Numeracy Professional Learning Opportunities
Maine’s Statewide Mathematics Specialist Professional Learning Community
The Numeracy and Leadership Initiative, hosted by the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in Maine (ATOMIM), in collaboration with the Maine DOE, University of Southern Maine, and University of Maine at Farmington, offers multiple opportunities for educators to build capacity in both numeracy and leadership. One of these is Maine’s Statewide Mathematics Specialist Professional Learning Community (PLC).
- Audience: Math coaches, lead teachers, interventionists, and department chairs
- Dates: Participants may choose to attend all sessions or select those that best meet their needs. The Mathematics Specialist PLC will meet on the following dates:
- January 28, 2026, from 3:30-4:45 p.m. (virtually via Zoom)
- February 25, 2026, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. (virtually via Zoom)
- March 23, 2026, from 1-5 p.m. (in-person at the University of Maine at Augusta—limited to 50 participants)
- April 30, 2026, from 2-5 p.m. (in-person at the University of Southern Maine in Lewiston/Auburn)
- May 21, 2026, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. (virtually via Zoom)
Math Trauma to Math Triumph: Math Therapy Conversations and Supports
Educators are invited to participate in informal, supportive conversations centered on Math Therapy by Vanessa Vakharia. Participants will discuss the book and explore the implementation of the 5 “Ms” (Mythbust, Moderate, Motivate, Makeover, and Measure) in their classrooms. This series continues learning from the December 5, 2025, in-person event with Vakharia.
- Audience: pre-K-12 educators
- Dates: Participants may choose to attend one or multiple sessions. One-hour virtual meetings will take place on the following Wednesdays:
- January 14, 21, and 28, 2026
- February 4, 11, and 25, 2026
- Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.
To participate fully in this opportunity, educators should have attended the in-person workshop and have read—or be in the process of reading— Math Therapy.
Unlocking Numeracy
School and SAU teams serving grades 3-5 are invited to apply for a series of five virtual workshops hosted by Dan Finkel, founder of Math for Love, in collaboration with the Maine DOE. This opportunity supports schoolwide efforts to unlock students’ numeracy potential.
- Audience: Numeracy teams consisting of the principal, two math teachers, and one or two community numeracy/math liaisons
- Dates:
- February 3, 2026 – Foundation of Numeracy
- March 3, 2026 – Classroom Openers for Numeracy
- April 7, 2026 – Building Numeracy with Games
- May 5, 2026 – Communicating Numeracy to Families and Teachers
- May 26, 2026 – Rich Tasks and Purposeful Fluency
Each team will receive a numeracy toolkit, exemplar lessons, and supplies to support a family math night. Participants may earn up to 15 contact hours.
Applications are due January 16, 2026.
Deepening Early Numeracy Through Rich Math Talk, Purposeful Games, and Outdoor Place-Based Learning
Deepening Early Numeracy Through Rich Math Talk, Purposeful Games, and Outdoor Place-Based Learning
Teams of pre-K-2 educators will participate in a comprehensive early numeracy initiative hosted by the Maine Math and Science Alliance (MMSA) in collaboration with the Maine DOE. This initiative integrates research-based professional learning, instructional coaching, play- and nature-based approaches, and family engagement to support joyful, meaningful, and developmentally responsive mathematics learning.
- Audience: pre-K-2 educators
- Dates: In-person workshops will be taking place on the following dates. (Cohorts are determined by closest location.)
- Cohort 1 – Portland area: February 9, March 9, and April 6, 2026
- Cohort 2 – Bangor area: February 6, March 2, and April 3, 2026
- Cohort 3 – Machias area: February 27, March 27, and April 13, 2026
Virtual coaching sessions will be available to support implementation. Participants may earn 20 contact hours and a $250 honorarium.
Pairs of educators from the same school must apply together through a single joint application, which is due January 16, 2026.
STEAM PowerED Maine Professional Learning Cohort
Maine educators are invited to join a four-month STEAM professional learning cohort designed to support interdisciplinary teaching and learning across content areas. In partnership with Creative Generation and the Maine DOE, this cohort will focus on creativity, numeracy, instructional design, technology, and student-centered learning.
