Agenda
â”” Bedford
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9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 350
Pam Harris | Keynote Speaker
|
A1 • Keynote Session: Avoiding the Trap of Algorithms – Math is FigureOutAble (All Grade Levels) |
| Algorithms might be powerful general tools, but they can trap students in limited, less-sophisticated reasoning. In this session, learn how students can take advantage of the power of generalizing without getting trapped and how we can develop mathematical reasoning, get better results, and reach more students. Math is Figure-out-able! |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 50
Marian Small
|
A2 • Do They Really Understand? (Grades 4-6) |
| Many teachers set tasks where students do math, but do not really need to understand the math they are doing. We will contrast such tasks with tasks that build understanding. We will discuss strategies to make it relatively easy for a teacher to use more tasks that build understanding at the Grades 4–6 level. |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 50
Dwayne Slobodnick
|
A3 • Rich Tasks in the Mathematics Classroom (Grades P-9) |
| Rich tasks are an exciting and engaging force in mathematics learning. In this session, we will have fun exploring integrating technology, vertical non-permanent surfaces, and hands-on activities that promote movement, collaboration, mathematical talk, and problem-solving. These activities will build confidence and support learners with numeracy, flexibility in thinking, and communication. |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Gord Hamilton | NS Math Circles
|
A4 • Board Games for the Classroom (Grades 1-10) |
| In the board game Santorini there is a quote: "Playing Board Games is the most important home activity for parents wanting to support their child in the math classroom. That's because the number one objective of elementary school mathematics is to get kids to problem solve—and board games are a celebration of problem solving!" Most games are better at home than in the classroom. That's because they are too expensive or critical pieces are too easy to lose. There are some games, however, that absolutely deserve a place on your classroom shelves. We are going to play some. This session will have you playing together and laughing a lot! |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Shannon Harding | Junior Achievement
|
A5 • Financial Health Skills: Building Blocks for Future Success (Grades 6-12) |
| Demonstrating FREE resources available to schools and educators through JA Nova Scotia, an EECD partner in curriculum support. JA is an internationally recognized non-profit, sharing free programming to support classrooms and curriculum outcomes. This session will involve experiential exploration of JA Programs, and all associated program materials are available at no cost across Nova Scotia. |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Chris Cocek
|
A6 • Brick by Brick: Building Mathematical Thinking with LEGO Spike Prime (Grades 3-9) |
| Bring mathematics and robotics to grades 3-9 with LEGO Spike Prime. This interactive session explores its educational power, focusing on problem-solving, computational thinking, and collaboration. Participants learn hands-on activities to integrate Spike Prime into curriculum-aligned lessons. Spark ideas and empower mathematical thinking in accessible, equitable, and joyful ways. |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Sarah Taylor
Keith Partridge
|
A7 • Lesson Learned: What We Have Learned Through the Provincial Assessments (Grades P-9) |
| Based on a data analysis of the mathematics provincial assessments, we will highlight areas that students across the province found challenging. The focus is to help provide some information about student performance on the assessment and see how it can also inform lesson design and assessment in the classroom. |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Paroo MacKinnon
Joan Chisholm-Whidden
|
A8 • EAL Students and Mathematics: It Isn't Just About Numbers (All Grade Levels) |
| EAL learners encounter distinct challenges when learning mathematics. They must grasp both mathematical concepts and the language used to describe them. These challenges may involve understanding mathematical vocabulary, interpreting word problems, and expressing mathematical ideas clearly. This presentation will include strategies of how to examine math problems and highlight different elements that could confuse EAL students. |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Michelle Muggridge
Joann Greenough
|
A10 • Reviewing with Pixel Art (Grades 6-12) |
| Looking for a fresh way to energize your review sessions and boost student participation? Pixel Art is a fun, digital activity where each correct answer reveals part of a hidden image—turning review into a game your students will love. Bring your own review questions (any subject, any grade), and by the end of this hands-on session, you'll have your own pixel art activity ready to use in your classroom. Join us and discover how easy it is to make review time both effective and fun! All are welcome! |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Carly Thornton
