Columbus Regional

Mathematics Collaborative (CRMC) 

October/November Newsletter - 2026

As we move through the fall semester, the Columbus Regional Mathematics Collaborative is excited to continue supporting educators through professional learning, collaboration, and engaging mathematics experiences. We look forward to our Fall Conference on October 29 and additional professional development opportunities for educators across grade levels.

Explore our upcoming events and professional learning opportunities and join us in strengthening mathematics education across our region!

Have questions or need support? Contact us at crmc@columbusstate.edu.

Join the Columbus Regional Mathematics Collaborative for our Fall Conference on October 29! This professional learning event brings together mathematics educators across grade levels for an evening of collaboration, fresh ideas, and meaningful professional development. Explore instructional strategies, connect with fellow educators, and discover new ways to engage students in mathematics.

Best of all, this event is completely FREE, and dinner will be provided! We want to make professional learning accessible to educators across our region, and we hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to learn, connect, and grow with us. We have a very rich and diverse set of speakers coming from all over Georgia. We hope you'll come and enjoy some time of learning and fellowship.

REGISTER HERE

CONFERENCE BROCHURE

Mark your calendars! The CRMC is excited to host Math Masters on Saturday, April 24, 2027. This middle school mathematics tournament will bring students together to showcase their mathematical thinking, problem-solving skills, and teamwork in a fun and engaging environment.

Interested in getting involved? Please complete our interest form if you would like your school and students to participate in this year’s tournament or if you are interested in serving as a Master Teacher to help support the event.

More details about registration, participation, and event logistics will be shared soon. We look forward to bringing educators and students together for an exciting celebration of mathematics!

Take a look back at last year’s Math Masters Tournament! We’re excited to bring this fun and engaging mathematics experience back for another year!

The CRMC had the pleasure of serving teachers from five Muscogee County School District elementary schools for our Exploring Manipulatives professional development on October 2nd!

Teachers explored how hands-on manipulatives can support student learning and connect directly to Georgia’s Math Standards and GaInspires Instructional Learning Plans. To wrap up the day, teachers stepped into the world of virtual reality and explored ways to bring math instruction to life through interactive math games! 🥽VR Headsets are available for checkout through the CRMC.

A special thank you to Hope Phillips for co-leading this professional development and sharing her expertise with our teachers!

We loved learning, exploring, and creating alongside these educators!

Join us this fall for an exciting line-up of professional learning opportunities hosted by the Columbus Regional Mathematics Collaborative! 

Whether you‘re looking to strengthen your instructional practices, explore innovative mathematics resources, or connect with fellow educators, we have something for everyone. Be sure to check out our upcoming workshops and conferences below, and simply click the link to learn more and register. We look forward to learning with you this fall!

October 29, 2026 - CRMC Fall Conference (Grades K-12 Focus) (FREE, Dinner Provided)

November 13, 2026 - Connect Geometric Thinking and Reasoning with GEOGEBRA and Instructional Learning Plans PD (Grades 6-12 Focus)

December 11, 2026 - Make Instructional Learning Plans connected with Velocity (DESMOS) PD (Grades K-12 Focus) - Presented by CSU doctoral student Andrel Sims.

The CRMC is excited to share two STEM grant opportunities designed to support schools and student teams from CSU. The STEM Start Up Grant provides funding for new teams to launch STEM experiences with resources such as 3D printers, podcasting equipment, and more. The STEM Team Support Grant provides funding for existing teams to attend competitions and replenish materials and supplies. These grants are designed to help educators give students meaningful opportunities to create, collaborate, compete, and explore STEM.

Columbus State University K-12 STEM Team Start-Up Grant Application Form

Columbus State University K-12 STEM Team Support Mini-Grants Application Form

The CRMC is ready to partner with your school to strengthen mathematics instruction and support student success! We offer professional development opportunities designed to meet the needs of your educators and help bring engaging, effective mathematics strategies into the classroom.

Interested in having the CRMC come to your school? Complete our Professional Development Interest Form to let us know how we can support your team.

For questions or additional information, please contact us at crmc@columbusstate.edu. We look forward to partnering with you!

Ready to grow your skills, expand your opportunities, broaden your professional network, and make an even greater impact on students? Columbus State University offers graduate education programs designed to help educators advance their careers and strengthen their practice.

Explore programs in Elementary Education, Middle Grades Education, Secondary Education, Special Education, Teacher Leadership, Educational Leadership, and more. With graduate-level teacher certification programs offered fully online, CSU provides flexible opportunities for educators to continue learning while balancing their professional responsibilities.

Invest in your future! Under Georgia’s statewide minimum teacher salary schedule, moving from a bachelor’s-level T4 certificate to a master’s-level T5 certificate can increase base pay by approximately 15% at each step—starting at an additional $5,114 per year for new teachers. This pay raise would cover tuition for a degree at CSU in approximately 2 years.

Whether you’re looking to deepen your instructional expertise, pursue leadership opportunities, or take the next step in your career, CSU has graduate pathways to help you get there.

Explore CSU Graduate Education Programs:
View Graduate Degrees and Programs at Columbus State University

The CRMC has been bringing math manipulatives into the hallways of Frank Brown Hall to give students a chance to stop, explore, and play with math! Many students on campus wonder, “What exactly is the CRMC?” These interactive tables are one way we’re introducing students to the work we do, showcasing the resources we have available, and creating opportunities to experience math in a fun and engaging way.

Our estimation table was a hit, with over 40 students participating and putting their estimation skills to the test! Two students were also awarded gifts from the CRMC in recognition of guessing the closest number. Through these hands-on experiences, we hope to spark curiosity, encourage mathematical thinking, and help more CSU students discover the CRMC.

Looking for hands-on tools to support your math instruction? Check out the CRMC Manipulative Catalog! Educators can browse and request manipulatives to be mailed directly to you or returned through the mail—though we always love when teachers come in person to explore our full selection and find the best tools for their classrooms. With a simple e-mail to the CRMC Graduate Assistant, Sarabeth Sansbury, we can have manipulatives and other tools from the CRMC resource room to your classroom in approximately 1-2 business days.

Let us help you bring math to life for your students!

The Columbus Regional Mathematics Collaborative was excited to welcome Jim Franklin as he shared his Slide-A-Round Math Manipulatives! Jim, a veteran special education teacher, created these innovative, hands-on resources to help students develop a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts through interactive, visual learning. Designed to support students of all ability levels, including students who are blind or visually impaired, Slide-A-Round manipulatives offer engaging ways to explore topics such as rounding, fractions, money, capacity, and much more!

Want to see them in action? Watch demonstration videos on our CRMC YouTube channel, or check out the Slide-A-Round student manipulatives from the CRMC to use in your own classroom!

To learn more about the manipulatives or place an order, visit Slide-A-Round Math. For information about checking out the student manipulatives, contact us at crmc@columbusstate.edu.

Connect with us on Instagram @mathcollab to stay connected and inspired! A perfect way for sparking new ideas and staying up to date with all things CRMC.

Check out the CRMC YouTube channel for quick, practical resources you can use right away! From hands-on manipulative tutorials to brief research summaries, our videos are designed to support and inspire your math instruction.

The CRMC wants to remind you that we are here to support you throughout the school year! As the year continues, we hope you are finding meaningful ways to inspire curiosity, strengthen mathematical understanding, and make a difference in the lives of your students. Planning a STEM event or Family Math Night? Connect with us to explore how the CRMC and CSU may get involved! We look forward to continuing to learn, collaborate, and grow with you!

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