Local educator presents at NCTM’s Boston Regional Conference

    BOSTON, Mass. — Cynthia Hillman-Forbush, presented Developing Algebraic Thinking in Young Children and Developing Number Sense in Grades PreK-2 at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Regional Conference and Exposition in Boston, Oct. 21-23. The conference, which centered on the theme “Connections: Linking Concepts and Context,” brought together math educators from preschool through university levels to examine different methods for evaluating students’ understanding of mathematics.     Hosted by the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in Massachusetts and the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in New England, the conference offered more than 300 sessions and workshops covering all levels, pre-K — grade 12, and challenged educators to add to their math knowledge and increase their instructional skills. In the era of balancing No Child Left Behind with state and district accountability, the conference offered solutions and helped teachers plan lessons that motivate their students to become better math thinkers.
    “Mathematics teaching is a challenging job. The regional conferences provide teachers with opportunities to grow professionally and prepare for the classroom,” said NCTM President Henry (Hank) Kepner. “The conference also allows both new and experienced teachers to share ideas, develop new ones, and think creatively about how to stimulate and challenge students to learn more, and more advanced, mathematics.”
    NCTM will present three regional conferences in 2009 throughout the United States. Each conference will feature sessions presented by widely known speakers, as well as workshops, lectures, panel discussions, and exhibits of the latest mathematics education material and innovations.
    “Teaching students today is different from in the past. Regional conferences allow new and experienced teachers to learn the latest in math education and gain ideas to use in their classrooms,” said NCTM Executive Director Kichoon Yang. “Teachers are able to grow as learners and help their students become the best that they can be.”
    The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has 100,000 members and 230 Affiliates in the United States and Canada. The Council’s Principles and Standards for School Mathematics provides guidelines for excellence in mathematics education. Its Curriculum Focal Points for Prekindergarten through Grade 8 Mathematics, released in 2006, identifies the most important mathematical topics for each grade level. NCTM’s Focus in High School Mathematics: Reasoning and Sense Making, released on October 6, suggests that a high school mathematics curriculum based on reasoning and sense making will prepare students for higher learning, career success, and productive citizenship.