Professional Learning

Focus on Algebra – Cohort 3 Intent to Participate New Slots Opened

The MSB is thrilled to announce additional slots opening for Cohort 3 for the Focus on Algebra Initiative, designed specifically for school teams in Grades 6–9.

This impactful two-year program will delve into effective teaching methods and instructional strategies that emphasize algebraic thinking and core algebra concepts. Participants will explore prioritized content and standards for Algebra within Grades 6–9, as well as formative assessment practices viewed through the lens of culturally and linguistically responsive instruction (CLRI).

Expert facilitators will provide targeted support to school teams, focusing on effective instructional practices tailored to algebra knowledge and skills. This series aims to deepen teachers’ understanding of key mathematical concepts and cultivate best practices for delivering high-quality, Algebra-related learning experiences to all students.

Furthermore, instructional coaches and administrators will engage in discussions focused on building sustainable, school-wide systems for analyzing instruction and enhancing systems/programming. The ultimate goal is to generate practical classroom-level actions that promote equitable math teaching and learning environments.

Interested school teams are encouraged to submit their intent to participate and embark on this valuable professional learning journey! The Intent to participate will close at 4:00 p.m. on August 25, 2025. For questions or further information, please contact Math and Science Bureau (stem.learning@ped.nm.gov) staff.

NUMeROS – Cohort 2 Now Enrolling

NUMeROS is designed to build mathematics content knowledge for K–5 teachers and provide them with the resources needed to build strong conceptual knowledge and mathematical reasoning for elementary students. The K–2 and 3–5 teacher pathways are slightly different, based on major work of grade. Common Core developers indicate major work of grades should comprise 65-85% of instructional time over the course of the year.

Teachers will engage in a learning pathway over the course of the year. More information about the pathways are found in the links:

• K–2 Math Foundations Pathway
• 3–5 Math Foundations Pathway

The MSB invites New Mexico school teams to submit their intent to participate in collaborative professional learning leveraging the New Mexico Instructional Scope and high-quality instructional materials to support elementary math instruction!

The Intent to Participate must be completed by a district/charter or school building administrator. You may view a copy of your responses after submission, and it does not need to be completed in one sitting. Please submit your completed form by 5:00 p.m. MST on August 16, 2025. For questions or further information, please contact Math and Science Bureau (stem.learning@ped.nm.gov) staff.

Building Science Leaders Network – Cohort 2 Applications Now Open

The Building Science Leaders Network (BSLN) is gearing up to build capacity for equitable science teaching and learning, all centered around the NM STEM Ready! Science Standards. This unique initiative provides participating district and charter school teams with comprehensive support systems to cultivate strong science leadership by:

• building local capacity,
• meeting the diverse needs of your educational ecosystems to create a sustained, scalable, and equitable impact for science educators and students,
• providing support for K–12 vertical alignment in science teaching and learning,
• utilizing science-centered facilitation aligned to your NM DASH plan,
• collecting valuable data to evaluate and steer educational outcomes,
• collaboratively solve common educational barriers within the system, and collectively utilize the network as a foundational support system, and
• opportunities for professional mentorship

This network is strategically designed to support and sustain leaders as they drive change in science education zeroing in on how school and district leaders propel large-scale instructional improvement. What makes this program stand out is its cyclical approach to professional learning. Participating science leaders will first engage as “student learners,” then translate their acquired knowledge to customize and lead professional learning within their own districts or charters. They will gather evidence of the impact of their efforts and, finally, make informed adjustments to best serve their local context.

Keeping the essential needs of each educational ecosystem in mind, this network should enhance work being done in a school’s NM DASH plans and reinforce strategies for student achievement outlined in the 2025 PED Strategic Plan for Success. A key objective is to clearly articulate the K–12 vertical alignment in science teaching and learning.

The BSLN will implement a sequence of impactful professional learning opportunities, including whole staff PL, PLC sessions, department meetings, and community engagement nights. There will be a focus on collecting valuable data to evaluate and guide educational outcomes, provide professional mentorship, collaboratively address common educational challenges, and foster a strong network for ongoing support.

