Professional Learning and Community Education - PLACE, UW-Madison

Math teachers from K-8 are invited to join the UW-Madison School of Education for our Building Confident Math Thinkers summer workshops. Learn directly from top-tier math education faculty who bridge the gap between research and real classrooms:

Dr. Gwyneth Hughes: A secondary math expert and Ph.D. who spent over a decade in teacher professional development before returning to her true passion—the classroom. She currently teaches 7th-grade math right here in MMSD!

Dr. Hala Ghousseini: The John G. Harvey Professor of mathematics education at UW-Madison. Hala brings extensive elementary/middle school teaching experience and partners closely with local districts on responsive math teaching.

Dr. Sarah Lord: A specialist in children's multiplicative reasoning and inclusive learning environments, Sarah serves as Teaching Faculty at UW-Madison, focusing on building deep mathematical discourse.

What you’ll gain:
- High-leverage fluency routines, task ideas, a $150 stipend (or PAC credit) per session, and free meals!

📅 Session I: Aug 4-6 | Session II: Aug 11-13 (Hybrid)
💸 Fee: $50

Space is limited. Register now to level up your math instruction!
https://bit.ly/4vrJZF0

🍎 Attention K-12 Educators & Administrators!

Registration is officially OPEN for the Teaching About the 2026 Elections Conference! 🎉

Join us to get the tools, resources, and strategies you need to help students discuss complex political topics with care, knowledge, and facts.

📝 The Details
- When: September 26, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. CT
- Where: Discovery Building (330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI)
- Perks: Registration includes breakfast, lunch, refreshments, and an exclusive conference t-shirt!

💰 Registration Fees
- Professionals: $25
- Non-UW-Madison Students: $10
- UW-Madison Students: FREE! (Pre-registration is still required)

💡 Why Attend?
- Navigate the Noise: Learn how to tackle sensitive political topics using facts and objective frameworks.
- Fresh Resources: Walk away with ready-to-use materials to enhance student learning.
- National Programs: Get introduced to premier national civic education curricula.

Space is limited, and you don't want to miss out! Secure your spot today and empower the next generation of informed citizens.

👉 Click the link to register: https://bit.ly/4uiAB6A

Spring 2026 Commencement may be behind us, but the journey for our newest Badger alumni is just beginning. As this diverse wave of STEM talent enters the global workforce, they face more than just new jobs, they face the "hidden hurdles" of industry transition.

How can we ensure our graduates don't just land roles, but lead in them?

In this month’s Ed_PERC Micro-Learning Series, Dr. Krystal L. Williams shares 3-minute, research-backed insights on the systems that support (or stall) professional progress:

- The Industry "Double-Bind": Understanding the intersection of race and gender for Black women in early-career STEM.

- External Signals: Why workplace dynamics can trigger imposter syndrome in even our most skilled graduates.

- Climate over Access: Shifting from "broadening access" to actively protecting diverse perspectives in our departments.

The celebration isn't over, it's evolving. Let’s use this post-commencement season to refine the legacy we leave for the students following in their footsteps.

Explore the Micro-Learning Series Here: https://www.krystallwilliams.com/micro-learning-series

Congratulations once again to the Class of 2026. 👐

Let’s take it for a spin! 🌀 Join the Teacher Studio for our next maker workshop.

We will be exploring "Spinning", investigating what we can create and how motion-based learning can engage students across grade levels and content areas.

⏰ Time: May 21 | 4:30-5:30 PM CST
🏢 Hubs: Appleton Public Library, Madison Public Library, Wayne RESA
💻 Virtual: Zoom link provided upon registration.

Open to all educators, formal and informal! Come make something new with us.

Click the following link to register: https://bit.ly/49ENwGE

🍎 Transform Your K-8 Math Classroom This Summer!

Join the UW-Madison School of Education for "Building Confident Math Thinkers" this August. Move beyond procedures and foster deep number sense in your K-8 students.

🗓️ Summer 2026 Sessions:
- Session I: August 4-6, 2026
- Session II: August 11-13, 2026

Where: Teacher Education Building (Hybrid format)

Spaces are limited, secure your spot and lead the way in math excellence this fall!

Sign up today: https://bit.ly/4dzyUL9

-8

🎥 Big Ideas. Small Bites.

