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FALL 2006 MCTM NEWSLETTERFrom The President
From the PresidentJennifer Taylor-Cox Green light! Go! Another exciting school year is here! We've refreshed the classrooms and ourselves. It is really fantastic that in our profession we have an annual restart. Each new school year, we have the opportunity to bring with us insight from the previous years and start anew. Just like the bionic man from tv, we're "better than we were before; better. . . stronger. . . faster. . ." because we can use our knowledge and experience to improve mathematics education. Luckily for the solvency of our school systems, teachers are not reconstructed and refurbished to the tune of $6,000,000 per person. But we do perform "incredible feats of strength" in our everyday use of knowledge, experience, and reflective practice. So make an effort to continue to improve. Reflect. Revise. Revamp. Refocus. We can accomplish great things-with or without the metallic daderdaderdader sound! According to NCTM president (and Maryland mathematics educator), Skip Fennell, "It all begins-right now!" In his recent president's message, Skip reminds us that new teachers need support. Being a successful mathematics teacher requires a great deal of dedication, intelligence, patience, strength, humor, charisma, thought, time, and work. If you are a new teacher, establish collaborative relationships with master teachers. If you are a veteran teacher, offer some guidance and support to the first-year teachers in your building. Making a positive difference involves working together to continuously improve the mathematics experiences of our students. The Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics is your organization. We invite you participate in the MCTM 2006 Annual Conference which will be held on October 20th at Old Mill High School in Anne Arundel County. Conference co-chairs, Lynn Clough and Julie Taylor have been working hard to organize an excellent 2006 conference. Print out a pre-registration form (found at www.marylandmath.org) and send it in or register on-site. The conference will provide opportunities to network with other Maryland mathematics educators and to learn about many new mathematics ideas, strategies, and products. Believe in the power of math!
MCTM ElectionsDon't forget to cast your ballot for new MCTM Officers and Board Members. All members should have received a copy in an August mailing. Completed ballots are due by September 22, so don't delay in lending your participation. Help us to continue the work of mathematics education in Maryland; vote in this year's election!
MCTM Annual ConferenceThe MCTM Annual Conference will take place on Friday, October 20, 2006 at Old Mill High School in Anne Arundel County. The theme this year is The Rising Tide of Maryland Mathematics. A copy of the registration form is available at http://www.marylandmath.org/events/annual-conference.asp. Pre-registration ends on September 22. In addition, there is on-site registration. If you are able to volunteer for the conference please contact the conference chairs Lynn Clough lclough@aacps.org or Julie Taylor julieht1@yahoo.com. See you there! MCTM Annual Conference 2006 Vendors and Exhibits If you or your company would like to display and sell merchandise at the Annual Conference, please contact Jennifer Taylor-Cox at Jennifer@Taylor-CoxInstruction.com
Teacher of the Year NominationsKnow a great mathematics teacher and want to recognize them for their work? Nominate them for MCTM Teacher of the Year! Nominations for MCTM Teacher of the Year Awards will be accepted beginning in October. To qualify for this award you must be teaching mathematics during the year you apply, show evidence of professional growth, complete an application, write an essay describing your view of mathematics instruction in today's classroom, and submit two letters of recommendation. Finalists for each award will be observed by a member of the awards committee. Look for more information in the next MCTM newsletter and visit www.marylandmath.org for updates.
Teaching ResourcesCheck out the following for good information about your mathematics teaching practice. If you have any suggestions for future segments, please email Mike Lueke at hmlueke@aacc.edu.
MSDE NewsDonna Watts The Governor's Summit on Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education outlined recommendations for raising learning levels in these areas and doubling the size of the pool of high school graduates (by 2011) who have completed rigorous coursework in math and science programs. The Governor then appointed an Advisory Board on Math, Science, and Technology Education (MSTE), chaired by Ken Hoffman of the Maryland Mathematics Coalition, and including members such as former U.S. Secretary of Labor Sen. William Brock, Drs. Grasmick and Hairston, June Streckfus of the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education, and representatives from Northrop Grumman, Johns Hopkins, Morgan State and more. The Governor allocated $2 million in his budget for STEM schools to be distributed to school systems via grants administered by MSDE. The first grant (for $1.3 million) is going to Baltimore County Public Schools to establish Chesapeake High School as the first STEM Academy. Additional "planning grants" will be made available for other school systems during this school year.
2006 MathalonThis year's MATHALON will be held on October 28, from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Meade Middle School. The event is open to all middles schools in the state of Maryland. The mathematics event consists of three rounds of competition, each scored independently. The individual test and the team test are written examinations taken by individuals and a school team of four students respectively. In the invention round, teams of four students-each from different schools-choose one of five "inventions" to design and build. Then, without help from any adult coach, the team is given 20 minutes to completely build their invention using only the materials provided. The rules for judging this part of the competition are explained in advance. The entry fee is used to defray the costs of holding the event and is only $30 per school team. There is a maximum limit of 50 schools for the competition and schools are entered on a first-come first-served basis, so please sign up early. For details and registration information visit www.marylandmath.org/events/mathalon.asp.
NCTM Regional Conference in NJThis year's NCTM Regional Conference is in Atlantic City, NJ and features a keynote address from Maryland's own Skip Fennel. Other featured speakers are: Janet Caldwell, Cathy Seeley, Gail Burrill, Glenda Lappan, James Rubillo, and Tad Watanabe, in addition to over 300 other presentations. Please visit http://www.nctm.org/meetings/atlanticcity/ for more information.
2007 MCTM Annual ConferencePlans are already underway for MCTM's 2007 Annual Conference. If you are interested in serving on the planning committee, please contact the conference chair, Stew Saphier at SaphierSS@aol.com. Thanks.
CalendarOctober 19-21 - NCTM Regional Conference October19 - MCTM Awards Banquet and Annual Meeting October 20 - MCTM Annual Conference November 3-4 - MAA Section Meeting (MD-DC-VA)
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