AMTNJ One-Day Workshop: Modeling in the Middle: Proportional Reasoning and Algebraic Thinking (6 – 8)

Workshop Title: Modeling in the Middle: Proportional Reasoning and Algebraic Thinking (6 – 8)

Date: 3/24/2026

Time: 8:30 am – 3 pm

Location: Rutgers University, Busch Campus Piscataway

Facilitator(s): Pam Brett

Description: Ever wonder how to make proportional reasoning and algebraic thinking truly click for your middle schoolers? In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore how physical and digital manipulatives can unlock abstract middle school math concepts. Whether you’re teaching equations or comparing ratios, we’ll model strategies that deepen understanding and foster student agency. Rooted in the Standards for Mathematical Practice including: making sense of problems and persevering in solving them, modeling with mathematics, and constructing viable arguments, this session will immerse you in rich mathematical tasks and collaborative discourse.

You’ll walk away with a curated Google folder packed with lesson starters, digital manipulatives, and high-impact tasks you can implement the very next day. Perfect for teachers looking to strengthen their instructional toolbox—and for coaches and leaders ready to turnkey these ideas back to their teams.