President's Message - December 2023

December 2023 Message

You are likely reading the Gazette and this message in December, having completed several months of school, and are looking forward to a well-deserved winter break. As I am writing this message, however, it is still September, and we are in the midst of a heatwave… summer’s last hurrah. It seems very strange to be writing a “President’s Message” so far in advance, but there is much to do behind the scenes to ensure the publication is ready on time, while maintaining the high quality we expect.

Even so, the first part of the school year seems to have vanished. We are all busy delving into the curriculum and giving our very best efforts to ensure success for all of our students. We need to remember, however, that sometimes our very best may differ from day to day, and that we need to look after ourselves as well.

In many ways, this year feels like the school years we had prior to the global pandemic. It should feel closer to normal when one considers the challenges of the last few years, but it doesn’t really feel “normal.” Teachers are already tired, often being pulled in multiple directions, both at school and at home. Students are still working to close gaps that were exacerbated by the pandemic. For some, these are purely academic gaps, while for others, these are more social and emotional. We all experienced strains and even trauma during the pandemic, and the education system is still coping with the aftermath.

Additionally, this year, many educator unions are, yet again, dealing with the uncertainty of beginning the school year without a contract. The last time job action was taking place was just prior to the world shutting down. This is a further layer of stress added to the lives of teachers, students, and parents.

Ultimately, it is up to us to choose how to manage the stresses of everyday life. Many things cannot be controlled, but one thing we can control is our attitude. It is my hope that you remain positive and take some time for yourself to refresh and enjoy your family. This is likely to have benefits after the fact with your classes and students. Recently, I have begun scrapbooking again, and have started doing some yoga for the first time in a few years. These activities help me remain mentally strong and resilient. In essence, they nourish my soul. I have also invested time in my professional learning. During the last few years, I have been learning much about Indigenous Ways of Knowing and have been working on creating my own personal land acknowledgement that holds deep meaning for me. Recently I have been reading 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph, a book that has made me realize that it is only when we learn about the Indian Act and the resulting atrocities, that true reconciliation becomes possible.

Regardless of how you remain strong and healthy, OAME/AOEM can play a role. One way that I hope OAME/AOEM helps you is through professional learning and the building and strengthening of connections. Last April, we had the first face-to-face post-pandemic conference, “Empowering Me in 2023,” which was incredibly successful. Educators were able to attend high-quality sessions, be inspired by exemplary mathematics leaders, and connect with each other in a way that hadn’t been possible for a while. Unfortunately, some were not able to attend due to a shortage of supply teachers. Hopefully, this will be resolved in time, as the organizing committee of OAME 2024: Embracing Change is planning the next annual conference, which will take place May 2–4, 2024 at St. Lawrence College in Kingston.

As I am writing this, season 6 of OAME Talks has recently begun with its first podcast, in which David Petro talks about empowering you and your students’ learning with math podcasts.

At the local level, there are several chapters that have held professional learning events, including miniconferences and book clubs. Please visit the OAME/AOEM website and MCIS (Mathematics, Computer, and Information Sciences) to stay up-to-date with these local offerings.

The Gazette and Abacus continue to offer high-quality content to our membership. We are always looking for new contributions to our publications. It is a wonderful way to share ideas, research, and to connect with other educators. The OAME/AOEM Board of Directors has also been investing some time in ourselves as an organization. At the June Board meeting, we had a professional learning session, led by Fred Ferneyhough, in which we explored coding through the use of TI-Innovator™ Rovers. There were many moments of frustration and celebration as groups worked together to guide the Rovers through a maze.

At the October Board meeting, there will have been a professional learning session, led by Dr. Ruth Beatty from Lakehead University, and Christina Ruddy, who is the Indigenous Trustee for the Renfrew County District School Board and a member of The Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation. They will present examples from their multiyear, multi-site Indigenous mathematics research study, The First Nations and Métis Mathematics Voices Project. Board members have a chance to do some designing, do some math, view videos of students thinking, explore some connections to LYNX coding, and generally get a sense of what is involved when centring mathematics education in Indigenous cultural practices. The Board members will connect with each other while learning how to “integrate Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods into classrooms” (Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada, 2015, p. 7).

Although our days have a limited number of hours, if possible, invest in yourself as an educator. I have found a renewed sense of purpose and fountain of energy by investing some time in me, and I hope that you find some time to do the same. In doing so, you allow yourself to grow, learn, and connect with other educators. And, as an added benefit, we model a passion for life-long learning for our students. After all, we want them to also grow, learn, and connect with others.

I wish all of you who are celebrating at this time of year a very happy holiday and a wonderful winter break.

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