Math Circle Partnership Brings Exciting Math Enrichment to Our Teachers
The Lower School’s recent collaboration with the American Institute of Mathematics (AIM) at Caltech is transforming how we approach math instruction at Poly. Through an exclusive professional development session led by the brilliant experts from AIM’s Math Circle, our educators dove deep into advanced problem-solving strategies and innovative techniques designed to challenge and inspire students in new and exciting ways. In addition to an already excellent Singapore Math curriculum, this partnership is helping enhance how our teachers teach and providing them with new tools to spark curiosity, critical thinking, and a deeper appreciation for mathematics in every student. We’re thrilled to see how these enrichment strategies will come to life in our classrooms, empowering our educators to bring out the best in every learner. By equipping our teachers with the latest problem-solving tools and methods, we nurture a love for math that extends far beyond the classroom and prepares our students to think creatively and critically about the world around them. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey. Read on for responses about how this professional development program shaped our teachers.
How did the Math Circle training support your professional development?
Flo Siegel, Second Grade Teacher: It's always exciting to get fresh ideas for our math instruction. We have a fantastic curriculum, but it can sometimes be hard to engage all of our students, regardless of their math abilities. The games we learned about in Math Circles were engaging and accessible at every level. It was also just really fun to get to spend time playing math games with my colleagues!
Dr. Jen Rogers, Kindergarten Teacher: This professional development allowed teachers to experience what our students do with math activities. We experienced frustration, giggles, and success much like our students do on a daily basis.
What is one thing you learned from the training?
Melanie Davis, Third Grade Teacher: One of the biggest takeaways from the training was seeing how math can be presented in a way that encourages students to explore multiple strategies and think outside the box. It reinforced the idea that math isn’t just about getting the right answer but about understanding different ways to get there.
Joey Bacon, Fourth Grade Teacher: One thing I learned is the importance of offering fun, low-floor, high-ceiling math activities for students. It reminded me that exploratory, sandbox-type math activities encourage students to be creative and think critically.
How might you incorporate Math Circle in your lesson plans?
Melanie Davis: I’m excited to bring Math Circle activities into my classroom by using the games as warm-ups, small group activities, or even as part of a review. I know my students will enjoy the challenge, and I love that these interactive activities will help them build confidence in their problem-solving skills while making math more fun. I hope to create a classroom culture where students view math as an enjoyable and rewarding challenge.
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