2026 MTA - Charting the Course: Empowering Journeys in Mathematics

This session is intended for the tasks of ONLY the planning and hosting team(s) of the Professional Association.

Presenter: Vanessa Vakharia Grade Level: All Description: What if the real problem isn’t failure - but actually our messed-up definition of success? In this session, we’ll dismantle the pressure cooker of math class, flip the script on success, and help students - and you - feel confident taking the risks needed to learn and grow. Walk away with impactful tools to calm the chaos, heal math trauma, and remember that you’re already doing enough - because guess what? You are!

Presenter: Graham Fletcher Grade Level: P to 8 Description: As more teachers look to add high-yield tasks to their repertoire, the struggle to make it all work becomes real. Let's examine how problem-based lessons can be used throughout the scope of a unit and how we can harness their power to move student thinking forward. We'll identify strategies and explore some tasks that help us find a healthy balance between application, conceptual understanding, and procedural fluency.

Presenter: Dwayne Slobodnick, HRCE Grade Level: P to 9 Description: Every math lesson can be full of student-led learning. It will increase engagement, curiosity, and deeper understanding. In this session, we will have fun exploring integrating technology, vertical non-permanent surfaces, and hands-on activities that promote movement, collaboration, mathematical talk, and problem-solving. These activities will build confidence and support learners with numeracy, flexibility in thinking, and communication.

Presenter: Dr. John Irving, SMU Grade Level: 9 to 12 Description: Join us for an engaging session inspired by the Nova Scotia Math League, where participants will tackle problems in small groups. Led by John Irving, this interactive workshop fosters collaboration and critical thinking skills as attendees work together to unravel mathematical problems. Whether you're a seasoned problem-solver or new to the world of mathematical challenges, this session offers a supportive environment to enhance your problem-solving prowess and deepen your appreciation for the beauty of mathematics.

Presenter: Shannon Harding, Junior Achievement Grade Level: 6 to 12 Description: Explores the implementation of curriculum aligned programs focused on financial health and literacy. Supports students and teachers in making money make sense and using core math skills to support lifelong financial wellness.

Presenter: Marcel te Bokkel, CEMC Grade Level: 9 to 12 Description: Come prepared to sit down and solve some problems. We will focus on strategies and tools useful in the classroom and for enrichment.

Presenter: Corin MacKeigan, CBVRCE Grade Level: P, 1, 2 Description: Using BeeBots to help engage students and aid in achieving outcomes, while integrating coding into the Mathematics Curriculum.

Presenter: Jocelyn Procopio, HRCE Grade Level: 12 Description: Want to make Math 12 feel more "real" for your students? In this session, we’ll use tiny houses to dive into the TI-84’s "TVM Solver" to show students exactly where their money goes, from how interest adds up to how much they can save by making simple payment tweaks. You’ll walk away with a ready-to-use assignment that turns tough formulas into essential life skills for handling loans and debt.

Presenter: Jeff Hennigar, HRCE Grade Level: All Description: Join us for a hands-on dive into Google Gemini and discover how to transform your daily teaching routine. We’ll go beyond the basics, showing you how to build custom "Gems" and master the powerful AI tools inside Google Classroom. You'll learn how to train Gemini to understand your unique teaching style and curriculum, ensuring you get great results the first time. Whether you’re looking to automate tedious tasks or spark fresh inspiration for your next lesson, you’ll walk away with streamlined workflow tips and more time to focus on your students.

Presenter: Michelle Muggridge, AVRCE Grade Level: 6 to 12 Description: Create a custom pixel art activity your students will actually want to finish! In this intermediate, hands-on session, math teachers will learn how to turn 10–20 practice questions into a self-checking pixel art activity using provided templates. Bring a laptop and questions from any topic that fits your classroom needs.

Presenter: Debra Wilson, HRCE Grade Level: All Description: The NSTU Defined Benefit Pension Plan is a cornerstone of teachers’ retirement plans but what are some of the other factors you need to consider to build out a well-rounded financial plan for you and your family? This session will focus on key concepts in financial planning and offer simple but valuable action steps you take now to build more financial security for you and your family.

Presenter: Jaclyn MacLeod, CBVRCE Grade Level: All Description: Level up your classroom with AI! Discover how to use Canva’s cutting-edge AI tools to design, customize, and assign highly engaging, curriculum-aligned math games in minutes. From custom fraction cards to geometric board games, you’ll leave this hands-on session with practical prompts and ready-to-use templates that make math irresistible for your students.

Presenter: Susan Kauffman, CBVRCE Grade Level: 4 to 6 Description: Transform decimal outcomes into an immersive adventure! Discover how hands-on learning blends perfectly with AI magic as we pair Breakout EDU with Gemini. Effortlessly create curriculum-aligned puzzles for grades 4–6 that foster reasoning and discourse. Leave with a ready-to-use toolkit that shifts your math block from lesson planning to lesson "playing"!

Presenter: David Costello, Costello Math Grade Level: All Description: Discover four simple instructional shifts that will help students demonstrate their knowledge in the classroom and on any test. Each shift is rooted in the science of learning and is supported by numerous examples targeting math concepts that students generally find challenging. We start with explicit instruction—a planned approach for direct and clear explanations of concepts and skills. Then, chunking information makes the learning more manageable for students. Innovative ways to revisit concepts throughout the year will help students retrieve information when needed. Assigning a variety of question types with useful prompts and strategies will prepare students to tackle any problem. Teachers will leave with a toolbox of strategies to help students become confident and capable learners.

Presenter: Matthew Little and Stephanie Wolfe, HRCE Grade Level: P to 6 Description: Join us for a dynamic, two-part exploration tailored specifically for the elementary math classroom. First, we’ll navigate provincial and regional online resources to maximize the digital assets available to teachers. Then, we’ll put the “digital” aside and get hands-on with elementary-focused manipulatives. We’ll discuss selecting the right tools for foundational concepts and share high-leverage activities that spark curiosity and engagement for P–6 learners. Suggested tech: Please bring a laptop to explore resources in real time.

Presenter: Paul Stemmler, HRCE Grade Level: 7 to 12 Description: Tired of generic worksheets? What if you could build an engaging, custom math game tailored to your exact curriculum outcomes in just a few minutes? Welcome to 'vibe coding'—using AI to build software with just plain English. With no coding experience required, participants will learn how to create interactive, self-checking math games. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop.

Presenter: Josée Haché, CCRCE Grade Level: P to 6 Description: This workshop explores how to “take math outside” using loose parts for exploration, while aligning with Nova Scotia curriculum outcomes. Participants will engage in math talks that build reasoning and communication, and explore strategies to develop fluency through real-world, outdoor contexts. Practical, adaptable activities will support student engagement, conceptual understanding, and flexible thinking in mathematics that can be done without bringing much outside.

Presenter: Michelle Skene, Rubicon Publishing Grade Level: 1 to 6 Description: Want to unlock the potential of great resources? Join us to translate "Big Ideas" into practical classroom strategies for inquiry, fluency, and differentiation. Learn to seamlessly navigate curriculum, plan engaging math lessons, consolidate lessons to maximize student impact. Let's look at examples to empower students and enhance their learning, proving you've got this! We'll uncover hidden tools to streamline your instruction and create impactful math learning experiences, showing your students they've got this too!

Presenter: Glenn Pearson, CCRCE Grade Level: 9 to 10 Description: There are over twelve different strategies for problem solving, and in this session we will explore eight of them to integrate into your Math 9 or 10 classroom to develop problem solving skills for your students. This also helps students to work collaboratively and to prepare for the CEMC annual math contests.

Presenter: Curt Crane, CCRCE Grade Level: 9 to 12 Description: SCT is a teaching and assessment approach I’ve adapted to increase the amount of time students spend doing math. Most days involve students walking into my room and immediately working on problems, with no time spent lecturing - really! I’ll share the research, course booklets, and how I grade based on classwork. Math11 and PC11 materials available.

Presenter: Jay MacKenzie, TCRCE Grade Level: 6 to 9 Description: Explore how number lines can strengthen Grades 6–9 students’ understanding of rational numbers, integers, ratios, rates, percents, scale, and early algebraic thinking. This interactive session focuses on using open, benchmark, integer, and double number lines to make mathematical relationships visible and support reasoning, representation, communication, and problem solving.

Presenter: Riley Davis, IXL Grade Level: All Description: Responsive teaching starts with seeing what students understand and knowing what to do next. Discover how IXL helps educators turn real-time insight into action through whole-class checks, targeted support, small-group instruction, and personalized practice.

Presenter: Therese Forsythe, AVRCE Grade Level: 9 to 12 Description: Join us as we take you through the features of new and improved TI-84 handheld. Want to learn more how to amplify the learning that occurs in your Math and STEM classrooms while removing the distractibility of Internet enabled devices? Then this session is for you.

Presenter: Raeanne Fletcher,  AVRCE Grade Level: 4 to 8 Description: This session will focus on division using problem strings as an instructional routine. It will highlight the skills and concepts that are connected to fluency in division and promote flexibility, efficiency and accuracy.  Join me and have some fun with division!

Presenter: Graham Fletcher Grade Level: P to 6 Description: In the crucial early years of mathematics education, moving students' thinking through a mathematical progression is essential. Establishing a strong foundation in number sense, counting, and place value is paramount as students embark on this journey. This session is designed to empower educators with the knowledge and strategies to guide young learners, helping them advance purposefully along a mathematical progression.

Presenter: Vanessa Vakharia Grade Level: All Description: Join us for a live recording of the popular podcast Math Therapy, hosted by Vanessa Vakharia (aka The Math Guru), who explores people's relationships with math and chats with educators working to make it more accessible and engaging. In this session, Vanessa sits down with Erick Lee, MTA president, for an unscripted conversation about math education in Nova Scotia. Come be part of the live audience for a taping that will feature in a future episode!

Presenter: Dwayne Slobodnick, HRCE Grade Level: P to 9 Description: *Repeat of A3* Every math lesson can be full of student-led learning. It will increase engagement, curiosity, and deeper understanding. In this session, we will have fun exploring integrating technology, vertical non-permanent surfaces, and hands-on activities that promote movement, collaboration, mathematical talk, and problem-solving. These activities will build confidence and support learners with numeracy, flexibility in thinking, and communication.

Presenter: Dr. John Irving, SMU Grade Level: 9 to 12 Description: *Repeat of A4* Join us for an engaging session inspired by the Nova Scotia Math League, where participants will tackle problems in small groups. Led by John Irving, this interactive workshop fosters collaboration and critical thinking skills as attendees work together to unravel mathematical problems. Whether you're a seasoned problem-solver or new to the world of mathematical challenges, this session offers a supportive environment to enhance your problem-solving prowess and deepen your appreciation for the beauty of mathematics.

Presenter: Shannon Harding, Junior Achievement Grade Level: 6 to 12 Description: *Repeat of A5* Explores the implementation of curriculum aligned programs focused on financial health and literacy. Supports students and teachers in making money make sense and using core math skills to support lifelong financial wellness.

Presenter: Marcel te Bokkel, CEMC Grade Level: 5 to 8 Description: Come prepared to sit down and solve some rich problems. We will focus on strategies and tools, as well as resources to find good problems.

Presenter: Corin MacKeigan, CBVRCE Grade Level: P, 1, 2 Description: *Repeat of A7* Using BeeBots to help engage students and aid in achieving outcomes, while integrating coding into the Mathematics Curriculum.