Trish Nakpil
|
A11 • Beyond the Guess: Deepening Mathematical Thinking Through Estimation (Grades 2-4) |
| Estimation is more than just a guess—it's a critical thinking skill that fosters number sense, problem-solving, and real-world reasoning. Participants will engage with hands-on activities, explore student misconceptions, and discover how to use estimation to deepen mathematical understanding. Whether you're estimating quantities, addition and subtraction, or measurement, you will learn ways to make estimation a meaningful part of your routine. |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Kelly Power
|
A12 • Creating Leveled Assessment Questions (Grades 7-12) |
| This session will focus on creating multi-level outcomes-based assessment questions for math courses in junior high and high school. Designed to provide students with the opportunity to meet outcomes at level 2, 3, or 4, they can be used as observation, conversations, or products. Participants will also be provided with a variety of sample questions. |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Susan Kauffman
|
A13 • Buy, Solve, Sell: A Math Market for Fractions & Decimals (Grades 4-6) |
| Bring math to life with The Math Market: Fractions & Decimals Edition! In this hands-on session, teachers will explore a dynamic, upper elementary curriculum-aligned activity where students buy, solve, and sell math problems for profit. Leave with ready-to-use materials, classroom management tips, and strategies to foster teamwork, risk-taking, and real-world connections to math. |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Karen Service
Melissa Deveaux
|
A14 • Game On: Boosting Math Engagement with Capture the Flag and Scavenger Hunts and Card Sorts (Grades 7-12) |
| Looking to spark excitement in your Grade 7–12 math classroom? Discover how to transform existing questions from textbooks and worksheets into engaging whole-class games like Capture the Flag, and interactive activities like scavenger hunts and card flips. These low-prep, high-engagement strategies will have students moving, thinking, and participating like never before. Bring your own device—we’ll walk you through building your own activity that you can use the very next day! |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Matthew Little
|
A16 • Hop, Skip, and Jump: Number Lines as a Pathway to Deeper Understanding in Elementary Math (Grades P-6) |
| Discover how number lines can transform elementary math instruction by promoting deeper conceptual understanding. This session explores engaging strategies: counting on, counting back, partitioning, compensation—to support student thinking in operations, place value, and more. Walk away with practical tools and activities that make abstract math concepts more visual, interactive, and meaningful for young learners. |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Doug Ross
|
A17 • Road Trip: A Financial Math Project (Grades 10-12) |
| The Road Trip project is a practical financial math activity where students plan a journey from Nova Scotia to San Diego. Using Google Maps and MyMaps, they calculate travel costs, apply budgeting, and document stops. Designed for high school (adaptable for junior high), it offers an engaging, easily graded assessment integrating real-world math skills. |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Swadhin Taneja
|
A20 • Math as a Language: What I Have Learned Through Teaching (Grades 6-12) |
| “I hate math." "Math makes my brain hurt." "Math isn't for me." How often have you heard these words from your students? This presentation will outline my accessible approach to teaching math as a language—one with its own symbols, structure, and real-world applications. |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Therese Forsythe
|
A21 • Statistics and Data Science: Data Collection (Grades 10-12) |
| Nova Scotia has launched an exciting new pilot course, Stats and Data Science 12. In this session, I’ll share my experiences developing and teaching this course at Horton High School. Together, we’ll explore engaging introductory activities focused on data collection, designed to spark curiosity and build a foundation for deeper learning. Participants will leave with classroom-ready ideas to bring data collection to life. |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Lynn Sherren | MathImagine
|
A22 • Math Intervention Made Easy with Cross-Number Puzzles (Grades P-5) |
| Have you been struggling to determine why your students are unable to grasp basic numeracy concepts? This session will present Cross-Number puzzles based on extensive Math Recovery research and theory. As students work through the Cross-Number puzzles, you will be able to easily identify the concepts. Not only does it then become clear why they are “not getting it,” but more importantly, what needs to be done so they can move forward. |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Dr. Karyn McLellan
