HIVE 2025

Asking the right questions can make a world of difference. Our current questioning strategies may not be working the way we intend. How can we improve our questioning strategies? What is the best question to ask in a given moment? Why can formulating questions seem so difficult? Come and engage in conversation and reflection on one of the most important teacher practices, posing purposeful questions.

This session will guide educators through the powerful Concrete-Representational-Abstract (CRA) progression, with a focus on Expressions and Equations. Participants will learn how to effectively scaffold learning by transitioning students from hands-on, concrete experiences to visual representations, and finally to abstract mathematical concepts. Through collaborative activities and practical examples, we will explore how different models—such as tape diagrams and hanger diagrams—evolve from early arithmetic reasoning to more complex algebraic thinking, and how these models can be used to support students' understanding of equations across grades 3–8.

In this session, participants will learn about how the ASSISTments platform both aligns with Open Up Resources and provides teachers with the daily formative data they need to support learning growth among all students.

By centering students and using high-quality curriculum materials combined with effective teaching, we can create classrooms where all students see themselves as capable mathematicians. In this session, we’ll explore the many resources available on the OUR website, instructional supports that celebrate and empower learners, and ways to promote positive mathematical identities.

Step into an Open Up Resources 6–8 Math lesson from a student’s perspective! As a community, we will engage in a model lesson from start to finish, and reflect on the structure, pacing, and purpose of each lesson component, as well as ways to promote student mathematical discussion. Leave with key tips and understandings as you prepare to lead your own lessons this school year.

Mathematical understandings and language develop interdependently. Often, we are confident supporting students with math, but not as confident supporting them with academic or second language acquisition. Language objectives are powerful tools that can be utilized in any K–12 math lesson to give multilinguals and all students access to grade-level tasks and opportunities to learn and strengthen language. Leave prepared to leverage language objectives as both a math and language teacher!

Effective mathematical discourse is a cornerstone of deep conceptual understanding in mathematics. This session, designed specifically for instructional leaders, will equip you with the tools and strategies to support teachers in fostering rich and productive math discourse within their classrooms, leveraging high quality curriculum. We will explore how to build teacher capacity in creating an Optimal Learning Environment that encourages student voice and mathematical reasoning. Participants will learn how to provide targeted feedback on questioning techniques, facilitate professional learning communities focused on discourse strategies, and leverage data to monitor the impact of discourse-focused instruction. We will delve into strategies for modeling effective discourse practices, observing and analyzing classroom interactions, and providing teachers with actionable steps for improvement. Leave this session with a clear understanding of how to lead and support teachers in cultivating a classroom culture where all students actively engage in meaningful mathematical conversations, leading to improved student outcomes.

Explore the nexus of neuroscience, cognitive science, and math education learning science in this dynamic session on how the brain learns math. Through a synthesis of cutting-edge research and practical applications, reflect on teaching practices and instructional routines that support the brain's natural learning mechanisms, ultimately fostering deeper comprehension and ownership of mathematical concepts. This session will bridge theory and practice, unlocking the potential to create more effective and engaging learning experiences that amplify students' natural brilliance as powerful math thinkers.

Language shapes how we think, teach, and engage with students. In this session, participants will explore the impact of words on learning environments, student identity, and equity. Through reflection and discussion, we will examine how intentional shifts in language can foster more inclusive, asset-based mindsets that empower educators and students. Walk away with practical strategies to reframe communication and create a more positive and supportive learning culture.

How do you get students to share their thinking and talk about mathematics? How do you get them to engage with their peers and participate in meaningful discourse? We will focus on strategies that support meaningful discourse and specific moves teachers can make to empower student participation.

Discover how problem-based pedagogy is enacted in the Open Up Resources K–8 Math curriculum. We’ll explore curriculum design, rooted in current mathematics education research, and examine key structures that support a problem-based math approach. We’ll also highlight features that reinforce mathematical thinking and student engagement.

Discover how to harness the power of AI to transform the math teaching experience. From lesson planning to grading, technology can save time on daily tasks while keeping classroom standards high, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive. In this session, participants will learn best practices for teaching with tech and listen to the experience of a district already integrating digital technology to elevate their instruction, build community, and meet students where they are.

What does it mean to incorporate equity-based practices into teaching mathematics? We will identify and interact with the five Equity Based Mathematics Practices (EBMPs) in this session, highlighting the ways in which these practices strengthen learning and cultivate positive identities. Together, we’ll engage in tasks and connect the EBMPs to a shared mathematics experience.