Janice Novakowski

Happy to be back at UBC this year teaching an elementary math methods course in January. @ubcteachered.bsky.social

Honoured to have a short piece about belonging in mathematics in the current Classroom Corridors resource from @ncte.org #MTBoS

Only two days and with my family! Otherwise I would have reached out! Hope you are well.

All eight weeks of #MathPHoto25. Feel free to continue posting through the summer with any of the prompts (or combinations of prompts) you notice!

Three examples of math at play... a game of cribbage, playing with electronic circuits, and playing the board game Alhambra.

It is the final week of #MathPhoto25. This week look for math at play. Where do you notice mathematics in games and activities. #MathPlay #ITeachMath

And back on my bicycle at home and found circles today along the west dyke #circles #MathPhoto25 #ITeachMath #MTBoS

Arriving home at @yvrairport.bsky.social to the beautiful spindle whorl created by Susan Point. #circles #MathPhoto25 #ITeachMath #MTBoS

Leaving London via Paddington Station, the clock face on Big Ben and the London Eye #circles #MathPhoto25 #ITeachMath #MTBoS

Where do you notice circles, cylinders, spheres or ellipses in the world around you? Example photos include an orange life ring, a marshmallow toasting in a circular fire pit and cylidrical bales of hay drying in a field.

The penultimate week of #MathPhoto25 is #circles! Where do you notice circles, cylinders, spheres or ellipses in the world around you? #ITeachMath #MathsToday

Week 6 prompt is Measure. Examples include a produce scale, a height clearance sign and a sign for the distance of a walking path around a pond.

Week 6 of #MathPhoto25 is is underway! Where do you see measurements or tools used to #measure. Think measurements for distance, area, weight, time, etc. #ITeachMath

Different types of shell arranged in a symmetrical repeating pattern on sand.

Oh we do like to be beside the seaside... Keep your maths skills fresh over the summer holidays, with our fun maths-themed games and activities to do at the beach! 🐚
www.mathsweek.scot/n...

#MathsWeekScot #STEMeducation #SummerHolidays #BeachGames #OutdoorLearning #MathsToday #UKMathsCht #tmwyk

Week 4 of MathPhoto25 is Even. Where do you notice balance and items grouped in pairs? Where do you see even numbers?

This week’s #MathPhoto25 prompt is #even. Where do you see things that come in pairs? Where do even numbers show up in your world—on signs, in patterns, or in nature? #ITeachMath

screenshot of coming soon page for a new website with photograph of Janice Novakowski, ferns, polka dots, and math symbols along with contact buttons

Two days left of work in the Richmond School District before I retire after 34 years of teaching. Looking forward to new ways of learning together. #iteachmath janicenovakowski.com

How kids can keep their maths skills sharp this summer - UBC News UBC experts discuss how everyday summer holiday activities such as hiking, building sandcastles or picnicking can help care-givers sneak in real-world math lessons while kids are out of school.

Some suggestions from UBC‘s department of mathematics for ways families can engage in mathematical thinking over the summer. #iteachmath news.ubc.ca/2025/06/how-...

My annual year in review blog post: blogs.sd38.bc.ca/sd38mathands...

The week one prompt of the Math Photo Challenge. Look for squares. Where to you see square shapes and perfect square numbers? Example photos are dice with square faces and the perfect square number 4 on top, a square sewer grate and square pint boxes of fresh summer strawberries.

It's time to kick off #MathPhoto25 with #squares! Hunt for square shapes and perfect square numbers. Take photos & share on Bluesky using the hashtags #MathPhoto25 and #square. Please add alt text to your photos for increased access. #ITeachMath

Take a math photo that shows symmetry! Where do you see symmetrical shapes, patterns and designs?

Week 2 of #MathPhoto25 is here! This week look for symmetry, patterns and designs. Take photos and share using hashtags #MathPhoto25 and #symmetry. #ITeachMath

#MathPhoto25 #symmetry #iteachmath #iteachyogatoo!

Math Photo 25 - Week 3 - Angles - Where do you see two or more lines meeting to form acute, obtuse and right angles?

Week 3 of #MathPhoto25 has arrived. Where do you see lines meeting to form corners and #angles? #ITeachMath #MathsToday

Packing up The Studio as I get ready to retire from my school district next week. So much math joy happened here!

So curious why there are so many 3s?

Happy to be back at the @noiie.ca symposium and in community with network educators from across the world. #noiie25

And this fall has also been full of lots of classroom-based math and numeracy projects in our district.

Looking forward to sharing ideas and learning together here!
4/4

For our provincial PSA day, I was part of the hosting committee for the Northwest Mathematics Conference in Whistler with over 1500 attendees. So much math learning and fun! 3/4

In September & October I did some math sessions for different CCRRs in BC (early childhood and childcare providers) 2/4

It’s been a bit since I’ve posted here but am excited to see so many math friends joining over this way!

Some mathy highlights from the last few months: attending and presenting at NCTM in Chicago and loving the opening keynote from Dr Eugenia Cheng 1/4

Happy to chat! I think one of the things I’ve learned about loose parts and math is we need to add some tools to nudge the mathematical thinking such as measuring tools, ten frames, shapes templates, dice, numerals etc.

Some comments from children:
-this is so fun, I am so happy
-mom, I don’t want to go, I just want to stay here
-this is so satisfying (teenager tiling all the turtles I had)
-I’m back!!

and from a parent:
-my kids & I look forward to this every year, I love that they see math as fun and creative

Young child with sun hat using triangular magnetic tiles to create with.

A very good math day full of math joy and good conversations with children, parents and grandparents. Our district’s Math Play Space popped up at our local Garlic Fest.

Here are the Mathical winners and honor books in each age category for 2024: