Recommended Workshops for Educators

Storytelling has proven to be a powerful tool in the early years of mathematics, captivating young learners’ curiosity while fostering deeper understanding and engagement. As an early years educator, you may find that integrating storytelling into your math lessons transforms abstract concepts into relatable, real-world experiences. To support educators in mastering this approach, I’ve compiled a list of online workshops and resources designed to inspire and equip you with strategies to make math come alive through storytelling!

1. Pam Harris Workshops – Math Is Figure-Out-Able

Image from Pam Harris Website

Pam Harris’s workshops focus on helping educators teach math conceptually, promoting strategies that highlight problem-solving, reasoning, and mathematical discourse. Her sessions are practical and centered around real-world contexts, making them an excellent fit for storytelling in math.
Why It’s Great for Storytelling: Pam’s emphasis on conceptual understanding and real-world applications aligns perfectly with storytelling's narrative structure, helping students build a deeper connection to mathematical concepts.
Learn more here.

2. Early Math Collaborative – Erikson Institute

Image from Erikson Institute

The Early Math Collaborative offers professional development workshops that focus on foundational math concepts for young learners. These sessions provide strategies for reducing math anxiety and making lessons accessible through relatable, real-world contexts.
Why It’s Great for Storytelling: It equips educators with tools to connect math lessons to everyday experiences, enhancing student engagement through meaningful narratives.

Learn more here.

3. Early Math Counts Professional Development Series

Image from Early Math Counts

This free eight-course online series introduces educators to essential math concepts such as number sense, geometry, and measurement. The series features videos and classroom examples to guide educators in incorporating storytelling into their math lessons.
Why It’s Great for Storytelling: It demonstrates how narrative-based instruction can make math relatable and inclusive for diverse learners.
Learn more here.

4. Jo Boaler Workshops – Mathematical Mindsets

Image from Youcubed

Jo Boaler, a leading advocate for equity and creativity in math education, offers workshops that help educators develop mathematical mindsets in their classrooms. Her sessions emphasize teaching math as a creative, inquiry-based process rather than through rote memorization.
Why It’s Great for Storytelling: Boaler’s workshops encourage integrating narratives into lessons to inspire curiosity and critical thinking while reducing math anxiety. She provides strategies for creating inclusive, engaging math environments through storytelling and real-life applications.
Learn more here.