Presenter: Jocelyn Procopio, HRCE Grade Level: 12 Description: Related rates can be a tricky and intimidating topic for students. In this active, "lab-style" session, we will bridge the gap between algebraic manipulation and physical reality. Instead of just solving for related rates on a whiteboard, participants will engage in physical experiments to see the calculus in action.

Presenter: Jeff Hennigar, HRCE Grade Level: All Description: *Repeat of A9* Join us for a hands-on dive into Google Gemini and discover how to transform your daily teaching routine. We’ll go beyond the basics, showing you how to build custom "Gems" and master the powerful AI tools inside Google Classroom. You'll learn how to train Gemini to understand your unique teaching style and curriculum, ensuring you get great results the first time. Whether you’re looking to automate tedious tasks or spark fresh inspiration for your next lesson, you’ll walk away with streamlined workflow tips and more time to focus on your students.

Presenter: Michelle Muggridge, AVRCE Grade Level: 6 to 12 Description: *Repeat of A10* Create a custom pixel art activity your students will actually want to finish! In this intermediate, hands-on session, math teachers will learn how to turn 10–20 practice questions into a self-checking pixel art activity using provided templates. Bring a laptop and questions from any topic that fits your classroom needs.

Presenter: Debra Wilson, HRCE Grade Level: All Description: *Repeat of A11* The NSTU Defined Benefit Pension Plan is a cornerstone of teachers’ retirement plans but what are some of the other factors you need to consider to build out a well-rounded financial plan for you and your family? This session will focus on key concepts in financial planning and offer simple but valuable action steps you take now to build more financial security for you and your family.

Presenter: Jaclyn MacLeod, CBVRCE Grade Level: All Description: *Repeat of A12* Level up your classroom with AI! Discover how to use Canva’s cutting-edge AI tools to design, customize, and assign highly engaging, curriculum-aligned math games in minutes. From custom fraction cards to geometric board games, you’ll leave this hands-on session with practical prompts and ready-to-use templates that make math irresistible for your students.

Presenter: Susan Kauffman, CBVRCE Grade Level: 4 to 6 Description: *Repeat of A13* Transform decimal outcomes into an immersive adventure! Discover how hands-on learning blends perfectly with AI magic as we pair Breakout EDU with Gemini. Effortlessly create curriculum-aligned puzzles for grades 4–6 that foster reasoning and discourse. Leave with a ready-to-use toolkit that shifts your math block from lesson planning to lesson "playing"!

Presenter: Karen Service, HRCE Grade Level: 7 to 12 Description: Bring your device for a hands-on, interactive workshop tailored for grades 7–12 math teachers. Streamline resource creation by using Gemini prompting and building custom Gems. Learn workflows to export math type directly into Canvas. Walk away with practical, ready-to-use worksheets and activities. No Gemini experience needed!

Presenter: Kim Blades, TCRCE Grade Level: P, 1, 2 Description: Practicing the “how” and “what” of counting principles supports efficient and accurate counters. Come explore counting and counting collections, routines that provide our students with engaging mathematical tasks.

Presenter: Matthew Little and Stephanie Wolfe, HRCE Grade Level: P to 6 Description: *Repeat of A16* Join us for a dynamic, two-part exploration tailored specifically for the elementary math classroom. First, we’ll navigate provincial and regional online resources to maximize the digital assets available to teachers. Then, we’ll put the “digital” aside and get hands-on with elementary-focused manipulatives. We’ll discuss selecting the right tools for foundational concepts and share high-leverage activities that spark curiosity and engagement for P–6 learners. Suggested tech: Please bring a laptop to explore resources in real time.

Presenter: Paul Stemmler, HRCE Grade Level: 7 to 12 Description: *Repeat of A17* Tired of generic worksheets? What if you could build an engaging, custom math game tailored to your exact curriculum outcomes in just a few minutes? Welcome to 'vibe coding'—using AI to build software with just plain English. With no coding experience required, participants will learn how to create interactive, self-checking math games. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop.

