About Math Teachers’ Circles
Many teachers and mathematicians are familiar with Math Circles for middle and high school students. These groups are informal gatherings led by mathematicians in which students work collaboratively on engaging, open-ended math problems.
Math Teachers’ Circles are similar in style to Math Circles for students, but they are intended for teachers only. Math Teachers’ Circles provide an opportunity for teachers to enrich their own knowledge and experience of mathematics and to become part of a professional support network of teachers and mathematicians.
The first Math Teachers’ Circle was started at the American Institute of Mathematics in 2006. The idea came from Mary Fay-Zenk, a middle school teacher and veteran math team coach who regularly attended meetings of the San Jose Math Circle with her students and thought that middle school math teachers would enjoy having their own forum to enrich their problem-solving skills, share ideas about pedagogy, and develop a professional support network.
The Math Teachers’ Circle Network
The Math Teachers’ Circle Network is a project of the American Institute of Mathematics that links together Math Teachers’ Circles around the country.
To locate a Math Teachers’ Circle near you, check out our member circles.
No Math Teachers’ Circle in your area? Start one by bringing a team of mathematicians and middle school teachers to one of our upcoming workshops.
Why Teachers Get Involved
- To meet other local math teachers
- To renew their excitement about math
- To gain confidence with familiar and new concepts
- To get new ideas to use in their teaching
- To earn professional development or graduate course credits
Why Mathematicians Get Involved
- To share their enjoyment of math with teachers
- To encourage more problem-solving activities in school classrooms
- To contribute to teacher education and enrichment
- To extend the impact of existing outreach activities like student Math Circles
- To become more involved with the local education community
Read what participants are saying about Math Teachers’ Circles.
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