Dr. Danielle Cox, MSVU
|
A24 • Puzzles, Games & Technology (Grades 7-12) |
| In this session we will play with some famous mathematical problems that are accessible to junior and senior high students. We will learn about the historical context of each problem and explore how technology can help us understand (and sometimes solve) them. |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Kora Lee
Souad El-Achkar
|
A25 • Implementing a Curricular Task for a Building Thinking Classroom (Grade 7) |
| Have you been experimenting with some of the first few practices of Building Thinking Classrooms and are ready to try a lesson using a curricular task? This session is designed to help teachers implement the following practices of a Building Thinking Classroom: Launch, Task Sequence, Consolidation, Meaningful Notes, and Check-Your-Understanding Problems. Although we will implement a curricular task with an outcome from the grade 7 mathematics curriculum, everyone is welcome to attend. |
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Bob Crane
|
A26 • Unit Fractions: The Gateway to Flexibility and Fluency Among Fractions, Decimals and Percent (Grades 4-10) |
| Wouldn't it be great if students could master fraction, decimals and percents with both flexibility and fluency? And on top of this develop a better conceptual understanding of the three. No promises, but many teachers have done this session and come away saying, "I wish I learned it this way. I’ll be doing this with my classes from moving forward." Note: this can be used as a vertical acceleration of concepts for grade 7,8,9 and some grade 10's. |
10:15 a.m. – 10:35 a.m
|
Break |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 350
Pam Harris
|
B1 • Keynote Session: Make It Happen with Problem Strings: Math is FirgureOutAble (All Grade Levels) - Pam Harris |
| The powerful teaching tool, Problem Strings, is a purposeful sequence of related problems designed to help students mentally construct math relationships. It is an intriguing routine where the power lies in the carefully crafted conversation as students solve problems, one at a time, and the teacher makes student thinking visible and draws out important patterns, connections, and relationships. Finally a way to teach math that is not just showing and memorizing steps–and gets results. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 50
Marian Small
|
B2 • Do They Really Understand? (Grades 7-9) |
| Many teachers set tasks where students do math, but do not really need to understand the math they are doing. We will contrast such tasks with tasks that build understanding. We will discuss strategies to make it relatively easy for a teacher to use more tasks that build understanding at the Grades 7-9 level. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Dwayne Slobodnick
|
B3 • Rich Tasks in the Mathematics Classroom (Grades P-9) |
| Rich tasks are an exciting and engaging force in mathematics learning. In this session, we will have fun exploring integrating technology, vertical non-permanent surfaces, and hands-on activities that promote movement, collaboration, mathematical talk, and problem-solving. These activities will build confidence and support learners with numeracy, flexibility in thinking, and communication. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Gord Hamilton | NS Math Circles
|
B4 • Board Games for the Classroom (Grades 1-10) |
| In the board game Santorini there is a quote: "Playing Board Games is the most important home activity for parents wanting to support their child in the math classroom. That's because the number one objective of elementary school mathematics is to get kids to problem solve—and board games are a celebration of problem solving!" Most games are better at home than in the classroom. That's because they are too expensive or critical pieces are too easy to lose. There are some games, however, that absolutely deserve a place on your classroom shelves. We are going to play some. This session will have you playing together and laughing a lot! |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Shannon Harding | Junior Achievement
|
B5 • Financial Health Skills: Building Blocks for Future Success (Grades 6-12) |
| Demonstrating FREE resources available to schools and educators through JA Nova Scotia, an EECD partner in curriculum support. JA is an internationally recognized non-profit, sharing free programming to support classrooms and curriculum outcomes. This session will involve experiential exploration of JA Programs, and all associated program materials are available at no cost across Nova Scotia. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Chris Cocek
|
B6 • Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Mathematics: Innovative Approaches for the Classroom (All Grade Levels) |
| Educational AI has rapidly evolved. In this session, discover how interactive AI chatbots and tools can transform your math lessons, making them more engaging and dynamic! Whether you're experienced with AI or just starting out, join this session for practical ideas you can implement immediately in your math lessons. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Sarah Taylor
