Announcements: Spring 2023
Submit Lesson Plans, Articles, and Announcements to Statistics Teacher
Consider submitting your K–12 statistics lesson plans for publication or writing and sharing an article. We also accept announcement submissions. For more information, see the ST submission guidelines or contact the ST editors.
Upcoming Deadlines
ASA Data Visualization Poster Competition
Deadline April 1, 2023
The ASA Data Visualization Poster Competition is for grade K–12 students to create a display containing two or more related graphics that summarize a set of data, look at the data from different points of view, and answer specific questions about the data. Submissions are now digital with a new judging rubric.
STEM Stars Actuarial Scholars Program
Deadline April 11, 2023
Do you know students interested in exploring a career as an actuary? The STEM Stars Actuarial Scholars Program from The Actuarial Foundation provides more than just $20,000 in college scholarships ($5,000 annually for four years). It also offers students the following:
- Mentoring by practicing actuaries and professionals
- Summer internships and/or work-study opportunities
- Academic support in mathematics
- Recognition as a member of a STEM Stars cohort
- Participation in a free week-long summer intensive workshop
Virtual Science Fair
Deadline is April 30, 2023
The Virtual Science Fair allows grade K–12 students to investigate an interesting topic and submit a short video highlighting their process and results.
Opportunity for Mathematically Talented High-School Students
Applications Due April 30, 2023
The World Science Scholars is a highly selective program for national and international high-school students who have exceptional skills in mathematics. Scholars are guided by world-renowned experts as they expand their knowledge to help solve complex challenges in multidisciplinary fields. This unparalleled opportunity allows students to explore and apply their talents to new scientific disciplines. World Science Scholars, offered at no cost to accepted scholars, is a program of the World Science Festival. Download the overview.
ThisIsStatistics Spring Data Challenge
Deadline in the spring (TBD)
ThisIsStatistics hosts data competitions in the spring and fall. To receive competition notifications, sign up for the newsletter on the bottom of the page.
Grants, Awards, and Scholarships from the Mathematics Education Trust
Deadline May 1, 2022
Did you know NCTM members have access to more than $150,000 in grants, scholarships, and other awards through the Mathematics Education Trust? The newest opportunity, Opening Gates for Prospective Teachers Grant, is also available to fund NCTM student memberships for prospective math teachers at all levels, PK–12. Check out the full range of grants opportunities and apply for the summer cycle.
ASA Statistics Project Competition
Deadline June 1, 2022
The ASA Statistics Project Competition is for grade 7–12 students to answer a research question using statistical techniques and present the work in a written report.
Meeting Within a Meeting (MWM) 2023
Deadline June 30, 2023
Sponsored by the Joint Committee of the American Statistical Association and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, MWM provides middle- and high-school mathematics and science teachers a free opportunity to discuss and apply the data analysis, data science, and statistical concepts embodied in the NCTM Catalyzing Change books and American Statistical Association’s Guidelines for Assessment and Instruction in Statistics Education (GAISE) Pre-K–12 Curriculum Framework.
The program includes examining what students can be expected to do at the most basic level of data analysis understanding and what can be expected of them as their skills develop and experience broadens. Teachers will learn to use strategies and technology tools that support students’ learning and empower them to investigate questions using real-world data.
The free workshop will take place virtually July 24–25, though space is limited, and advance registration is required. Register by June 30, 2023.
Upcoming Conferences
NCTM 2023 Spring Virtual Conference
March 29–April 1, 2023
US Conference on Teaching Statistics (USCOTS)
June 1–3, 2023; preconference workshops start May 30, 2023, State College, Pennsylvania
Beyond AP Statistics (BAPS) Workshop
June 4, 2023
Listen to recordings from the Summer 2020 BAPS workshop.
Meeting Within a Meeting (MWM) Statistics Workshop for Middle- and High-School Mathematics and Science Teachers
Online, July 24–25, 2023; Registration ends June 30, 2023
Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM)
August 5–10, 2023, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Meeting and Exposition
October 25–28, 2023, Washington, DC
American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) Annual Conference
November 9–12, 2023, Omaha, Nebraska
New Resources
Invigorating Statistics and Data Science Teaching Through Professional Learning (InSTEP)
InSTEP is a way to offer personalized professional learning to support teachers and instructional coaches in developing expertise in teaching statistics and data science in grades 6–12. With InSTEP, you can do the following:
- Personalize learning to meet your professional needs through customized recommendations, collaborative spaces, and choice of learning modules and microcredentials
- Build your skills in data investigations and innovative teaching approaches based on practices of data professionals and research on students’ learning with data
- Expand your professional collection of resources and technology vetted by experts in statistics and data science education
- Earn certificates to apply to CEUs
Learn more and register for free.
Share this opportunity with colleagues.
Once registered, you will always have access so you can learn at your own pace. If you have questions or are interested in having a team of teachers in your school or district work together with the online modules, contact the lead designers and facilitators from NC State: Hollylynne Lee and Gemma Mojica.
Help the ASA’s Data Literacy Outreach to Congress
The Data Science and Literacy Act was recently introduced by Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN), Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), and Rep. Young Kim (R-CA). There are several ways to help:
- Urge your organization/employer to show their support for the bill by signing this letter organized by Data Science 4 Everyone.
