The 5th cohort of Math4ME, a project led in collaboration with MMSA math team members and Maine DOE project coaches, wrapped up their final professional learning session this month. The Math4ME cohort consisted of 10 teachers and 9 educational technicians who committed to the fully virtual year-long program. Educators participated in approximately 23 hours of professional development and two coaching cycles. Some participants highlighted the value of community and coaching: “It was so good to be able to talk about our individual experiences with students and to ask [our coach] questions about our math instructional practices.”
Math4ME is a component of Maine’s State Systematic Improvement plan. The program is designed to implement evidence-based professional development to improve math proficiency of students with disabilities in grades 3-8 and to provide an opportunity for teachers of these students to discuss instructional practices.
Although Math4ME is going on its 7th year, this was the first year that the program was funded by a State Personnel Development Grant. This new funding allowed for partnerships with the Maine Parent Federation, Inc. The additional funding and partnership allowed the Math4ME team to establish a parent connection focus. The team created resources for families to help support their students’ education in mathematics at home.
The Math4ME team has already started preparing for the 6th cohort. Roughly 60 educators across Maine have been accepted to participate in the 2023 school year cohort. We are excited to be able to offer some of the professional development sessions in person again! As the program continues to grow, we will be looking for more hands on deck. Keep your eye out on the DOE Newsroom for more information on how you can join our team!