Presenter: Josée Haché, CCRCE Grade Level: P to 6 Description: *Repeat of A18* This workshop explores how to “take math outside” using loose parts for exploration, while aligning with Nova Scotia curriculum outcomes. Participants will engage in math talks that build reasoning and communication, and explore strategies to develop fluency through real-world, outdoor contexts. Practical, adaptable activities will support student engagement, conceptual understanding, and flexible thinking in mathematics that can be done without bringing much outside.

Presenter: Michelle Skene, Rubicon Publishing Grade Level: 1 to 6 Description: *Repeat of A19* Want to unlock the potential of great resources? Join us to translate "Big Ideas" into practical classroom strategies for inquiry, fluency, and differentiation. Learn to seamlessly navigate curriculum, plan engaging math lessons, consolidate lessons to maximize student impact. Let's look at examples to empower students and enhance their learning, proving you've got this! We'll uncover hidden tools to streamline your instruction and create impactful math learning experiences, showing your students they've got this too!

Presenter: Ayman Aljarrah, Acadia University Grade Level: All Description: The integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) into education is reshaping how teachers design and deliver learning. Yet, many existing tools emphasize automation over pedagogy, reducing educators to passive users of AI-generated content. This presentation advances a different perspective: positioning GenAI as a thought partner that supports, rather than replaces, teacher judgment and creativity. We introduce MIKA, an application co-designed with educators to ease the burden of lesson planning and enrich pedagogical reflection. MIKA reduces teachers’ cognitive load by guiding them through the design process: clarifying curricular goals, aligning activities with standards, and suggesting ways to contextualize lessons for diverse learners. Rather than producing fixed plans, MIKA engages teachers in dialogue, encouraging them to adapt, refine, or reject AI suggestions in light of their own expertise and classroom realities. By situating AI as a collaborative partner, MIKA enables educators to focus on higher-order pedagogical decisions such as how learning connects to students’ prior knowledge, how assessment can be authentic, and how lessons can foster engagement. Early classroom applications suggest that MIKA not only improves efficiency but also strengthens teachers’ capacity to design responsive and meaningful learning experiences. This session will share the design principles of MIKA, demonstrate its use in practice, and situate it within broader conversations about AI-enhanced pedagogies and innovations in teaching and learning. We argue that thoughtfully integrated GenAI can extend teacher agency, foster reflective practice, and enhance the human dimensions of education.

Presenter: Curt Crane, CCRCE Grade Level: 6 to 12 Description: How does one get “better” at teaching? After surviving your first year teaching a new course, how can you ensure your practice and course materials keep getting better each year? Iterative Improvement is an approach I’ve adapted from working in the tech sector. All teachers are welcome, but new teachers may especially benefit from attending this session.

Presenter: Jay MacKenzie, TCRCE Grade Level: 6 to 9 Description: Explore how number lines can strengthen Grades 6–9 students’ understanding of rational numbers, integers, ratios, rates, percents, scale, and early algebraic thinking. This interactive session focuses on using open, benchmark, integer, and double number lines to make mathematical relationships visible and support reasoning, representation, communication, and problem solving.

Presenter: Nancy Fournier, EECD Grade Level: 4 to 12 Description: Explore the many ways Homework Hub supports student learning in mathematics. Participants will learn about available resources including Math Fluency videos, teacher-only Rich Task videos, and the student experience during a tutoring session. Discover recent enhancements to the resource and access ready-to-use presentation materials and promotional videos to help raise awareness and encourage students and families to take advantage of Homework Hub support.

Presenter: Therese Forsythe, AVRCE Grade Level: 9 to 12 Description: Join us as we successfully complete STEM design challenges together using the new TI-84 EVO, TI Rover and python coding language. After this session you will have tangible experiences with amplifying math curriculum outcomes using coding, physical computing and authentic student engagement.