Keith Partridge
Lennie Comeau
|
B7 • Anchor Charts: A “How-To” That Supports Instruction and Does Not Compromise the Validity of Assessments (All Grade Levels) |
| We will explore the use of anchor charts as instructional tools and their impact on assessment validity. While they can capture key concepts, strategies and procedures to support student learning, we will highlight what can be done so that they provide reference points and foster independence on assessments. Examples will be used to show how anchor charts can be used as tools for learning and not shortcuts for answers. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Jocelyn Procopio
|
B8 • Teaching Calculus Creatively (Grade 12) |
| Join me for an engaging session where I’ll demonstrate my favorite hands-on activities for teaching key calculus concepts such as related rates, optimization, and antiderivatives. These activities aim to turn abstract ideas into tangible learning experiences, enabling students to develop a deeper and more intuitive understanding of essential concepts. You'll walk away with activities that will make your calculus lessons more enjoyable, approachable, and impactful. This is also a chance to foster a Calculus learning community and continue to work together. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Richard Snow | TI Education
|
B9 • Driving TI-Innovator Rover to Student Engagement and Learning (Grades 6-12) - Richard Snow, TI Education |
| In this session participants will learn how the TI-Inspire and TI-Innovator Rover can be used to create low floor-high ceiling python coding activities that maximize both student engagement and learning of curriculum outcomes. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Michelle Muggridge
Joann Greenough
|
B10 • Reviewing with Pixel Art (Grades 6-12) |
| Looking for a fresh way to energize your review sessions and boost student participation? Pixel Art is a fun, digital activity where each correct answer reveals part of a hidden image—turning review into a game your students will love. Bring your own review questions (any subject, any grade), and by the end of this hands-on session, you'll have your own pixel art activity ready to use in your classroom. Join us and discover how easy it is to make review time both effective and fun! All are welcome! |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Patricia Irving
|
B11 • Same Old Math, Different Way. (Grades 10-12) |
| "Same Old Math, Different Way" invites teachers to explore alternative ways of engaging with math curriculum that make familiar content feel new again. Session will take a Centers approach where teachers can learn-by-doing as they engage with different types of individual and collaborative learning experiences. Teachers will leave the sessions with a variety of activities and ideas that they can use in the classroom either as-is, or that can be tweaked to suit unique class and curriculum. While some activities may involve the use of technology, technology use is not a focus of this session. Activities are not grade specific, however activities will be designed using secondary math curriculum. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Kelly Power
|
B12 • Creating Leveled Assessment Questions (Grades 7-12) |
| This session will focus on creating multi-level outcomes-based assessment questions for math courses in junior high and high school. Designed to provide students with the opportunity to meet outcomes at level 2, 3, or 4, they can be used as observation, conversations, or products. Participants will also be provided with a variety of sample questions. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Susan Kauffman
|
B13 • Buy, Solve, Sell: A Math Market for Fractions & Decimals (Grades 4-6) |
| Bring math to life with The Math Market: Fractions & Decimals Edition! In this hands-on session, teachers will explore a dynamic, upper elementary curriculum-aligned activity where students buy, solve, and sell math problems for profit. Leave with ready-to-use materials, classroom management tips, and strategies to foster teamwork, risk-taking, and real-world connections to math. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Jamie Fraser | Bound2Learn
|
B14 • A Conceptual Journey Through Early Number (Grades P-12) |
| Pack your bag for a conceptual journey through early number. We will begin with counting and continue through to unitizing, stopping regularly to assess the landscape through the lens of student thinking. Games, story contexts, digital tools and number routines will be introduced and unpacked to help you know the math, know the learner and know the moves to develop fluency and flexibility for all. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Kim Blades
|
B15 • Counting and Counting Collections (Grades P-2) |
