NCTM Virtual Conference Session Summary – “Teaching Math at a Distance: Math Routines Reimagined for the Remote Classroom”
I had the opportunity to attend the NCTM virtual conference this fall. I really enjoyed the format of being able to attend live sessions and to be able to watch pre-recorded sessions on my own time. I also really appreciate that the conference website is still available for me to go back and watch some sessions that I didn’t have the opportunity to attend at the time. I am so excited that our MCTM spring virtual conference is going to have some of those same features.
One particular live session that I really enjoyed at the NCTM conference was from Theresa Wills titled, “Teaching Math at a Distance: Math Routines Reimagined for the Remote Classroom.” It was the title that caught my attention because it was so timely and relevant as I am currently trying to improve my distance teaching practice. I quickly found out that Theresa has been teaching online for about a decade, which gave me confidence that she was extremely knowledgeable on the topic. Not only that, but I could tell that she was in her comfort zone by presenting virtually.
Theresa’s session focused on several well-known math routines that teachers use in their classroom–Esti-mysteries, Which One Doesn’t Belong, Choral Counting, Notice & Wonder, Number Talks, and Estimation 180. She demonstrated how these can be transferred to synchronous remote learning using Google Slides and Zoom (or Google Meets) as the platforms. During her session, she first played the role of teacher and had us be the students while she showed what each routine would look like in practice. Afterward, she discussed the protocols, or teacher moves, and the technical aspects of the routine. I appreciated being able to see these routines from multiple perspectives.
My biggest takeaway from her presentation was that each of these routines promoted active student participation. The students aren’t just sitting and listening to a lecture, but they are engaged like they would be in a classroom setting. This is one thing I’m really trying to improve upon as a distance teacher. I was able to utilize what I had learned immediately in my virtual classroom.
The best aspect about this presentation was that Theresa offers a bunch of FREE resources on her website theresawills.com. I was able to go in and get the Google Slide templates and adapt them for my own needs. She also offers free professional development opportunities, recordings of PD sessions, video tips, and so much more. She also just published a book of the same title as her NCTM session. If you are teaching remotely, you definitely need to check out her website.
Although I am ready to be back in the classroom, I feel a little bit more confident and comfortable with remote teaching after this session. If you are teaching remotely, you definitely need to check out her website.
Kristen Helland
Region 8 Director