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Institutes
Intro to the K-5 Problem Solving Routine @ PCA
Join us February 5-6, 2026
Chicago, Illinois
Explore a 30-minute daily routine that reshapes how students engage with math—and how they see themselves as mathematicians. This site-based institute hosted by Polaris Charter Academy introduces the K–5 Problem Solving Routine: a powerful, schoolwide structure that supports students in developing deep understanding, flexible strategies, and a strong math identity.
You’ll experience the routine as a learner, co-plan a lesson, and observe it in action—collecting data on student thinking along the way. Together, we’ll unpack the structures and teaching practices that make the routine effective and sustainable, while also deepening your mathematical knowledge for teaching. Through guided planning and reflection, you’ll begin to envision how the routine could take shape in your own context.
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This is not a scripted curriculum or a one-and-done training. It’s a framework that builds capacity over time. You’ll leave with a foundational understanding, practical tools to begin experimenting, and a road map to help bring problem solving to the center of your elementary math culture. Grades: K-5.​
Rewriting the Math Story: From Vision to Practice @ MELS
Join us March 5-6
Queens, New York
Spend two days inside a school where math feels different—where student thinking drives the learning, teachers cultivate a culture of problem-solving, and leaders ensure the vision lives in every classroom.​ At this site-based institute hosted by Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School, you’ll see what’s possible when a school commits to a shared vision for math. You’ll visit real classrooms, learn alongside experienced educators, and try out strategies that spark deeper thinking. You’ll leave with practical tools, renewed inspiration, and a clear next step—whether you’re just starting your math journey or ready to take it to the next level. Grades: 6-12.
Intro to Student-centered Math
Summer 2026
Dates and Location To Be Announced
Step into the shoes of your students and experience what math can feel like when curiosity, discourse, and deep thinking are at the center. Over three days, you’ll explore how America’s math culture shapes beliefs about who is (and isn’t) a “math person”—and reflect on how your own math story influences your practice.
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You’ll engage in math lessons wearing your “student hat,” unpack core strategies like the Launch–Explore–Discuss–Synthesize (LEDS) lesson structure and the 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Math Discussions, and use practical protocols to dig into key grade-level concepts. Along the way, you’ll learn how the intentional use of models and strategies creates both access and challenge for all learners—and plan your own problem-solving lesson you can bring back to your classroom.
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This institute is designed for K–12 teachers, special educators, coaches, and leaders who are ready to build a math culture where all students see themselves as mathematicians.