| Practicing the “how” and “what” of counting principles supports efficient and accurate counters. Come explore counting and counting collections, routines that provide our students with engaging mathematical tasks. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Matthew Little
|
B16 • Hop, Skip, and Jump: Number Lines as a Pathway to Deeper Understanding in Elementary Math (Grades P-6) |
| Discover how number lines can transform elementary math instruction by promoting deeper conceptual understanding. This session explores engaging strategies: counting on, counting back, partitioning, compensation—to support student thinking in operations, place value, and more. Walk away with practical tools and activities that make abstract math concepts more visual, interactive, and meaningful for young learners. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Doug Ross
|
B17 • Road Trip: A Financial Math Project (Grades 10-12) |
| The Road Trip project is a practical financial math activity where students plan a journey from Nova Scotia to San Diego. Using Google Maps and MyMaps, they calculate travel costs, apply budgeting, and document stops. Designed for high school (adaptable for junior high), it offers an engaging, easily graded assessment integrating real-world math skills. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Josée Haché
|
B18 • Taking Math Outdoors (Grades P-6) |
| Taking math outdoors showcase the many ways we can incorporate math in a nature setting, whether it's counting collections, partitioning or spying shapes around us, there are many outcomes to be discovered in outdoor lessons. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Amanda VanDerHeyden | SpringMath
|
B19 • Tier 1.5 of Your Math MTSS: Classwide Supplemental Instruction (All Grade Levels) |
| MTSS is a model that promotes growth for all learners and produces a dataset that can be used to inform future instructional actions. When risk is high, classwide math intervention is a necessary feature of MTSS (Tier 1.5) that has the effect of lowering overall risk (i.e., improving overall proficiency), closing opportunity gaps, and providing much more accurate identification of students needing more intensive intervention. Classwide intervention produces a strong incremental cost effectiveness ratio meaning that it produces benefit to all students in a highly efficient way. This session will detail key scientific findings pertinent to classwide math intervention in MTSS. Effects on learning and specifically closing of equity gaps will be shared. Attendees will take away tactics to try right away in their own settings and web-based resources to start their own work to adopt science-based math instruction within their MTSS structures. Printed and video resources will be provided. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Swadhin Taneja
|
B20 • Math as a Language: What I Have Learned Through Teaching (Grades 6-12) |
| “I hate math." "Math makes my brain hurt." "Math isn't for me." How often have you heard these words from your students? This presentation will outline my accessible approach to teaching math as a language—one with its own symbols, structure, and real-world applications. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Therese Forsythe
|
B21 • Statistics and Data Science: Making Sense of Data (Grades 10-12) |
| Nova Scotia has launched an exciting new pilot course, Stats and Data Science 12. In this session, we’ll collect our own data and explore real-world datasets from the Census at School project. Using developmentally appropriate, dynamic statistics tools on TI technology, we’ll uncover the “signal in the noise” and make meaningful comparisons between our data and national samples. No TI technology or programming experience is required—just curiosity and a willingness to dive into data! |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Lynn Sherren | MathImagine
|
B22 • Math Games Galore: Having Fun with Math for Upper Elementary! (Grades 4-6) |
| Need some fresh, new ideas for games and activities that kids LOVE to play? A multitude of engaging games supporting numeracy and basic facts will be introduced and played during the session. These games, from The MathImagine Foundation resources, are ideal for individual learning, group learning, learning centres, and whole-class instruction in upper Elementary. Be ready to participate, have fun, and win fantastic prizes! |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Glenn Pearson
|
B23 • Teaching Problem Solving Strategies (Grades 9-12) |
| This session will support the Integration of problem solving strategies into your daily practice through collaboration. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Dr. Karyn McLellan
Dr. Danielle Cox, MSVU
|
B24 • Puzzles, Games & Technology (Grades 7-12) |
| In this session we will play with some famous mathematical problems that are accessible to junior and senior high students. We will learn about the historical context of each problem and explore how technology can help us understand (and sometimes solve) them. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Carolyn Overmars
Nicholas White
|
B25 • Enrichment in Math (Grades 7-9) |