Presenter: Evan Throop-Robinson and Marc Husband, StFX Grade Level: 3 to 8 Description: Join us to explore teacher sense-making during Number Talks. Discover para-imaging students' mathematical ideas to re-present them and make them available for public discussion. Enrich your Number Talks with scaffolding opportunities and occasions for setting-aside our initial interpretations to support shared sense-making.

Presenter: Raeanne Fletcher,  AVRCE Grade Level: 4 to 8 Description: This session will focus on division using problem strings as an instructional routine. It will highlight the skills and concepts that are connected to fluency in division and promote flexibility, efficiency and accuracy.  Join me and have some fun with division!

Presenter: Graham Fletcher Grade Level: 4 to 9 Description: Fraction fluency doesn't begin with common denominators or algorithms. It begins by helping students develop a deep understanding of what fractions represent. In this session, we'll explore the learning progression that builds strong fraction understanding, from unit fractions and multiple representations to equivalence, comparison, and the relationship between mixed and improper fractions. Along the way, we'll examine instructional models and classroom experiences that help students build understanding that is sustainable, scalable, and ready to support future work with fraction operations.

Presenter: Vanessa Vakharia Grade Level: All Description: Did you know that if someone says they're "not a math person," it’s usually because they’ve got unresolved math trauma? In this session, we dive deep into WHY students are so scared of math, and how to change that. Ready to move past temporary solutions for math anxiety and help students truly overcome it?! Learn about the dynamics of fear, how it manifests in math class, and gain practical strategies you can use RIGHT away to break the cycle of fear, anxiety and avoidance so that students can actually engage with math the way you want them to!

Presenter: Dwayne Slobodnick, HRCE Grade Level: P to 9 Description: *Repeat of A3/B3* Every math lesson can be full of student-led learning. It will increase engagement, curiosity, and deeper understanding. In this session, we will have fun exploring integrating technology, vertical non-permanent surfaces, and hands-on activities that promote movement, collaboration, mathematical talk, and problem-solving. These activities will build confidence and support learners with numeracy, flexibility in thinking, and communication.

Presenter: Dr. John Irving, SMU Grade Level: 9 to 12 Description: *Repeat of A4/B4* Join us for an engaging session inspired by the Nova Scotia Math League, where participants will tackle problems in small groups. Led by John Irving, this interactive workshop fosters collaboration and critical thinking skills as attendees work together to unravel mathematical problems. Whether you're a seasoned problem-solver or new to the world of mathematical challenges, this session offers a supportive environment to enhance your problem-solving prowess and deepen your appreciation for the beauty of mathematics.

Presenter: Shannon Harding, Junior Achievement Grade Level: 6 to 12 Description: *Repeat of A5/B5* Explores the implementation of curriculum aligned programs focused on financial health and literacy. Supports students and teachers in making money make sense and using core math skills to support lifelong financial wellness.

Presenter: Marcel te Bokkel, CEMC Grade Level: All Description: Come prepared to travel through time and around the world to learn the stories of mathematical discovery and invention through the ages. We will solve and discuss problems that fit your curriculum as well as look at resources.

Presenter: Matthew Crosby, AVRCE Grade Level: 7 to 12 Description: Supporting gifted students requires a strategic roadmap beyond early finisher tasks. This session explores formal and informal pathways for navigating curriculum, focusing on the transition from middle to high school. We will discuss logistics of taking courses early, challenging for credit, and mapping pathways to avoid disengagement. The presenter will share practical resources and facilitate a group discussion.

Presenter: Jocelyn Procopio, HRCE Grade Level: All Description: Ready to align your Professional Growth Plan with Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (CRP) without it feeling like just another administrative task? This session focuses on using a "small shifts, big changes" approach. You’ll leave with a ready-to-use PGP goal and clear strategies for adapting your math units to bridge the gap between curriculum requirements and inclusive classroom environments.

Presenter: Lisa Lunney Borden, StFX Grade Level: All Description: This workshop sharse an L’nu-centric model for mathematics assessment drawing form Mi’kmaw language to inform the structure and concepts of the model. The tepaskɨman model offers a foundation for reimagining mathematics assessment through language, relationships, community knowledge, and values of love, healing, perseverance, and reciprocity. In this workshop we will look at examples of what this can mean for teachers.

