Thinking Classrooms. Annette is currently the Director of Education and Engagement at the Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival (jrmf.org), and her passion is to share the joy and wonder that is possible in the teaching and learning of mathematics, yet so seldom experienced.

This session focuses on the importance of collaboration, discourse, and hands-on experiences in creating rich learning opportunities in math. Whether learning new vocabulary or exploring new concepts, students need opportunities to empower themselves and each other in a productive struggle.

Using my own experience in implementing the Building Thinking Classrooms framework in my classroom, the objective is to overcome the norms that have fostered a culture of teaching and learning often devoid of student thinking. In the session, I’ll model strategies that help maintain the flow of a Thinking Classroom, where the focus is on the process of learning rather than the product. Participants will experience the joy of working in collaboration on rich math tasks at vertical, non-permanent surfaces.

 

Date: Wednesday, February 4th, 5:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Buffalo State University, SAMC 259

Introduction to BTC Registration

Introduction to BTC Flyer


Developing and Using Models to Explore Systems in Biology
HHMI BioInteractive

Using the phenomenon of lactase persistence, participants will engage in a series of BioInteractive activities aimed at helping students understand the connection between genetic inheritance and metabolic function. We will explore how developing and using models allows students to understand a biological system from multiple scales. Educators will explore a variety of data analysis and literacy strategies to support student learning.

This workshop is for teachers who teach any level of high school biology (introductory, AP/IB, etc.). Middle school teachers, particularly 8th grade life science teachers, are also welcome to attend. Participants should bring laptops or tablets to fully engage in the workshop. All HHMI BioInteractive resources are free to students, teachers, and districts.

Date: Saturday, February 7th, 9am-3pm 
Location: Buffalo State University, SAMC 257

Explore Systems in Biology Registration

Explore Systems in Biology Flyer

Past Professional Development for WNY Master Teachers

See our database of past professional development offered to WNY Master Teachers