| Classrooms are filled with students operating at varying levels of mathematical skill. As such, it can be difficult to keep all students engaged and feeling like they are learning. This session will address enrichment for Math 7-9 through the exploration of various websites, projects, and self-directed lessons. |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Sarah Deveaux
Veronica Zentilli
Dr. Marc Husband
Dr. Evan Troop-Robinson, StFX
|
B26 • Talk Moves that Matter: Making Student Thinking Visible in Number Talks (Grades 1-6) |
| What if a simple shift in how you ask a question could transform your students’ math thinking? In this interactive session, we invite you into a real Grade 5 classroom to witness how carefully chosen “talk moves” can support student engagement, deepen number sense, and bring mental math strategies to life. Using video clips from our classroom-based research in CCRCE, we’ll unpack seven powerful talk moves that help students connect, compare, and communicate their thinking during Number Talks. You’ll see students visualizing multiplication, making unexpected connections, and sharing strategies. Whether you’re new to Number Talks or looking to spice up your Number Talks with talk moves, this session offers practical tools and fresh ideas to take back to your classroom tomorrow. Come ready to listen to kids’ ideas and talk math! |
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Capacity: 30
Dr. Tess Miller
Rahula Samaran, UPEI
|
B27 • AI as an Intervention for Mathematics Anxiety (Grades 4-12) |
| This session will begin with a discussion on what is mathematics anxiety, what causes mathematics anxiety, and how it is measured. We will then discuss and demonstrate common interventions that have been used for mathematics anxiety, and then segue into demonstrating how a more recent intervention, artificial intelligence, can be used to alleviate mathematics anxiety. |
11:50 a.m. – 1:20 a.m
|
Break |
12:30 p.m.
|
Annual General Meeting (AGM) |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 350
Marian Small
|
C1 • Keynote Session: Reaching All Students By Focusing on Assets, Not Deficits (Grades P-6) |
| In this session, we will look at how more thoughtful consideration of questions posed to students in mathematics classrooms can go a long way to building student success. It is not about making things easier, but making things meaningful and encouraging diverse viewpoints. We will explore questions in Grades K-6 in a number of mathematical domains addressed by the Nova Scotia curriculum. |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 50
Pam Harris | Math is FigureOutAble
|
C2 • Q&A with Pam Harris |
| Join Pam Harris for an informal Q&A where participants can ask questions, share reflections, and explore her approaches to developing mathematical reasoning in the classroom. This is a chance to dig deeper into her ideas and discuss practical ways to help students see that Math is Figure-out-able! |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 50
Dwayne Slobodnick
|
C3 • Rich Tasks in the Mathematics Classroom (Grades P-9) - Dwayne Slobodnick |
| Rich tasks are an exciting and engaging force in mathematics learning. In this session, we will have fun exploring integrating technology, vertical non-permanent surfaces, and hands-on activities that promote movement, collaboration, mathematical talk, and problem-solving. These activities will build confidence and support learners with numeracy, flexibility in thinking, and communication. |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Gord Hamilton | NS Math Circles
|
C4 • Board Games for the Classroom (Grades 1-10) |
| In the board game Santorini there is a quote: "Playing Board Games is the most important home activity for parents wanting to support their child in the math classroom. That's because the number one objective of elementary school mathematics is to get kids to problem solve—and board games are a celebration of problem solving!" Most games are better at home than in the classroom. That's because they are too expensive or critical pieces are too easy to lose. There are some games, however, that absolutely deserve a place on your classroom shelves. We are going to play some. This session will have you playing together and laughing a lot! |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Shannon Harding | Junior Achievement
|
C5 • Financial Health Skills: Building Blocks for Future Success (Grades 6-12) |
| Demonstrating FREE resources available to schools and educators through JA Nova Scotia, an EECD partner in curriculum support. JA is an internationally recognized non-profit, sharing free programming to support classrooms and curriculum outcomes. This session will involve experiential exploration of JA Programs, and all associated program materials are available at no cost across Nova Scotia. |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Chris Cocek
|
C6 • Canva for the Busy Math Educator (All Grade Levels) |
