Organizer Toolkit: Beginning Your Circle

So, you’re starting a Math Teachers’ Circle! We’ve assembled here a toolkit of resources designed to help new Math Teachers’ Circle leadership teams work through some common issues and challenges. The resources include materials developed during our 8 years of “How to Run a Math Teachers’ Circle” workshops, example documents from successful MTCs, articles from our newsletter, and other helpful resources we’ve encountered or developed.

The toolkit is designed for leadership teams who plan to begin a new Math Teachers’ Circle within 3 to 6 months. We strongly recommend working through each segment of the toolkit as a team.

If you have support from the MTC Network, your team will work through this toolkit in consultation with MTC Network staff, who will consult with you in a series of conference calls during your planning. Learn about applying for MTC Network support…

Early in the planning process, supported teams will also be connected with:

  • A Circle Mentor, who will help you with your initial summer workshop, and
  • A Sister Circle, which is a nearby Circle that your leadership team will visit.

Outline of Planning Activities

  1. Mathematics
  2. Vision & Goals
  3. Conference Call #1 with MTC Network Staff (for supported teams)
  4. Logistics
  5. Recruitment
  6. Conference Call #2 with MTC Network Staff (for supported teams)
  7. Budget & Fundraising
  8. Conference Call #3 with MTC Network Staff (for supported teams)

1. Mathematics

Thinking about the mathematics of your Math Teachers’ Circle will thread through all of your other planning activities. The resources below are meant to supplement and complement your visit to your Sister Circle and your work with your Circle Mentor, and to support your work in planning your own Math Teachers’ Circle’s mathematical sessions.

Introduction:

  • The “Good Problem” Problem, by Joshua Zucker, from the Winter 2013 MTCircular.
    This article gives a good overview of some of the characteristics of good MTC problems, as well as a list of some of the “classics.”
  • Math Teachers’ Circles: What Makes a Good One?, by Angie Hodge, from the MAA blog Math Ed Matters.
    This blog post describes a brainstorming session at a “How to Run a Math Teachers’ Circle” workshop, in which participants listed characteristics of good MTC sessions and problems.
  • Be Less Helpful, by Joshua Zucker, from the Autumn 2012 MTCircular.
    This article describes some of the key elements of leading a productive Math Teachers’ Circle session. We are told it is required reading for future math teachers at the University of Chicago.
  • So You’re Going to Lead a Math Circle, by Emily McCullough and Tom Davis.
    This article is more geared for leading a student Math Circle, but includes advice and ideas that also apply to leading a Math Teachers’ Circle session.

Discussion: Videos

  • Video Library: Pick 2-3 videos to watch and discuss with your team. For supported teams, we suggest watching one prior to each of the three conference calls with MTC Network staff.

Examples and Resources:

Planning a Session:

You will plan and lead at least one session in conjunction with your Circle Mentor, and will also get feedback from him or her about a session that your team plans and leads. Your team also might find it useful to work through the following activity that was used at the “How to Run a Math Teachers’ Circle” workshops.

Example Math Teachers’ Circle Session Materials

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2. Vision & Goals

The vision and goals planning segment is intended to help you start to learn about each other’s expectations and potential contributions, and to start forming a vision together of what your MTC will look like. The objectives are to get to know your team, think about the context for your MTC, and develop a vision statement.

Introduction:

Discussion Guide:

Examples and Resources:

Vision Statements:

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3. Conference Call #1

Agenda:

The purpose of this call is to discuss your team’s vision and goals, your progress with the videos, your Sister Circle and Circle Mentor assignments, and the next steps for your Circle.

Prior to the Call:

  • Complete Vision & Goals planning segment
  • Watch one video from the Video Library and discuss with your team

After the Call:

  • Work with Circle Mentor to set workshop dates, and begin discussing workshop topics and schedule
  • Sister Circle visit (depending on timing)
  • Complete Logistics and Recruitment planning segments
  • Watch and discuss another video from the Video Library

Contact us when you are ready to schedule Conference Call #1.

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4. Logistics

The logistics planning segment is intended to help your team plan the nuts and bolts of how you will run your Math Teachers’ Circle. The objectives are to decide on a time, place, and schedule for your workshop and academic-year meetings; think about your MTC’s online presence; and develop a plan for how your Circle will be administered.

For additional resources for running your Circle’s activities, including meeting checklists, sign-in sheets, example participation certificates, and example evaluation forms, please visit our “Running Your Circle” toolkit [link coming soon].

Introduction:

  • Logistics Presentation
    An overview of the structure of MTCs, with examples from successful groups. Also includes an overview of your MTC’s online presence, and considerations for administering MTCs.

Discussion Guide:

Examples and Resources:

Workshops:
Academic-Year Meetings:
Online Presence:
Administration:

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5. Recruitment

The recruitment planning segment is intended to help your team think through how you will recruit teachers and professors to participate in your Math Teachers’ Circle. The objectives are to develop concrete plans, timelines, and assignments for recruiting teachers and professors/other mathematicians; and to plan for any promotional materials, recruitment events, or presentations.

Introduction:

Discussion Guide:

Examples and Resources:

Background Reading:
Best Practices:
Recruitment Materials:

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6. Conference Call #2

Agenda:

The purpose of this call is to discuss your team’s plans for recruitment and logistics, and to check progress with the videos, your Circle Mentor, and your Sister Circle. We will also talk about the potential funders list we have generated for your Circle.

Prior to the Call:

  • Work with Circle Mentor to set workshop dates, and begin discussing workshop topics and schedule
  • Sister Circle visit (depending on timing)
  • Complete Logistics and Recruitment planning segments
  • Watch and discuss a second video from the Video Library

After the Call:

  • Complete the Budget & Fundraising planning segment. This will include developing a first-year budget, reviewing your potential funders list, and drafting a long-term funding plan.
  • Work with MTC Network staff to resolve any planning issues encountered so far
  • Continue working with Circle Mentor on workshop planning
  • Sister Circle visit (depending on timing)
  • Watch and discuss a third video from the Video Library

Contact us when you are ready to schedule Conference Call #2.

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7. Budget & Fundraising

The budget and fundraising planning segment is intended to help your team think about what resources you already have and what resources you need to run your program effectively. The objectives are to develop a budget for your first year and a plan for long-term funding.

Introduction:

Discussion Guide:

Examples and Resources:

Note that there are some example letters of inquiry and proposals on a password-protected site. Please contact us for access.

Best practices:
  • Adding It All Up: Ten Ideas for Funding Your Circle, by Jessa Barniol, from the Winter 2012 MTCircular.
    This article describes successful strategies that MTCs have used to obtain funding, and also provides some ideas about the creative use of non-financial resources.
Budget templates:

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8. Conference Call #3

Agenda:

The primary purpose of this call is to discuss your team’s first-year budget, long-term funding plan, and potential funders list, and decide what your group’s next steps will be for seeking additional funding. We will also check in about any action items from previous calls, and check progress on your videos and workshop planning.

Prior to the Call:

  • Complete the Budget & Fundraising planning segment. This will include developing a first-year budget, reviewing your potential funders list, and drafting a long-term funding plan.
  • Work with MTC Network staff to resolve any planning issues encountered so far
  • Continue working with Circle Mentor on workshop planning
  • Sister Circle visit (depending on timing)
  • Watch and discuss a third video from the Video Library

After the Call:

  • Send proposal or letter of inquiry to the MTC Network team for review, if desired
  • Follow up with additional planning issues and questions

Contact us when you are ready to schedule Conference Call #3.

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