Ready to transform your classroom or workplace? It starts with five minutes of focused learning. Explore the intersection of race, gender, and STEM with a new micro-learning series. 💡

In partnership with Ed_PERC and led by Dr. Krystal L. Williams, we’d like to share their micro-learning series, Proving Our Worth, which explores the intersectional experiences of Black women from HBCUs in STEM.

💡 Dive into critical topics like:

- STEM Partnerships: Reimagining institutional belonging.
- The Double-Bind: Navigating racism and sexism in STEM.
- Imposter Syndrome: How workplace signals impact even the most credentialed talent.
- Macro-agression: How systemic racism and sexism create professional hurdles and shape experiences

🎓 Meet the Expert
Dr. Krystal L. Williams is a powerhouse in higher education. As a Professor at UW–Madison and Director of Ed_PERC, her work bridging the gap between research and practice is transforming how we understand equity in STEM.

🛠️ Use it Anywhere
Perfect for professional development, classroom discussion starters, or team meetings.

Take 5 minutes today to watch a "Small Bite" and turn a "BIG Idea" into action.

Click the following link to learn more: https://www.krystallwilliams.com/micro-learning-series

🎓 Let’s Bridge the Math Gap!
What are you doing that supports college-readiness for all students in mathematics? Let’s work together to align our systems for student success. 🚀

The UW–Madison PLACE Office recently hosted a symposium on College Readiness in Math, and now we want YOU to join the live conversation.

🗓️ SAVE THE DATE
Event: Live Virtual Discussion
When: Thursday, April 23rd, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM CST
Where: Zoom

Click here to register: https://bit.ly/4cJo5Xl

🎥 CATCH UP FIRST
Watch the recorded sessions now to inform this interactive discussion:
Equity & Readiness Keynotes
Educator Panels on bridging transitions
Shared Strategies for 2026 and beyond

Whether you’re a teacher, admin, or researcher, your voice matters. Let's redefine "readiness" together.

Registration is NOW OPEN! 🍎 Spend three days this August leveling up your math instruction. Join the UW–Madison School of Education to bridge the gap between math procedures and deep student understanding.

🗓️ Summer 2026 Sessions:
- Session I: August 4-6
- Session II: August 11-13

Format: 2 Days In-Person (at TEC) + 1 Day Asynchronous.
Focus: Counting, Place Value, Operations, Fractions & Advanced Problem-Solving

The Perks:
💰 $150 Stipend (or PAC Credit) per session.
🍳 Meals Included (Breakfast & Lunch).
🤝 Expert Coaching from UW faculty and K-8 partners.
📜 UW-Madison Certificate of Participation.
🛠️ Ready-to-use tools for fluency, games, and discourse.
💵 Fee: $50 per session.

Spots are limited, secure yours now to transform your math instruction for the 2026-27 school year!

To learn more and register, click the following link: https://bit.ly/4venmER

How do we balance digital habits for children? 📱 And how should we navigate the rise of AI in classrooms? 💻

The PLACE Exchange is bringing the latest research from School of Education directly to you. Meet the faculty leading our next two sessions:

✨ Dr. Larissa N. Niec (April 29): Tired of the screen-time struggle? Learn how to regain balance and understand the impact of screens on child development.

✨ Dr. Shamya Karumbaiah (May 20): AI is here, but are all students benefiting? Engage in a vital discussion on equity, ethics, and the future of AI in our schools.

Program Highlights:
⏰ 75-minute virtual sessions
💵 No cost to participate
🔎 Actionable strategies for educators and families

📍 Link in bio to save your spot!

🛠️ Ready to Tinker with AI?

Our next Teacher Studio session is all about "Tinkering with AI." This isn't your average "how-to" lecture, we’re diving into the tools, testing them out, and debating where they fit (and where they don't) in playful learning.

Be a part of our community of formal and informal educators from K-12 teachers to museum staff who love hands-on, maker-based learning. Every month, we make something together and share ideas for our classrooms and spaces.

📍 Join us in person at one of our hubs or hop on from anywhere via Zoom:
- Appleton Public Library
- Madison Public Library
- Wayne RESA Offices
- Virtual (Zoom)

Click the link to register: https://bit.ly/49ENwGE