| This presentation explores how Canva's recent updates can revolutionize math teachers' workflows. We'll showcase features designed to streamline lesson planning, create engaging visuals, and foster student collaboration. Learn to design interactive worksheets, dynamic presentations, and visually appealing assessments, all while saving valuable time. Discover how Canva empowers busy math teachers to create impactful learning experiences efficiently. |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Lennie Comeau
Sarah Taylor
Keith Partridge
|
C7 • Coding (not scoring) Mathematical Responses (Grades 6-12) |
| A look at establishing success criteria for student responses to problems and coding responses based on a four-point rubric. This session will explore the approach using a constructed response question from the NSE Mathematics 10 examination and work through the training process used at the scoring session. This approach can be extended to all grade levels. |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Jocelyn Procopio
|
C8 • Geometry Gets Personal (Grades P-6) |
| Make geometry exciting—one name tag at a time! Join this interactive session to discover a fun way to help students connect with essential geometry ideas like symmetry, circles, 2D and 3D shapes, and spatial reasoning. Attendees will create custom name tags featuring geometric designs, sparking curiosity, dialogue, and deeper understanding. Learn how this straightforward yet impactful tool can enrich classroom dynamics while strengthening math vocabulary and visual skills. Perfect for teachers eager to bring a creative and engaging element to their geometry lessons! |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Michelle Muggridge
Joann Greenough
|
C9 • Outcomes-Based Grading: Making It Work in a Traditional System (Grades 9-10) |
| Curious about implementing outcomes-based grading, but not sure where to start—especially when no one else around you is doing it? A hybrid model might be the answer. In this session, we’ll share how we’ve blended outcomes-based teaching with a 10-point scale to focus on skill development while still aligning with traditional grading systems. You'll see how this approach is working in real Grade 9 and 10 math classrooms, and leave with ideas and strategies you can adapt to your own context. Join us to explore a practical path toward more meaningful assessment! |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Richard Snow | TI Education
|
C10 • Real Time Data Collection and TI-Nspire, Oh The Possibilities! (Grades 6-12) |
| In this session participants will capture and analyze linear, quadratic and maybe even periodic data using the TI-Nspire and the many peripherals that can connect to it. |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Patricia Irving
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C11 • Same Old Math, Different Way. (Grades 10-12) |
| "Same Old Math, Different Way" invites teachers to explore alternative ways of engaging with math curriculum that make familiar content feel new again. Session will take a Centers approach where teachers can learn-by-doing as they engage with different types of individual and collaborative learning experiences. Teachers will leave the sessions with a variety of activities and ideas that they can use in the classroom either as-is, or that can be tweaked to suit unique class and curriculum. While some activities may involve the use of technology, technology use is not a focus of this session. Activities are not grade specific, however activities will be designed using secondary math curriculum. |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Jaclyn MacLeod
Ike Batten
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C12 • Estimating Angles and Distances Though Coding (Grades 7-12) |
| Explore how coding and robotics can be used to engage students in estimating distances and angles through referents by integrating block-based coding. By the end of the session, educators will have practical strategies to incorporate coding and robotics into their math curriculum, reinforcing measurement, estimation, and problem-solving skills in an engaging and authentic way. |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Karen Service
Melissa Deveaux
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C14 • Game On: Boosting Math Engagement with Capture the Flag and Scavenger Hunts and Card Sorts (Grades 7-12) |
| Looking to spark excitement in your Grade 7–12 math classroom? Discover how to transform existing questions from textbooks and worksheets into engaging whole-class games like Capture the Flag, and interactive activities like scavenger hunts and card flips. These low-prep, high-engagement strategies will have students moving, thinking, and participating like never before. Bring your own device—we’ll walk you through building your own activity that you can use the very next day! |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Kim Blades
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C15 • Counting and Counting Collections (Grades P-2) |
