Educator Resources

Saturday Math

Welcome to Saturday Math, a place where teachers, administrators, curriculum enthusiasts, and other colleagues from the metropolitan New York area do, learn, and talk about math together. Four times each year, we meet to explore our own mathematical thinking and discuss issues related to teaching and learning mathematics. Each facilitated session consists of interactive activities and discussions, and you will go home with resources and ideas to try out in your own practice on Monday. Session topics may focus on content (e.g., Connecting Fractions, Decimals, and Percents) or pedagogy (e.g., Using Mathematical Routines) and will always provide ample opportunity to make connections to your unique practice as a teacher, coach, administrator, or as another education professional.

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Dates and Topics for 2021-22

What does a culturally responsive math classroom look like? How do you create an anti-racist learning space? We started this work in the spring, and we want to continue to discuss how we can create inclusive classrooms where all students feel capable of learning math. We will continue our work from the spring to create a tool box full of culturally responsive and anti-racist pedagogical moves for the math classroom.

What is geometry and why do we teach it? How do we develop spatial reasoning in our students starting in Kindergarten? Geometry is a forgotten subject as curriculums have shifted to a focus on building algebraic reasoning. How do we connect the spatial reasoning of geometry to the abstract thinking of algebra to create a stronger understanding of both subjects? These are a few possible ideas that we can explore in our second two sessions while also using some of the tools we developed in the previous sessions centered around anti-racist t pedagogy in the math classroom.

Note that all sessions will be online and are free. Participants will receive 2 CTLE hours.

  • October 16, 2021 (online), 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM—Making the Math Classroom Antiracist

    We are continuing our work from the spring by digging in and creating an image for what an anti-racist math classrooms looks like, sounds like, and feels like. And, of course, we will be engaging in math together as a community. Hope to see you there!

  • December 4, 2021 (online), 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM—Making the Math Classroom Antiracist

    During this session, we will start with a math task. We will then use our experience with that math by either looking at how to build tasks that fit in an anti-racist classroom or discuss how to shift the language we use when discussing students and their work. We look forward to seeing you!

  • March 12, 2022 (online), 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM—Geometry/Spatial Reasoning

    During this session, we will be introducing the Van Hiele levels of geometric thought and think about different ways to introduce and reinforce vocabulary. We will also be looking at how Desmos can be used to help with vocabulary.

  • May 7, 2022 (online), 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM—Geometry/Spatial Reasoning

    What is logic and what does it have to do with math? In our last Saturday Math of the school year, we will continue to think about the Van Hiele levels of geometric thinking by exploring what logical thinking means.

Meet the Facilitator:

Nancy Buck

Nancy Buck

Nancy Buck supports current students and graduates of the Leadership in Mathematics Education program in facilitating the Saturday Math sessions. Nancy has taught math to students ranging from 5th grade – freshmen in college. She currently and coaches teachers at The Young Women’s Leadership School of the Bronx. She is also a Master Teacher in the Math for America program. She believes that math is a beautiful and creative subject that allows people to understand the world around them. She works hard to create safe spaces so that all educators can see that both they and their students are mathematicians.

History of Saturday Math

Since 1989, Bank Street faculty, current students, and graduates have run Saturday Math at Bank Street. Saturday Math invites teachers, administrators, curriculum enthusiasts, and other colleagues from the metropolitan New York area to enter the doors of Bank Street and engage in experiences that reflect the College’s progressive thinking around mathematics education.

While Saturday Math has grown and developed over time, it maintains consistent core goals. We support the development of education professionals, provide access for prospective candidates for the Leadership in Mathematics Education program, and empower current graduate students to design and facilitate powerful professional development seminars. In keeping with Bank Street’s commitment to growing community, we provide a light breakfast and space for participants to network and mingle.

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