10:25-11:10

Diamond 1: When Math Gets Tough: Helping Students Thrive Through Productive Struggle  -- How can we help middle and high school students approach math challenges with confidence and curiosity? This session explores ways to make struggle productive by fostering understanding, agency, and positive math identities. Learn practical strategies for building community, planning purposeful challenges, and guiding students to embrace meaningful mathematical struggle. (3-12)

Diamond 3: Math Facts in Action -- What if fact fluency practice felt meaningful - for students and teachers? In this session, you’ll explore engaging, research-aligned ways to help K–3 students develop strong number sense while building fact fluency that lasts. Learn practical strategies you can use right away—strategies that work with your curriculum, not on top of it. (PK-2)

Diamond 6: Making Math Thinking Visible: Brain-Based Learning Through Number Talks  -- Number Talks provide opportunities for students to make their mathematical thinking visible by sharing strategies, explaining reasoning, and connecting with others’ ideas. By focusing on the thinking behind the answer, students strengthen mathematical reasoning, develop flexibility, and build deeper understanding through active processing, retrieval, and meaningful connections.   In this session, participants will experience Number Talks as learners to analyze the instructional moves that reveal student thinking and explore how questioning, discussion, representations, and reflection support brain-based learning. Participants will consider how Number Talks create classrooms where every student’s ideas are valued and all learners are empowered to see themselves as capable mathematical thinkers. (PK-8)

Diamond 8: Interactive Teacher Panel for Pre-Professional Teachers -- This interactive panel will connect pre-professional teachers with talented, experienced educators from across Nebraska. Panelists will share their classroom experiences, challenges, successes, and lessons learned while discussing topics such as building relationships, creating engaging learning environments, adapting instruction, and growing as an educator. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with the panelists. Participants are encouraged to come prepared with questions and take advantage of this opportunity to learn from educators with diverse experiences and perspectives. The goal of the panel is to provide pre-professional teachers with practical insights and a deeper understanding of the knowledge, skills, and experiences that contribute to effective teaching and learning. (Pre-Service)