TODOS 2026 Conference

9:00am PDT

Culturally Responsive Mathematics Teaching: Cultivando Alegría, Curiosidad, y Justicia

Thursday June 25, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am PDT

How do we make mathematics learning and teaching more meaningful and joyous? In this session, we will introduce a culturally responsive mathematics teaching framework designed to reclaim mathematics as a humanizing and justice-focused activity, cultivando curiosidad, creatividad y libertad para estudiantes, familias, y docentes. We will show examples of these practices in action through community-based mathematical modeling tasks/tareas and routines/rutinas as elementary students make meaningful mathematical connections to themselves, their families, and communities. Take action and be inspired! ¡Inspírate a tomar acción! Planning resources (en inglés y algunos en español) will be available.

Speakers

Maria Zavala

Julia Maria Aguirre

Professor/Activist, University of Washington Tacoma

Julia Maria Aguirre ([email protected]) is a Professor of Education at the University of Washington Tacoma. I am interested in creating just, humanizing, and culturally responsive math learning experiences for young people.

Thursday June 25, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am PDT
Royal B

Breakout Session, Collaborating

Strand Curriculum & Instruction
Audience Elementary School (K-5), General Interest

10:45am PDT

Bridging Language and Mathematics: Supporting Multilingual Learners Through Linguistically Sustaining Instruction

Thursday June 25, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT

Royal B

Mathematics and language are deeply connected, making intentional, linguistically sustaining instruction essential for multilingual learners (MLLs). This session explores how educators can unpack the linguistic complexity of mathematics to create inclusive, equitable learning environments where every student’s language and reasoning are valued. Participants will explore practical strategies to support simultaneous language and mathematical development and leave with actionable tools to strengthen sensemaking, discourse, and engagement for all students.

Speakers

Odalis Amparo

Mathematics and Multilingual Learners Specialist, Student Achievement Partners

Talk to me about reimagining mathematics education, especially for multilingual learners and students in historically marginalized communities.

I'm a dedicated educator and servant leader working at the intersection of language learning, equitable math instruction, and culturally and linguistically sustaining pedagogy. As a first-generation college graduate and former multilingual learner myself, I've lived the linguistic... Read More →

Thursday June 25, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT
Royal B

Breakout Session, Cultivating

Strand Curriculum & Instruction
Audience General Interest, Elementary School (K-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

12:45pm PDT

Positioning Middle Grades Students as Valuable Members of Mathematical Communities

Thursday June 25, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm PDT

Royal B

Learn strategies to position students as competent math doers and thinkers. We will begin by framing how our (inter)actions create opportunities for students to be positioned as powerful mathematical thinkers, and then we will do math tasks together and analyze an authentic video of classroom math instruction. Through activities and resources shared, participants will leave ready to design and facilitate productive and just learning environments. Tools and resources-- including 40 freely available online modules, each with a classroom video-- shared will help participants exercise their own curiosity to investigate their teaching with new perspectives and implement new practices.

Speakers

Erica Askew

WestEd

Thursday June 25, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm PDT
Royal B

Breakout Session, Cultivating

Strand Beliefs & Structures
Audience Middle School (6-8), College, General Interest

2:00pm PDT

Translanguaging Strategies for the Multilingual Math Classroom

Thursday June 25, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm PDT

Royal B

If you’re looking for transformative ways to include and leverage students’ languages in math instruction, esta sesión es para ti! Together, we’ll define translanguaging and discuss how it differs from traditional language practices and beliefs. We’ll explore specific strategies for translanguaging in mathematics that can be used by any teacher, and with any curriculum, to support multilingual students’ understanding and honor their native languages. Real classroom artifacts, video, and resources will be shared.

