What's New & Newsworthy
in Math Education

Making the Case for Continuous Learning

"Continuous learning is the ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated process of acquiring new skills, knowledge, and expertise throughout life, beyond formal schooling, to adapt to changes, grow personally and professionally, and stay relevant in evolving industries. It's a proactive mindset involving both formal (courses, workshops) and informal (mentoring, podcasts, self-study) methods, essential for career advancement and personal fulfillment" (more on this topic here).

Check out the links below to view our projects and resources for supporting instructional practices, explore what articles we are reading, and access local and national mathematics organizations. 

Recommended Reading

• Michael's resource recommendations:

  • Massachusetts DESE 2025 MTSS updated PDF @ MA MTSS Blueprint 2025

  • "The Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMPs)" in action from Illustrative Mathematics "tasks" site collection just for the SMPs at https://tasks.illustrativemathematics.org/practice-standards/ 

  • Routines, routines, routines. Check out IM360's Hub for links to tasks for every language and instructional routine at every grade level here at the IM 360 K-5 Routines List , IM 360 6-8 Routines List , and IM 360 9-12 Routines List 

  • If you're searching for an in-depth presentation of NCTM's "Effective Teaching Practices", look no further than the State of Colorado's Education Site at https://ed.cde.state.co.us/comath/effective-mathematics-teaching-practices 

  • If you want to read more about how Procedural Fluency is developed with our younger students, go to the Colorado Department of Education for a concise overview at https://ed.cde.state.co.us/comath/proficiency 

  • To find best practices research for specific mathematics strands, check out these Practice Guides from IES>WWC gathered by Colorado Department of Education at https://ed.cde.state.co.us/comath/researchandpracticeguides 

Michael's Resources to Share

Google Drive folder for shared resources collections available at Math Leaders Western MA - shared Michael Merritt 

• • • 2025 PDF - Understanding the MA Math Framework Progression K-12

      • Merritt 2025 Guide to the Public Schools MA Mathematics Grade Band Curriculum Framework Progression.pdf 

    • 2025 PDF - Presentation for reviewing key aspects of the 2025 MTSS Blueprint from Massachusetts DESE

      • MA DESE MTSS Blueprint Highlights - Michael Merritt 2025.pdf 

    • View NCTM's one (or two) pagers for the SMPs and ETPs

      • 5-SMP Look Fors.pdf 

      • NCTM-EffectiveMathematicsTeachingPractices.pdf 

News from ATMIM (the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in Massachusetts)

• ATMIM Home at https://atmim.wildapricot.org/ 

  • *New* $500 Mini-Grants Applications due Dec 15, 2025 https://atmim.wildapricot.org/Mini-Grants 

    • All applications are being evaluated at this time.  Applicants will be notified by January 15, 2026

• Link to ATMIM and ATMNE regional affiliates at https://atmim.wildapricot.org/atmne-affiliates 

News from NCTM and NCSM

• NCTM Home at https://www.nctm.org/ 

  • NCTM membership options at https://www.nctm.org/membership/ 

  • NCTM Dec 2025 position statement "Maximizing the Impact of Universal Screeners to Support Student Learning"

  • NCTM President's Message December 2025 "Cultivating and Fostering Mathematical Thinking"

• NCSM Home at https://www.mathedleadership.org/ 

  • NCSM membership options at https://www.mathedleadership.org/membership/ 

  • Upcoming 58th NCSM Annual Conference "Elevate Bold Mathematics Leadership" in Denver, Colorado on October 26-28, 2026

  • New leadership resource "NCSM Educational Technology & AI Guidance for Math Leaders"

  • More leadership resources at "NCSM Essential Actions Series"

Updates from Forefront Education and their USNS and FRS numeracy projects

• Forefront's USNS One Page Overview Launch Guide at https://forefront.education/solutions/usns-project/resources/ 

• Forefront's updated 2024 USNS (Universal Screeners for Number Sense) *free* downloadable PDF for grades K-6 at https://forefront.education/solutions/usns-project/ 

• Forefront's newly released 2025 FRS (Fractions Reasoning Screeners) *free* downloadable PDF for grades 3-6 at https://forefront.education/solutions/frs-project/ 

News from US Math Recovery Council - Now "Integrow Numeracy Solutions"

• US Math Recovery's new website at https://www.integrowmath.org/news/integrow-numeracy-solutions 

• List of current and upcoming "Add+Vantage" (AVMR) courses at https://www.integrowmath.org/solutions/add-vantage 

• Updated "Ready Set Math" modules including a free sample set at https://www.integrowmath.org/solutions/ready-set-math 

Updates from Amplify: mCLASS assessments, Boost programming, and K-12 Curriculum

• Check out Amplify's latest webinars at https://amplify.com/webinar-library/ and search for math

New from the Math Learning Center Blog

• Go to the MLC blog at https://www.mathlearningcenter.org/educators/blog to check out the latest episodes

  • "Exploring the Seeds of Algebraic Thinking" with Margaret Walton and Janet Walkoe on December 18, 2025

  • "Developing Student Agency: The Strategy Showcase" with Tutita Casa, Anna Strauss, Jenna Waggoner, and Mhret Wondmagegne on December 4, 2025

  • "The Case for Choral Counting with Fractions" with Terry Wyberg and Christy Pettis on November 20, 2025

  • "Improving Students’ Turn & Talk Experience" with Ramsey Merritt on November 6, 2025

  • "Exploring the Power and Purpose of Number Strings" with Pam Harris on October 23, 2025

  • "I Have, You Need: The Utility Player of Instructional Routines" with Kim Montague on October 9, 2025

  • "Same but Different: Encouraging Students to Think Flexibly" with Sue Looney on September 18, 2025

Links to Edutopia Articles - "New" and "New to You"

New Edutopia articles this school year:

• Dec 17, 2025 "Using Interviews to Gain Insight Into Students’ Math Thinking"

• Nov 13, 2025 "A 5-Stage Strategy Students Can Use to Tackle Word Problems"

• Oct 30, 2025 "Using Error Analysis to Boost Engagement and Student Talk in Math"

• Sep 29, 2025 "Useful Strategies to Support Students’ Working Memory"

• Sep 17, 2025 "How Teachers Can Make Sure Their Cold Calling Is Warm and Collaborative"

• Aug 21, 2025 "Classroom Management Rooted in Patience, Planning, and Connection"

Older Edutopia articles still relevant today:

• Sep 25, 2024 "Using Exit Tickets Effectively"

• Aug 6, 2014 "5 Research-Based Tips for Providing Students with Meaningful Feedback"

• Oct 31, 2017 "More Talking in Math Class, Please"