| Practicing the “how” and “what” of counting principles supports efficient and accurate counters. Come explore counting and counting collections, routines that provide our students with engaging mathematical tasks. |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Ian MacLellan
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C16 • Alternative Assessment Strategies for High School Math. (Grades 10-12) |
| This session will look at different ways that you can assess outcomes in high school Math. Focus will be on a BTC Thinking Classroom, but could be applied to any high school level Math class.Some of the items covered will be; stategies for Observational assessment, Co created student test questions, Summative assessments with choice, 5 minute turn and talks on ICA day, and student reflection and open ended questioning. |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Paul Stemmler
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C17 • From Equations to Epics: Exploring the Art of Mathematical Storytelling (Grades 9-12) |
| Stories have the power to spark curiosity and bring abstract ideas to life, making mathematics more engaging and meaningful for students. In this session, we will explore ways to weave narrative into lessons—whether through historical context, real-world applications, or creative problem scenarios. Participants will discover how storytelling can deepen understanding, increase interest, and transform math class into an experience students will remember. |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Josée Haché
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C18 • Taking Math Outdoors (Grades P-6) - Josée Haché |
| Taking math outdoors showcase the many ways we can incorporate math in a nature setting, whether it's counting collections, partitioning or spying shapes around us, there are many outcomes to be discovered in outdoor lessons. |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Amanda VanDerHeyden | SpringMath
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C19 • Tier 1.5 of Your Math MTSS: Classwide Supplemental Instruction (All Grade Levels) |
| MTSS is a model that promotes growth for all learners and produces a dataset that can be used to inform future instructional actions. When risk is high, classwide math intervention is a necessary feature of MTSS (Tier 1.5) that has the effect of lowering overall risk (i.e., improving overall proficiency), closing opportunity gaps, and providing much more accurate identification of students needing more intensive intervention. Classwide intervention produces a strong incremental cost effectiveness ratio meaning that it produces benefit to all students in a highly efficient way. This session will detail key scientific findings pertinent to classwide math intervention in MTSS. Effects on learning and specifically closing of equity gaps will be shared. Attendees will take away tactics to try right away in their own settings and web-based resources to start their own work to adopt science-based math instruction within their MTSS structures. Printed and video resources will be provided. |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Therese Forsythe
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C21 • Statistics and Data Science: Coding for Discovery (Grades 10-12) |
| Nova Scotia has launched an exciting new pilot course, Stats and Data Science 12. In this session, we’ll go on a “hunt for gold” by building our own code for a metal detector. Using TI-Nspire handhelds, participants will program simple tools to collect and analyze metallic data—no prior coding experience required. This hands-on activity highlights how coding and data science come together to make discoveries in fun and meaningful ways. |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Lynn Sherren | MathImagine
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C22 • Basic Fact Mastery for Junior High Without a Calculator (Grades 7-9) |
| Are your junior high students still struggling with basic facts? This session will show you a simple yet effective approach to help your students develop fluency including “chunking” facts into groups for ease of learning, developing efficient thinking strategies for each chunk, and the importance of practice. You will leave this session with a tried-and-true approach for achieving basic fact mastery. |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Glenn Pearson
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C23 • Outcome Based and Gradeless Assessment in High School (Grades 9-12) |
| This session will provide tools and strategies to use outcome based assessment to track student progress, collecting data from products, observations and conversations. |
1:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Carolyn Overmars
Nicholas White
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C25 • Math Warm-Ups for Engagement and Recall (Grades 5-9) |
| This session will focus on warm-ups and launch points to help teachers start off their classes with fun and engaging activities for all ages. These warm-ups can also have a focus on recalling important curriculum outcomes or filling in gaps from previous outcomes. |