- Voice your support for the bill as an individual by signing the letter.
- Share news of the bill with your networks.
April Is Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month
Activities Through April 2023
Organize and host activities in April for Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month! Past activities have included workshops, competitions, festivals, lectures, symposia, department open houses, math art exhibits, and math poetry readings. Share your activities on social media and tag @AmstatNews and #MathStatMonth. The goal is to increase public understanding of and appreciation for statistics and mathematics.
Additional Resources
Resources from the US Census Bureau
The Statistics in Schools program recently launched a spring-themed Kahoot! game to help you test your students’ knowledge of topics such as the number of zoos and botanical gardens in the US and which MLB team plays in a city with the largest population. Check out their Monthly Highlights page to find timely activities for your classroom.
Joint ASA-NCTM Statement on Preparing PK–12 Teachers of Statistics and Data Science
Preparing PK–12 Teachers of Statistics and Data Science: A Joint Position Statement of the American Statistical Association and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (PDF download) details the preparation and support teachers need to successfully support students’ learning of statistics in the pre-K–12 curriculum.
“What’s Going On in This Graph”
“What’s Going On in This Graph?” is a free, weekly online feature of the ASA and New York Times Learning Network. On Wednesdays from September through May, a new graph previously published in The New York Times is released. Students are asked to respond to three questions: What do you notice? What do you wonder? How does this relate to you and your community? Then, they’re asked to write a catchy headline that captures the main ideas of the graph. Students may respond online with statistics teachers replying from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET. By Friday, the free link to the original article, additional questions, and “Stat Nuggets”— definitions of statistical terms seen in the graphs and explanations for how they are used—are revealed. No statistics background is necessary for either teachers or students. There is an archive of about 150 previously released graphs, with more than 140 Stat Nuggets.
NSF-Funded MODULE(S2) Project
The NSF-funded MODULE(S2) project recently published free curriculum materials that develop prospective teachers’ statistical knowledge for teaching secondary mathematics. Intended for use in university content courses that include statistics, the materials are organized into the following three modules:
- Module 1: Study Design & Exploratory Data Analysis
- Module 2: Statistical Inference
- Module 3: Statistical Association
Each module takes about four weeks of class time, so they can be used as the total curriculum for a three-credit, semester-long class. Alternatively, each module is independent, so the materials can be used flexibly. There are also similar materials that address algebra, geometry, and mathematical modeling. The MODULE(S2) curriculum materials have undergone extensive piloting over the last four years and have shown to be effective at improving prospective teachers’ mathematical knowledge for teaching, as well as their expectancy and value of teaching mathematics through a student-centered, discussion-based approach.
ASA K–12 Statistics Education Books Are Available for Free Download; Hardcopies Can Be Bought on Amazon
Statistics and Data Science for Teachers
Download a low-resolution version or a high-resolution version for free or purchase via Amazon.
Pre-K–12 Guidelines for Assessment and Instruction in Statistics Education II (GAISE II): A Framework for Statistics and Data Science Education
Download for free or purchase via Amazon
Focus on Statistics: Investigations for the Integration of Statistics into Grades 9–12 Mathematics Classrooms
Download for free or purchase on Amazon
Bridging the Gap Between Common Core State Standards and Teaching Statistics
Download for free (scroll down the page) or purchase on Amazon
Making Sense of Statistical Studies Teacher Module
Download for free or purchase on Amazon
Making Sense of Statistical Studies Student Module
Download for free or purchase on Amazon
People Count! (And Their Data Stories) Teaching Notes
Download for free or purchase on Amazon
People Count! (And Their Data Stories) Student Edition
Download for free or purchase on Amazon
K–12 Statistics Teacher Meetups
The American Statistical Association offers free K–12 teacher meetups (via Zoom) to share resources and discuss K–12 statistics topics. Meetup topics have included the AP Statistics exam and statistics reading, assessment, applets, software resources, and lesson plans. View recordings or indicate interest in participating and/or suggest topics and presenters.
New Episodes of Stats + Stories Podcast Available
The ASA has partnered with the Stats + Stories group at Miami University, a collaboration between statisticians and journalists producing podcasts that give the statistics behind the stories and the stories behind the statistics. To listen, visit the Stats + Stories website or iTunes.
ThisIsStatistics
Subscribe to the ThisIsStatistics educators’ newsletter and receive updates about educator resources and student contests. Also, get a PDF download of recommended resources for the digital classroom.
STEW Lessons
STatistics Education Web (STEW) is a free online resource for peer-reviewed statistics lesson plans.
Census at School
The ASA’s Census at School program is a free international classroom project that engages students in grades 4–12 in statistical problem solving using their own real data. The students complete an online survey, analyze their class census results, and compare their class with random samples of students in the United States and other participating countries. There are free lessons using Census at School data posted under Resources. We encourage new lesson plan submissions using the STEW format.
ASA Memberships and Free Resources for Teachers
Sign up for a free one-year trial membership for K–12 teachers and two-year college faculty. Also, free resources are available for K–12 educators and students and two-year college faculty.
