Circling to Connect
Building Math Joy on the Foundation of Math Teachers’ Circles





Introduction
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Fundamentally, Math Teachers’ Circles are communities of mathematics professionals focused on sharing the joy and challenges of math and of teaching with one another. As such, MTCs can also provide the human resource infrastructure for concrete efforts to improve mathematics education and build joyful math culture among students, families and communities.
Here we feature two successful models that, respectively, connect MTCs with carefully designed inquiry-oriented classroom materials (Circles of Inquiry), and build on the expertise of MTC members to bring joyful math to students and families (Julia Robinson Mathematics Festivals). In addition, we also highlight three new opportunities that we believe are complementary to and synergistic with the work of MTCs: a student- and parent-focused math culture-building program (Math Monday), a program for introducing students to contemporary research in mathematics (Math News Snapshots), and a scholarly publication outlet for researchers and practitioners working in the Math Circle space (Journal of Math Circles). We hope you enjoy learning about these programs and opportunities, and that they spark new and exciting ideas to nurture your MTC’s growth.
More In This Series
Circles of Inquiry
Jane Cushman, Keiko Dow, Ryan Gantner, and Yousuf George
Julia Robinson Mathematics Festivals
Brianna Donaldson
Math Monday
Scott Kim
Math News Snapshots
Nitsa Movshovitz-Hadar
Journal of Math Circles
Emilie Hancock and Brandy Wiegers
This article originally appeared in the Autumn 2019 MTCircular.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
AUTUMN 2019 MTCIRCULAR
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Tic-Tac-Toe 2.0New Takes on an Old ClassicCatherine Pullin Lane and Lynne M. Pachnowski |
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Circling to ConnectFive Programs Building Math Joy on the Foundation of Math Teachers’ CirclesCircles of Inquiry, Julia Robinson Math Festivals, Math Monday, Math News Snapshots, Journal of Math Circles |
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A Better World Through MathGloria Brown Brooks Is Retiring, But She’s Not Slowing DownInterview by Jessa Barniol |
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Math Teachers’ Circle Small Grants Awarded |
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A Note from AIMSurprising Connections |
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Dispatches from the CirclesLocal Updates From Across the Country |