Professional Development

At the Math Institute, it’s all math, all the time!

At the Mathematics Institute of Wisconsin, our Mission is to offer K–12 educators, coaches, and administrators high-quality professional development designed to improve their math knowledge and teaching.

What is Good Math PD?

Good mathematics professional development (PD) is a comprehensive, well-structured, and ongoing program designed to enhance teachers’ understanding and expertise in mathematics and pedagogy. This includes facilitating their ability to teach mathematical concepts effectively, integrate new technologies into their classrooms, develop higher-order thinking skills in students, and differentiate instruction to meet diverse learner needs.

Good math PD should incorporate these elements.

By incorporating these features, a good math PD program can contribute significantly to improving teaching practices, student engagement, and ultimately, student achievement in mathematics.

It should be focused on improving teachers’ content knowledge, helping them to understand the subject matter deeply so that they can explain concepts clearly, handle students’ queries effectively, and challenge misconceptions. They should also learn to connect different areas of mathematics to each other and to real-world applications.

The PD should offer strategies for improving teaching methodologies and practices, incorporating evidence-based practices and innovative instructional techniques. This can include inquiry-based learning, problem-solving strategies, use of manipulatives, or project-based learning.

The PD should promote active engagement, providing opportunities for teachers to get hands-on experience with new teaching methods and technologies. This could include workshops, simulations, or lesson planning sessions. Teachers should be able to try out strategies, receive feedback, and make improvements.
Good math PD encourages collaboration among teachers, promoting an exchange of ideas, experiences, and strategies. This can be facilitated through group discussions, peer observations, or collaborative planning and reflection sessions.
Professional development should not be a one-off event but a continuous process. It should provide support over time to help teachers incorporate new skills into their practice, with follow-up sessions, coaching, and opportunities for reflection and refinement.
A good math PD program incorporates recent research findings in mathematics education and uses data to inform teaching practices. This can involve analyzing student data to identify learning gaps, studying the impact of different teaching strategies, or learning about new research in the field.
High-quality PD values and respects teachers’ expertise, experiences, and professional autonomy. It should be responsive to their needs and preferences, offer them meaningful choices, and encourage them to take ownership of their learning and development.
High-quality math PD can deepen teachers’ understanding of the subject matter, making them more confident and effective in teaching complex concepts. This can lead to more dynamic, engaging, and effective instruction.
PD can equip teachers with the latest evidence-based teaching strategies, allowing them to better address diverse learning needs, foster critical thinking, and promote active engagement in the classroom. This can lead to improved student outcomes.

With the rapid advancement in educational technology, PD provides a platform for teachers to learn about and incorporate new tech tools into their instruction, creating a more interactive and modern learning environment.

Research has consistently shown that effective teaching is one of the most important school-related factors in student achievement. By investing in PD, schools are indirectly investing in their students’ success.

PD is an important part of a teacher’s career growth and can lead to higher job satisfaction. Schools that prioritize PD may be more successful in retaining good teachers, saving the cost and disruption of turnover.
Investment in PD signifies a commitment to continuous learning and improvement, fostering a positive learning culture among the entire school community.
PD in math can equip teachers with the necessary tools to identify and address learning gaps, particularly important for students who are traditionally underserved or struggling.

Why Should schools invest in PD for teachers?

Investing in math professional development (PD) for teachers can significantly enhance the quality of mathematics education, with ripple effects that benefit students, teachers, and the school as a whole. There are a few compelling reasons. Ultimately, while there are upfront costs associated with providing high-quality PD, the return on investment, in terms of improved teaching quality and student outcomes, can more than justify the expenditure.

The Math Institute can help your school!

We offer fully customized support to meet your school’s specific needs.

  • Structure PD around modeling, coaching, co-planning, or co-teaching
  • Focus on various themes including: WI State Standards/Math Practices, Math Language Routines, Building Community, Vision/Belief work, ACT prep, math content or help with curriculum adoption

  • Full day, half day or virtual sessions available