Ultimately, this learning series aims to build sustainable local capacity within districts and charter schools, creating a lasting, scalable, and equitable impact for science educators and their students throughout New Mexico. Applications are now open and will close at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 27, 2025. For questions or more information, please contact Lisa Sanchez (lisa.sanchez@ped.nm.gov), Science Specialist

Integrated Statistics and Quantitative Reasoning (ISQR) for High School Mathematics Early Exploration Project

WestEd seeks public school districts and state and local charters to participate in the Integrated Statistics and Quantitative Reasoning (ISQR) Early Exploration Project. New Mexico is one of five states invited to participate in this national project to expand high school course offerings. In the ISQR Early Exploration Project, WestEd will be partnering with districts to investigate what would be necessary for schools and districts to pilot a new rigorous high school mathematics course designed to integrate quantitative, algebraic, statistical, geometric, and data literacy concepts and strategies to empower students to live skillfully and productively in our data-driven society. Integrating these disciplines gives students a more realistic picture of approaching problems utilizing these concepts and strategies. This approach pulls together all of the available tools and resources to tackle different parts of the task to reach a more comprehensive solution.

Below is a project overview that will give you more information about participating in the project. WestEd is expecting to identify the Early Exploration districts by January/February with activities starting in March. There is also an opportunity to join the project as a pilot site later on.

Building Science Leaders Network: NGSS Storyline Series

The Building Science Leaders Network would like to provide an opportunity for all local educational agencies (LEA) to attend grade band specific NGSS storyline series to help support newly adopted high-quality science instructional materials. The series is intended for any and all who would like to attend. The focus for these sessions will be centered around best practices for K–12 three-dimensional science instruction while using your newly adopted HQIM. All sessions will be available for future LEA-wide professional learning.

The Storyline Series will allow participants to:

• Gain a deeper understanding of three-dimensional teaching and learning.
• Build an understanding of the importance of coherence using science instructional materials to support students’ application of the three dimensions to explain phenomena and solve problems.
  • Understand the importance of phenomena for student sensemaking in science and consider its capacity to make science learning equitable for all students.
  • How do concepts and science ideas build over time?
  • Look at instructional materials to identify phenomena and/or problems that are present throughout units
  • Learn how to identify a logical sequence of concepts in a unit, and map the phenomena and/or problems in your instructional materials

• Explore opportunities to storyline with your newly selected high quality science instructional materials.

If you are interested in engaging the virtual three-part professional learning series, please click on the link below to attend:

Questions? Lisa Sanchez, Science Specialist

High Quality Science Instructional Materials

Criteria and Guidance for Selection to
Provide Equity in K–12 Science Instruction

Science instructional materials adoption will begin in the spring 2025. What better way to prepare than by delving into our HQIM science instructional materials criteria and at-a-glance guidance document created by New Mexico science educators? Our one-hour professional learning (PL) experience will provide guidance to help identify high-quality instructional materials, use evidence analysis of high-quality science instructional materials that will benefit your students’ academic needs, and make considerations for the next steps to better prepare for the upcoming science textbook adoption cycle.

Would you like our team to do a one-hour virtual PL of the High Quality Science Instructional Material Criteria and Guidance for Selection presentation for your district, charter school, school site, or science department?

Questions? Lisa Sanchez, Science Specialist

NM STEM Ready! Science webinars

Recorded webinars and slides are available:

Productive Discourse in the Science Classroom, Transcript, and PowerPoint Slides.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Presented by Shafiq Chaudhary

Planning Instruction through Standards Bundling, Transcript, and PowerPoint Slides.
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Presented by Shafiq Chaudhary and Patricia Carden

Planning Instruction through Curriculum Adaptation, Transcript, and PowerPoint Slides.
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Presented by Shafiq Chaudhary, Patricia Carden, and Marcia Barton

Planning Instruction Using Phenomena, Transcript, and PowerPoint Slides.
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Presented by Shafiq Chaudhary and Patricia Carden

The Five Innovations of the NM STEM Ready! science standards for administrators, Transcript, and PowerPoint Slides.
Monday, April 30, 2018
Presented by Shafiq Chaudhary and Patricia Carden

The Five Innovations of the NM STEM Ready! science standards for teachers, Transcript, and PowerPoint Slides.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Presented by Patricia Carden and Shafiq Chaudhary

Exploring the 3-Dimensionality of the NM STEM Ready! science standards for teachers, Transcript, and PowerPoint Slides.
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Presented by Shafiq Chaudhary and Patricia Carden

Exploring the 3-Dimensionality of the NM STEM Ready! science standards for administrators, Transcript, and PowerPoint Slides.
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Presented by Shafiq Chaudhary and Patricia Carden

Discovering the NM STEM Ready! Science Standards, Transcript, PowerPoint Slides, and facilitator notes.
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Presented by Shafiq Chaudhary and Patricia Carden