- Audience: pre-K-12 educators
- Format:
- In-person kickoff on February 2, 2026, in Augusta
- Four virtual workshops to follow (in February, March, and April)
- Asynchronous learning in EnGiNE, the Maine DOE’s learning management system
Participants may earn 26 contact hours or a $500 stipend, over the span of four months: eight hours for the in-person kickoff, four hours of professional learning with Creative Generation, four hours of professional learning with the Maine DOE, and 10 hours for artifact creation. Mileage reimbursement is available to all participants, and lodging is available upon request for anyone traveling more than 50 miles from Augusta. Registration closes on January 26, 2026.
Literacy Professional Learning Opportunities
Maine Solutionaries Project Literacy Cohort
This professional learning opportunity equips middle and high school teachers with training in four high-impact, interdisciplinary literacy practices that foster lifelong literacy and support successful Solutionary Inquiry-to-Action projects. Through engagement with complex texts, text-based discussion and writing, word study, and collaborative performance tasks, this cohort strengthens students’ reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language skills across content areas.
- Audience: Grades 4-12 educators
- Format:
- In-person kickoff session on January 27, 2026, from 8:30-3:30 p.m. at Maple Hill Farm in Hallowell
- Weekly virtual learning sessions on Tuesdays from 4-5:30 p.m. from February 3 through March 31 (four weeks focused on Solutionary Learning and four weeks focused on literacy integration)
Participants may earn up to 45 contact hours. Educators are encouraged to attend these sessions in pairs.
Integrating Literacy with Mapmaking
Renee Keul will explore the connection between literacy and mapmaking by engaging educators in analyzing and creating maps. This workshop models how spatial reasoning, data visualization, and critical thinking support reading, writing, and communication across content areas, reinforcing literacy as a shared responsibility. This workshop strengthens foundational literacy skills such as decoding symbols, building vocabulary, sequencing ideas, and making meaning across texts through hands-on, interdisciplinary learning.
- Audience: Pk-12 Educators
- Date: March 6, 2026, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Location: Osher Map Library in Portland (or virtually via Zoom)
- Contact Hours: seven hours available
Integrating Literacy with Objects and Writing
Deb Johnson and Ronni Blaisdell will share strategies for using real-world artifacts and natural materials to support foundational reading and writing skills. By modeling object-based learning grounded in authentic texts and materials, this workshop demonstrates how interdisciplinary, hands-on instruction strengthens literacy development across grade levels and content areas. This workshop builds vocabulary, comprehension, and writing stamina through close observation and inquiry.
- Audience: pre-K-12 educators
- Date: April 10, 2026, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Location: Maine Mineral and Gem Museum in Bethel (or virtually via Zoom)
- Contact Hours: seven hours available
Reaching Reluctant Readers
Cris Tovani will explore why students disengage from reading and how educators can remove barriers to learning. Grounded in research-based strategies for knowledge building and comprehension, the session equips educators with practical tools to support confident, independent readers across content areas. This workshop addresses engagement, motivation, and access as essential components of effective literacy instruction, particularly for students who are reluctant or struggling readers.
- Audience: pre-K-12 educators
- Date: May 15, 2026, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Location: Camp Chamberlain in Augusta (or virtually via Zoom)
- Contact Hours: seven hours available
Virtual Support Hours
Virtual support will be available on Thursdays following each workshop. These sessions are open to all educators, regardless of whether they attended the corresponding workshops, and are designed to support the application of learning through collaboration, reflection, and shared problem-solving.
Graphic Novels for Literacy (workshop already occurred)
January 8 through February 19, 2026, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. – Zoom registration link
This is an open, collaborative space to explore how graphic novels support comprehension, vocabulary development, and visual literacy across grade levels and content areas. Participants are encouraged to bring questions, classroom experiences, and ideas aligned with the statewide Action Plans’ interdisciplinary vision.
Integrating Literacy with Mapmaking
February 26 through April 9, 2026, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. – Zoom registration link
This is an informal space to explore how map analysis and creation can strengthen vocabulary, comprehension, and meaning making across content areas, reinforcing literacy as a shared responsibility.
Integrating Literacy with Objects and Writing
April 16 through May 7, 2026, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. –Zoom registration link
This is a supportive forum to reflect on and apply hands-on strategies that build engagement, motivation, and access to literacy through object-based learning and writing.
Reaching Reluctant Readers
May 14 through June 4, 2026, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. – Zoom registration link
This is an open forum to extend learning from Cris Tovani’s strategies for engagement and comprehension. Educators can share challenges and explore ways to remove barriers to reading and support confident, independent literacy development.
Contact
Kathy Bertini
Interdisciplinary Instruction Coordinator
Phone: 207-816-0294
Email: Kathy.Bertini@maine.gov