News from the Western 2 Region
Kathlan Latimer, Western 2 Regional Director
Winter 2017/2018

Greetings Western 2 NCSM members and friends,
Welcome to another year with NCSM. The hard work continues, and I am glad that you are on board. I hope to see you at the annual conference to recharge and renew.

APRIL IN DC WITH NCSM

NCSM is 50 years strong! Join the celebration of our accomplishments in promoting and supporting mathematics education leadership at the annual conference April 23-25, 2018, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The conference theme is Leading Mathematics into the Future: Inspiring Monumental Change. Dr. Pedro Noguera is providing the opening keynote address, "Equity and Deeper Learning in Mathematics", which is not to be missed. Dr. Noguera, Distinguished Professor of Education at the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA, will speak on supporting and cultivating effective teaching in schools as well as how to motivate and engage students through teaching strategies that foster deeper learning and the utilization of higher order thinking skills.

The 2018 conference will include over 250 sessions, and this year two pre-conference sessions will be offered Sunday afternoon. The two four-hour offerings are:

  • Math Coaches Enact Principles to Actions: Intentionally Balancing Content and Context to Make Instructional Shifts
  • Using Equity & Social Justice to Build Mathematics Leadership

Take advantage of these opportunities. If you registered prior to November 6, 2017, there may be an opportunity to add a pre-conference session to your registration.

The conference is organized around five strands, developed to provide an opportunity to take a deep dive into a given topic. Below are 2018 conference strands:

  1. Equity in Practice
  2. Cultivating a Mathematics Coaching Practice
  3. Evidence and Experiences from the Field
  4. Developing Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching
  5. Leading Mathematics into the Future

NCSM Caucus

The Western Region 2 Caucus, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon (time and place to be announced), provides the opportunity to meet as a region, receive updated information on NCSM initiatives and events, and for you to give input to NCSM. Let your voice be heard. I hope to see you there.

We Need You: Volunteer!

Volunteering at the NCSM Annual Conference is a rewarding experience, providing you with opportunities to network and make new friends as well as contribute to an enhanced conference experience for all attendees. There are many tasks to be done on site, and since many hands make light work, you are encouraged to volunteer.

See the Sights

Washington, D.C. is a great place to explore. While there see the sites of our capitol city. Plan ahead to visit the monuments, museums, and more. Some of the Smithsonian museums require timed-entry passes, which are available in advance. Know before you go!

NCSM STANDS UP FOR STUDENTS AND THE LEADERS, TEACHERS, AND COACHES WHO SUPPORT THEM

This is the title of an article featured on the NCSM web site (Latest News tab). In these times of attacks on perspectives supporting a social justice stance in or cultural aspects of mathematics education, it is important to stand up for what one believes and support others who do as well.

NCSM does. Read the NCSM statement and those of AMTE, NCTM, and TODOS in support of research and academic debate within the context of equity and social justice and in general.

HELP NCSM GROW

Reach out to your colleagues and invite them to join NCSM. Direct them to our website and its many resources. Encourage them to sign up for eNews to find out what we are about. Help us build our mathematics education leadership community.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Save the date for the California Mathematics Council-Central Section Symposium on March 9- 10, 2108, at the Tulare County Office of Education in Visalia, CA. Matt Larson, President of NCTM, will be providing the keynote address.

Registration is open for the Northwest Mathematics Conference, October 18-20, 2018, in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. Speaker proposals are due by May 4, 2018. Featured speakers, to date, include Tracy Zager, Annie Fetter, Peter Liljedahl, and Graham Fletcher.