Department of Mathematics and Philosophy

We are happy to announce the return of our conference!

69th Annual Western Illinois University Mathematics Teachers Conference

  Common Core Mathematics:  Developing Student Reasoning

Friday, April 14, 2023 - 8:30 a.m. - 2:50 p.m.

(Check-In/Registration and Continental Breakfast is 8:00-8:30 a.m.)

Keynote Speakers

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Trena Wilkerson will be our opening speaker for the conference. TrenaWilkerson

Trena Wilkerson was President of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics from 2020 to 2022 and is a mathematics education professor in the School of Education at Baylor University in Waco, Texas where she teaches both graduate and undergraduate mathematics education courses and conducts professional development and research. She taught high school mathematics for 18 years, in Louisiana. She has published in several of NCTM’s journals, Mathematics Teacher:  Learning & Teaching PK-12, Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, Mathematics Teacher, Teaching Children Mathematics, and Journal of Research in Mathematics Education, chaired the MTMS Editorial Panel, served on the NCTM Board of Directors and served as President of NCTM. Her research interests include mathematics education, teacher education, algebra teacher efficacy, teaching and learning of mathematics, and professional development. She loves teaching and learning mathematics in support of current and future mathematics teachers and leaders.
Opening Presentation:  Developing Student Reasoning: An Imperative not an Option! - All learners need opportunities to engage in reasoning and sense-making to develop deep mathematical understanding. Let’s explore what it means to reason in mathematics and how reasoning supports us in making sense of our world. How can we broaden our understanding of the purpose of mathematics to support the development of student reasoning? How do we create a learning environment that is supportive? What are effective equitable instructional strategies and mathematical tasks that facilitate reasoning? In what ways can students share their reasoning and learn to critique the reasoning of others that give them voice and build a positive mathematical identity? Come share your thoughts on reasoning as an imperative not an option! 

Dr. Jim Olsen, in his 29th and final year at WIU, will be our closing speaker for the conference.

Jim Olsen teaches mathematics and teacher education courses for prospective and practicing teachers at Western Illinois University. He taught high school mathematics in Nebraska for 10 years. His research interests JimOlseninclude mental math, student understanding of the function concept, multiplicative reasoning, educational uses of technology, logic for middle school, problem solving, and teaching mathematical and higher-order reasoning while seeing the beauty of mathematics. In 2015, he published "Five Keys for Teaching Mental Math" in the Mathematics Teacher journal. In 2019, he received, from the WIU College of Arts and Sciences, the Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching with Technology, and, from the WIU Provost, the Award for Academic Excellence in Enhancing Learning with Technology. Dr. Olsen came to WIU in 1994. He is retiring in June 2023. He enjoys learning and teaching mathematics and working with current and future teachers.
Closing Presentation:  The Many Rich Meanings of the Geometric Mean - The geometric mean is a beautiful mathematical topic. Its multiple concepts connect number sense, algebra, measurement, geometry, and data analysis. The concept runs the gamut from multiplicative reasoning in elementary school through high school and beyond. In this session I will show numerous characterizations (most are visual) of the geometric mean, with the goal of showing the beauty of mathematics and building students’ conceptual understanding and mathematical reasoning.

Schedule

The 2023 Conference schedule is here. Session descriptions are here. Click here for a map of Horrabin Hall.

Parking

Participants can park in the Horrabin Hall lot (big lot south of Horrabin Hall). Parking Services knows that you will be coming to the conference that day. They said that it's fine; they won't be ticketing. If you arrive and the Horrabin Hall lot is full, you can try the Currens Hall lot (lot west of Currens Hall and NW from Horrabin). Click here for a parking map .

Professional Development Hours

There is a green form in your folder. The day of the conference-Fill out the green form and turn it in at the box at a registration table before you leave!
At Home-You will receive an email with instructions and links to complete the survey electronically. You earn 6 PD hours for attending this conference.

Call for Speakers

Do you have ideas for teaching math that you would like to share?
We are looking for breakout session speakers and are accepting proposals for 2024 (next year).  If you'd like to be a speaker, contact Dr. Bob Mann.
Breakout sessions are 35 minutes.

Registration

Registration is only $50 and $10 for full time students. Each registered person receives a box lunch.

Online Registration Form   //   Print Registration Form: Google doc form or PDF form .  Poster thumbnail

Mail payment to Western Illinois University, 1 University Circle, Department of Math & Philosophy, Macomb, IL 61455.

If you have questions, call (309)298-1054 or email Dr. Bob Mann (rr-mann@wiu.edu). (We do take walk-ins for this conference, but we prefer that attendees register in advance.)

Poster and Please Share

Here is the poster for this 2023 conference.

Please pass along information about this conference to fellow teachers and encourage them to attend.

Sponsors

This conference is sponsored by Western Illinois University, Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and West Central Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Past Conferences

2019 Conference

2018 Conference

2017 Conference

2016 Conference

2015 Conference

2014 Conference

2013 Conference

2012 Conference

2011 Conference

2010 Conference

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