Speakers

Ally Lewis

Manager, Math Professional Learning, Open Up Resources

Ally is the Manager of Mathematics Professional Learning at Open Up Resources, where she works alongside a team of specialists to design and deliver research-based, K–8 math professional learning for educators nationwide. A former K–8 mathematics teacher, Ally served in multilingual classrooms in Denver and Aurora, CO, and has also supported schools i... Read More →

Brooke Powers

Presenter, Open Up

Brooke Powers serves as the Managing Director of Academics at Open Up Resources, where she leads curriculum and professional learning strategy. A former middle school math teacher, Brooke brings deep expertise in instructional design, teacher development, and building programs that... Read More →

Thursday June 25, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm PDT
Royal B

Breakout Session, Collaborating

Strand Curriculum & Instruction
Audience Elementary School (K-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

9:30am PDT

Unpacking Eurocentrism in the Secondary Math Classroom Through Ethnomathematics

Friday June 26, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT

Royal B

Have you heard of Pythagoras? Fibonacci? We are aware of the Eurocentric view of Mathematics, but not where these concepts truly originated from. In this session, you will gain practical ideas on how to decolonize your math curriculum by showcasing the non-European roots of these mathematical concepts. Whether you want to create your own elective course or incorporate standalone lessons woven into your math curriculum, you will leave this session with low-lift curriculum resources to bring back to your school contexts to decenter white contributions to the math we learn about in our traditional math classes.

Speakers

Lekha Tantry

Friday June 26, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Royal B

Breakout Session, Cultivating

Strand Curriculum & Instruction
Audience High School (9-12), Middle School (6-8), General Interest

10:45am PDT

Digital Storytelling as a Rehumanizing Tool in Mathematics Teacher Education: Voices of Rural, First-Generation, and Low-Income Communities

Friday June 26, 2026 10:45am - 11:15am PDT

Royal B

This interactive session explores how digital storytelling can serve as a rehumanizing tool in mathematics teacher education. Drawing from the experiences of rural, first-generation, and low-income pre-service teachers, participants will examine how storytelling helps pre-service teachers reflect on their mathematical identities, challenge deficit narratives, and connect mathematics to community and culture. Attendees will view authentic teacher-created stories, engage in guided reflection, and design their own short math narratives. Together, we will consider how digital storytelling can transform beliefs, promote belonging, and inspire equitable practices in mathematics classrooms and teacher preparation programs.

Speakers

Theodore Chao

Associate Professor, The Ohio State University

Theodore Chao (he/him/his) is an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Professor Chao uses video, photovoice, and technology to engage children, teachers, and community members in telling and sharing their mathematics stories... Read More →

Ruth Oliwe

Friday June 26, 2026 10:45am - 11:15am PDT
Royal B

Breakout Session, Catalyzing

Strand Beliefs & Structures
Audience College

11:15am PDT

Supporting Elementary Teacher Candidates to Embrace Torres’ Rights of the Learner in Light of Hyper-Scripted Curriculum Mandates

Friday June 26, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am PDT

Royal B

In an era of increasing legislative interference and political attacks on teachers’ autonomy, this session examines the notion of trust, love, and defiance through the lens of Torres’ Rights of the Learner (RotL) framework and Gutiérrez’s Rehumanizing Framework. We will explore how teacher candidates can utilize these frameworks to retain autonomy as professionals who center student experiences and identities and foster autonomous learners, even under the demands of a hyper-scripted, mandated curricula.

Speakers

Crystal Kalinec-Craig

Friday June 26, 2026 11:15am - 11:45am PDT
Royal B

Breakout Session, Catalyzing

Strand Curriculum & Instruction
Audience General Interest, College

1:00pm PDT

Rewriting stories: Identity work as pathways to belonging and empowerment for students-and ourselves

Friday June 26, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm PDT

Royal B

What stories do we and our PK-12 students tell about who belongs in mathematics? Let’s break the mold for our students and for ourselves! In this interactive workshop, we will uncover our own math identities so we can help our students uncover theirs, and explore how unproductive beliefs and implicit biases shape pedagogy and assessment. Together, we’ll reimagine teaching practices that center belonging, disrupt inequities, and empower all learners to thrive in mathematics in PK-12 classrooms.

Speakers

Sean Nank

California State University San Marcos

Sean Nank, PhD, received the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Sean is a Distinguished Teacher in Residence and adjunct professor at California State University San Marcos, a full professor at American College of Education, and works... Read More →