Presenter: Michelle Muggridge, AVRCE Grade Level: 6 to 12 Description: *Repeat of A10/B10* Create a custom pixel art activity your students will actually want to finish! In this intermediate, hands-on session, math teachers will learn how to turn 10–20 practice questions into a self-checking pixel art activity using provided templates. Bring a laptop and questions from any topic that fits your classroom needs.

Presenter: Debra Wilson, HRCE Grade Level: All Description: This case-based session will combine time value of money concepts with key financial planning ideas that can be harnessed to provide improved financial stability and post-secondary education access to students from under-resourced or economically marginalized families.

Presenter: Daphne Lake and Cassandra Brown, HRCE Grade Level: P to 6 Description: “Not everyone has experienced the struggle of learning both academic content and a new language at the same time. True, this double burden makes learning mathematics much more of a challenge. However, the phrase “ the problem with Math is English” applies to all students, not just those whose native language is not English. Language struggles are embedded in mathematics, which in many ways is its own language. These problems often occur at the crucial juncture of math instruction and content.”

Presenter: Dianna MacDonald, SSRCE Grade Level: 1 to 5 Description: This workshop introduces a developmental framework for teaching the various story structures for addition and subtraction that is effective, engaging and fun! Teachers will be provided with such practical classroom tools as: reproducible templates for the four core story structures (join, separate, part-part-whole, and compare), manipulative suggestions to aid concrete modelling, sample lesson plans and suggested timelines for pacing, and assessment examples to track student progress/strategy development.

Presenter: Karen Service, HRCE Grade Level: 7 to 12 Description: *Repeat of B14* Bring your device for a hands-on, interactive workshop tailored for grades 7–12 math teachers. Streamline resource creation by using Gemini prompting and building custom Gems. Learn workflows to export math type directly into Canvas. Walk away with practical, ready-to-use worksheets and activities. No Gemini experience needed!

Presenter: Kim Blades, TCRCE Grade Level: P, 1, 2 Description: *Repeat of B15* Practicing the “how” and “what” of counting principles supports efficient and accurate counters. Come explore counting and counting collections, routines that provide our students with engaging mathematical tasks.

Presenter: Lauren Utter, HRCE Grade Level: 9 to 12 Description: Build a classroom that moves with purpose. This session explores five versatile factoring activities tailored for Math 10, using them as a blueprint for mastering seamless transitions and sustainable routines. While centred on quadratics, these strategies for managing movement and materials are applicable to any high school setting.

Presenter: Cheryl Keating and Jennifer Mallette, HRCE Grade Level: P, 1, 2 Description: Computational fluency doesn't begin with memorizing basic facts; it grows through rich mathematical experiences from the very beginning. In this interactive session, explore how purposeful mathematical conversations, rich tasks, and intentional teacher moves develop flexible thinking, reasoning, and number sense; the essential foundations of computational fluency. Through hands-on experiences and classroom-ready routines, discover practical strategies to nurture confident, strategic mathematicians while strengthening the foundational skills embedded within the P–2 mathematics curriculum. Leave with ideas you can implement immediately to build fluency through understanding.

Presenter: Josée Haché, CCRCE Grade Level: P to 6 Description: *Repeat of A18/B18* This workshop explores how to “take math outside” using loose parts for exploration, while aligning with Nova Scotia curriculum outcomes. Participants will engage in math talks that build reasoning and communication, and explore strategies to develop fluency through real-world, outdoor contexts. Practical, adaptable activities will support student engagement, conceptual understanding, and flexible thinking in mathematics that can be done without bringing much outside.

