Cultivating Mathematical Hearts in Elementary Classrooms
April 24, 2024, at 4 PM Pacific
Presenters: Maria del Rosario Zavala and Julia Maria Aguirre
Mathematics that is joyful, creative, rigorous, and meaningful can happen in classrooms when we teach in ways that embrace each child's brilliance and humanity. In this session, we share a definition, framework, and classroom strategies for culturally responsive mathematics teaching that will support cultivating mathematical interest, identities, and connections – from the heart. Though examples will stem from K-5 classrooms, we invite all educators across the TK-12 experience to join us to explore the ideas in this session.
A Message from the President
Dear Colleagues,
I begin this writing with gratitude, once again, to each who has contributed to TODOS over the 20 years. Through all of this our organization has been gifted with leaders who’ve led with courage and passion around the Mission and Goals of TODOS.
Over the past two years I’ve been honoured to serve alongside the current Board. Each of these individuals have contributed in dynamic and unique ways and collectively we’ve initiated and began to explore ideas and structures in order for TODOS to expand its systemic influence.
Some of the current Board members will be completing their terms on April 30, 2024. As I list each of those individuals I am conscious that I will miss some of the TODOS activities that each have been involved in and I apologize ahead of time.
Nora Ramirez - who’s served TODOS in a variety of ways such as founding member, president, director, and executive director over 20 years.
Susie Håkansson - who’s served TODOS in a variety of ways such as president, member services chair, e-news coordinator and editor, TEEM layout editor, NCTM representative, and sponsor of teacher awards and Salsa parties for close to 20 years.
Sylvia Celedón-Pattichis - who’s served TODOS through organizing conferences and most recently as Vice-President.
Erin Sylves - who’s served TODOS as Partner Conferences Chair, Fund Development Chair, Director, and organizing conferences.
Bernard Frost - who’s served TODOS as Partner Conferences Chair over the past 4 years.
Jon Oaks - who’s served TODOS as website manager over the past 4 years, and most recently as Member Services Chair.
Monica Gonzalez - who’s served TODOS as Secretary for the past 2 years.
I am grateful for all of the ways that TODOS members have contributed during my term as President.
As I come to the end of my term, I invite you to re-read the February 2023 e-news where I wrote that humans are in the process of unlearning colonialism and the ways that individuals and organizations might “unlearn.” I leave this writing with two quotes from authors I admire as we, individually and collectively, continue to “unlearn colonialism” as the paths that are being walked are laid down:
The late Mahatma Gandhi:
"We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.” (1913, Indian Opinion)
And the late Richard Wagamese in One Drum: Stories and Ceremonies:
“This is how you change the world….the smallest circles first.” (2019, p. 83, Douglas and McIntyre (2013) Ltd.)
With respect and in relation,
Florence
April 2024
