The South Western Ontario Association for Mathematics Education (SWOAME) is proud to bring you four gatherings (3 nights and 1 day) of math and pizza. Have some pizza while attending a lecture on some of the most topical math teaching ideas of the day. OAME members are free and non members are $10 per speaker (Preservice teachers are $5 per speaker). 

All sessions are occurring at the WECDSB board office in the board room located at  1325 California Ave  (behind Assumption High School)

Register now at https://oame.on.ca/mcis/index.php     Contact david.petro@oame.on.ca with any questions. 

Feb 13th, 6:30pm: Vanessa Vakharia (The Math Guru) - Math Therapy: heal math trauma & help students build better relationships with math!
Mar 21st, 6:30pm: Nat Banting - Mathematics Memes: A Look at Society’s Viral Relationship with Mathematics
Apr 25th, 6:30pm: Annie Fetter - Is Sense-Making at the Core of Your Classroom?
May 25th, 11:00am(Pri), 1:00pm(JunInt): Michael Frankfort, Edward Sum - Mathematics Unleashed: An Outdoor Odyssey for Elementary Learners

Did you know that anyone who thinks they're "not a math person" typically has math trauma they haven't worked through? This crash course in math therapy will provide you with 5 practical steps you can implement in your classroom right away. Through teaching math we can empower students to believe they are capable of anything and that everything is possible - starting with math. Add "Math Therapy" to your list of teachable and change the lives of your students far beyond the classroom!

About Vanessa: Known as the Lady Gaga of math education, Vanessa is the founder and director of The Math Guru, a super cool boutique math & science tutoring studio in Toronto that's changing stereotypes about what math education looks like. She is also the host of the Math Therapy podcast, author of the Math Hacks Scholastic book series, and lead singer/keytarist for rock band Goodnight Sunrise. She has her Bachelor of Commerce, Teaching Degree, and Masters of Math Education. She appears regularly on national television and news outlets as an expert in math education and math positivity, and her #goals are to be Oprah-level-famous and to totally change math culture so that STEM is finally as cool as every single Taylor Swift song ever written. She failed Grade 11 math twice, which was the best thing that ever happened to her.

Period obsessions of the internet (known as “viral memes”) seem to belong to one of two main categories: Those that debate sensory phenomena (like the colour of a dress) and those that debate school mathematics. Far from a cute offshoot of counterculture, viral math memes garner serious attention from global media outlets, popular talk shows, and (no doubt) your kitchen table. Here, we will examine why math seems to contain the elegance necessary to grab widespread public fascination, and what pedagogical power, if any, we can draw from this phenomenon.

About Nat: Nat Banting is a classroom mathematics teacher with Saskatoon Public Schools who blogs about teaching math at natbanting.com/blog and tweets as @NatBanting. He also enjoys working as a lecturer in math education programs at St. FX University and the University of Saskatchewan. Recently, he received a 2021 Prime Minister’s Certificate of Excellence in STEM, and in 2019 the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences awarded him the 2019 Margaret Sinclair Memorial Award recognizing innovation and excellence across Canadian mathematics education. When he is not working in math education, you can usually find Nat spending time with his kids, on his gravel bike, or in a rink coaching young goaltenders.

Are your students making sense of the mathematics they explore? Do they feel that mathematics is an inherently sensible endeavor?  We’ll look at ways in which students don’t make sense of mathematics, consider why, and discuss strategies for making it a larger part of the expectations in your classroom. 

About Annie: Annie worked on the project that developed the first version of the Geometer’s Sketchpad and was a founding staff member of the Math Forum until it ended in 2017.  Currently she consults with schools, districts, states, and provinces, and speak at conferences, encouraging a focus on sense-making and leveraging students’ ideas. She is a contributing author for McGraw Hill Education’s K-5 and 6-8 Reveal Math textbook series, and work part-time for the 21st Century Partnership for STEM Education, continuing the Math Forum’s research and outreach.  Her very first Ignite talk, “Ever Wonder What They’d Notice?", has been used in countless PD session around the world.  She likes reading, Double IPAs, homemade sourdough, playing bass and singing both with her girl band and at bluegrass jams, making great saves as an ice hockey goalie, participating in Masters field hockey, and being mom to the best dog a cat lover could have.

Embark on an exhilarating journey beyond the confines of the traditional classroom as we delve into the captivating realm of mathematics through the lens of outdoor education. Join seasoned educators Michael Frankfort and Edward Sum for an immersive and hands-on workshop that bridges the gap between nature and numbers.

In this dynamic session, Michael and Edward will explore the pedagogical intricacies of outdoor learning and its seamless integration with the elementary mathematics curriculum. From counting fallen leaves to measuring the majestic height of trees, discover how connecting students to the natural world fosters curiosity, engagement, and a profound appreciation for both math and nature.

Please come prepared with appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear, as we will venture outdoors to elevate your understanding of the powerful connection between math and the natural world.

About Michael: Michael Frankfort brings a wealth of expertise to the workshop. As the current 7-12 director of OAME and a member of the Y4MA chapter, Michael is deeply involved in fostering mathematical excellence. He serves as the tech chair for Skills Ontario Character Animation Elementary Competition and is a passionate sci-fi aficionado.

About Edward: Edward Sum, an advocate for taking learning beyond the classroom, enriches the workshop with his diverse experiences. An outdoor education enthusiast, classroom teacher, and French Immersion instructor, Edward is dedicated to promoting healthy living and making meaningful connections between lessons and students' lives. He brings a unique perspective to the intersection of education and real-world skills. Outside the classroom, Edward is an avid marathon runner with an impressive list of races, including the prestigious Boston Marathon.