Presenter: Michelle Skene, Rubicon Publishing Grade Level: 1 to 6 Description: The Curriculum calls for a balanced approach to math emphasizing a solid grounding in core skills alongside a deeper conceptual understanding. But how do we achieve fluency without resorting to the timed tests and rote memorization of the past? This session will challenge the traditional view of math fluency as simply speed and skill. Mathematically fluent students notice patterns and structures of numbers and select tools with intention. We'll explore key pillars of fluency and learn practical, classroom-ready strategies to help your students become accurate and flexible math learners. You'll leave with concrete routines, games, and teaching techniques that empower your students to reason — not just recall.

Presenter: Ayman Aljarrah, Acadia University Grade Level: All Description: *Repeat of B20* The integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) into education is reshaping how teachers design and deliver learning. Yet, many existing tools emphasize automation over pedagogy, reducing educators to passive users of AI-generated content. This presentation advances a different perspective: positioning GenAI as a thought partner that supports, rather than replaces, teacher judgment and creativity. We introduce MIKA, an application co-designed with educators to ease the burden of lesson planning and enrich pedagogical reflection. MIKA reduces teachers’ cognitive load by guiding them through the design process: clarifying curricular goals, aligning activities with standards, and suggesting ways to contextualize lessons for diverse learners. Rather than producing fixed plans, MIKA engages teachers in dialogue, encouraging them to adapt, refine, or reject AI suggestions in light of their own expertise and classroom realities. By situating AI as a collaborative partner, MIKA enables educators to focus on higher-order pedagogical decisions such as how learning connects to students’ prior knowledge, how assessment can be authentic, and how lessons can foster engagement. Early classroom applications suggest that MIKA not only improves efficiency but also strengthens teachers’ capacity to design responsive and meaningful learning experiences. This session will share the design principles of MIKA, demonstrate its use in practice, and situate it within broader conversations about AI-enhanced pedagogies and innovations in teaching and learning. We argue that thoughtfully integrated GenAI can extend teacher agency, foster reflective practice, and enhance the human dimensions of education.

Presenter: Curt Crane, CCRCE Grade Level: 6 to 12 Description: *Repeat of B21* How does one get “better” at teaching? After surviving your first year teaching a new course, how can you ensure your practice and course materials keep getting better each year? Iterative Improvement is an approach I’ve adapted from working in the tech sector. All teachers are welcome, but new teachers may especially benefit from attending this session.

Presenter: Jay MacKenzie, TCRCE Grade Level: 2 to 5 Description: Explore how Cuisenaire Rods, rod tracks, and number lines can help Grades 2–5 students build stronger numeracy. This hands-on session focuses on making mathematical relationships visible through measurement, magnitude, distance, equivalence, operations, and early fractions, while supporting teachers in moving students toward relational understanding.

Presenter: Riley Davis, IXL Grade Level: All Description: *Repeat of A23* Responsive teaching starts with seeing what students understand and knowing what to do next. Discover how IXL helps educators turn real-time insight into action through whole-class checks, targeted support, small-group instruction, and personalized practice.

Presenter: Therese Forsythe, AVRCE Grade Level: 9 to 12 Description: Join us as we use the TI-Nspire, TI-Innovator Hub and Microbit with python coding language to code sensors to collect authentic, real time data. We will then use applications on the TI-Nspire to conduct analysis on the data we have collected. After this session you will have practical examples of what authentic data collection and analysis in a mathematics classroom can be.

Presenter: Tara Taylor (StFX), Caroline Cochran (Acadia) and Sarah Chisholm (DalU) Grade Level: 11 to 12 Description: Representatives from three different Nova Scotia Universities (Acadia, Dalhouse, and StFX) will start with introductions and observations about first year students. There have been significant changes over the past few years because of the pandemic and the use of generative AI. The main part of the presentation will be a collaborative discussion on the shared challenges and how we can all support students as they transition from high school to university. Guiding questions:
How can high school teachers help prepare students for university (i.e. what understandings do university teachers wish students came to class with on day 1)? How can university professors help support new students (i.e. what we want professors to know about high school students)?