Welcome to our 2022 standards implementation focused MathBits for October. In this issue we will explore Rekenreks with Sarah Moffett (VP of Elementary), ideas for 10 Minute professional learning, and new resources from MDE and MN Math Leaders!

Have you joined MN Math Leaders yet? Join today!!

Connecting Standards to Routines and Representations

By: Sarah Moffett, VP of Elementary

Representation:Rekenreks or Bead Racks

Rekenrek routines (also referred to as math bead racks) have children manipulate a rack with two rows of beads; 5 red and 5 white in each row. 



All problems begin with the beads on the right end of the strings. This convention is necessary to ensure that all students begin the problems with the same visualization. Then a leader names a number to be represented Student use their bead racks to show the number. As students grow in familiarity and skill, the teacher encourages students to move beads in clusters with as few “pushes” as possible rather than counting individual beads. Students talk about their choices as they created the number and compare strategies for creating the number. Click to read more...

10 MINUTE MATH STANDARDS PL IDEA OF THE MONTH.

LINK TO 10-MINUTE MATH PL IDEAS    Why 10-minutes? (9 min video)

October Idea:10-Minute Unpacking a Math Practice(MP)

  1. Mathematically proficient students look closely to discern a pattern or structure. 

  2. Young students, for example, might notice that three and seven more is the same amount as seven and three more, or they may sort a collection of shapes according to how many sides the shapes have. 

  3. Later, students will see 7 × 8 equals the well-remembered 7 × 5 + 7 × 3, in preparation for learning about the distributive property. 

  4. In the expression x2+9x+14, older students can see the 14 as 2 × 7 and the 9 as 2 + 7. 

  5. They recognize the significance of an existing line in a geometric figure and can use the strategy of drawing an auxiliary line for solving problems. 

  6. They also can step back for an overview and shift perspective. 

  7. They can see complicated things, such as some algebraic expressions, as single objects or as being composed of several objects. 

  8. For example, they can see 5−3(x−y)2 as 5 minus a positive number times a square and use that to realize that its value cannot be more than 5 for any real numbers x and y.

Your turn! What Mathematical Practice (MP) can you and a colleague unpack this month? Share your ideas to our Facebook page with the hashtag #Math4All.

JOIN THE 2027 MN MATH LEADER’S BOOK CLUB 

Join MN Math Leaders in reading Liesl McConchie’s ‘Building a Positive Math Identity’ book.The Anoka Math Leadership Team will be hosting a 3 part virtual book club to discuss the book.This is FREE to join (though you need to buy your own book).We also hope to have the Author, Liesl, join one of the meetings. Liesl will also be one of the Keynote speakers at the conference. Sign up to be notified when the registration goes out bit.ly/MCTM2027Book

The NCTM Connection

Did you know that MCTM has approximately 3,300 names in its database, while a conservative estimate suggests that 20,000+ educators across Minnesota teach or support mathematics in some way? From elementary teachers and special education teachers to middle and high school math teachers, instructional coaches, and others, we have a lot of math educators to reach!

MCTM has so much to offer Minnesota’s math education community, and we want more educators to know about the resources, connections, and opportunities available through our organization. One way you can help is by inviting a colleague to join MCTM. Membership is free!

www.mctm.org/join-us 

When someone joins, encourage them to put your name in the “Who referred you?” spot on the membership form. You’ll be entered into a drawing for a gift card as a small thank-you for helping us spread the word.

Let’s work together to grow our reach, strengthen our connections, and support more Minnesota math educators! 3,300 + 1 = 3,301 — one new connection at a time. What if each of us invited just one colleague to join MCTM? Help us make the connection!

Keep making connections,

Becky Rahm - NCTM Rep for Minnesota

MDE Updates and Resources

Curriculum Review Guidance

If your school is looking for guidance on curriculum review, the Mathematics Curriculum Review Toolkit has been released! It is also posted on the COMPASS Mathematics webpage (scroll to the bottom).


MCA FAQ Recorded Webinar with Mike Huberty

New PK-2 Resource

PK-2 Resource: The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families Outdoor & Nature Based Learning Page just released new PK-2 Outdoor Learning Guides. Check out the math ideas organized by the 7 anchor standards.   → Math Ideas Guide: Preschool–Grade 2 (PDF) ←  They also released resources in other PK-2 areas too.

Upcoming Trainings and Webinars

FREE NATIONAL VIRTUAL MATH SUMMIT

The 2026 Make Math Moments Virtual Summits now officially OPEN for registration. Choose your sessions, build your schedule, be inspired, get classroom resources, and engage your students! And again we've made this event completely free to attend on the weekend of November 14th and 15th,2026.

Math Fluency Webinar Series with Jennifer Bay Williams

There is still time to Sign-up for the Math Fluency Webinar Series with Jennifer Bay Williams! All districts should have K-12 classroom teachers, interventionists, special education teachers at this training. SIGN-UP ASAP.







Defining the 2022 Minnesota Math Standards 

2026-27 **FREE** MN Math Leaders Webinar Series

Unpack the 2022 MN Math Standards, that will be fully implemented in the 2027-28 school year, through the 2022 Math Standards Glossary & Appendices.  Each session will highlight the information from the math standards that will illuminate the progression of learning from K-12 to support educators and leaders in making instructional decisions.

Register for all 10 Sessions: bit.ly/4sQCiGS

Stock up on official MCTM Swag!