Department of Mathematics and Philosophy

71st Annual Western Mathematics Teachers Conference

TAG: You’re It!  Tasks, Activities, And Games to Increase Student Engagement and Understanding

  • Friday, April 11, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. - 2:50 p.m.
    • Check-in/Registration and Continental Breakfast: 8:00-8:30 a.m.
  • WIU's Macomb campus - Horrabin Hall. All PK-12 math teachers, coaches, and other leaders are invited.

Keynote Speakers

Kyle Harlow
Kyle Harlow, Opening Speaker

Bio: Kyle Harlow is a math teacher and department chair at Herrin High School in Herrin, IL. He serves as a Grades 9–12 Director on the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics Board of Directors and manages ICTM’s digital communications. He is the Program Chair for the ICTM Southern Section Conference on Teaching Mathematics and a doctoral student in Teacher Leadership at SIU Carbondale.

Presentation: Unplan Your Lessons

What’s the difference between planning and preparation in our classrooms? The former begins with an answer—a learning objective—and sculpts everything else to serve its purpose. The latter starts with a question—a task or game—and expects that learning will occur in unforeseen ways. Let’s explore how being prepared, rather than planned, can offer new joy and freedom in teaching math.

Howie Hua
Howie Hua, Featured Speaker

Bio: Howie Hua is a math instructor at Fresno State, teaching math to students who want to become elementary school teachers. He is always on the lookout for ways to humanize the math classroom. His teaching goal every semester is to show that everyone is a mathematician. You can reach him on Twitter, where he is always open for DMs!

Annie Forest
Annie Forest, Closing Presentation

Bio: Annie Forest has been in math education for over 20 years. She is passionate about bringing curiosity to math learning and teaching. Anything that allows her to work with students or teachers brings her joy, including her current work as a math consultant and adjunct professor.

Presentation: Math and Games: Both Have Rules and Fun!

Playing by the rules is part of playing games. But even with the constraint of rules, games are fun! Math also has rules, but it shouldn’t feel like an endless rulebook of unconnected things to memorize. Let’s explore how much math and games have in common, including that they are both FUN!

Registration

  • $90 for regular attendees
  • $20 for full-time students

Each registered person receives a box lunch.

Mail payment to:

Western Illinois University
Department of Mathmatics and Philosopby
1 University Circle, Morgan Hall 476
Macomb, IL 61455-1390

Conference Contact

Malinda Harris
Phone: (309) 298-1054
Email: MA-Harris6@wiu.edu

Call for Speakers

Do you have ideas for teaching math that you would like to share? We are looking for breakout session speakers and are accepting proposals for 2025. If you'd like to be a speaker email Dr. Bob Mann - RR-Mann@wiu.edu or complete the proposal form .

Professional Development Hours

You will receive a form to fill out on the day of the conference. Details about electronic submissions will be sent via email. Attendees will earn 5.5 PD hours for this conference.

Parking

Participants can park in the Horrabin Hall lot (big lot south of Horrabin Hall). Parking Services is aware of the conference and won't be ticketing. If the Horrabin Hall lot is full, try the Currens Hall lot (lot west of Currens Hall and NW from Horrabin).

Resources

Sponsors

  • Western Illinois University
  • Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics
  • West Central Council of Teachers of Mathematics