About - Maths Teacher Circles

To inspire your students, you must first be inspired

Our Vision

At Maths Teacher Circles, we create experiences where you can enjoy maths with others.

We make this possible by:

Providing space to explore great problems and build your skills
Connecting primary and secondary maths educators
Building nurturing and inclusive learning communities.

A unique approach to professional learning

Five features that make Maths Teacher Circles unique:

1. Maths problem solving is at the heart

We make time for you to actually do and experience mathematical problem solving. The problems we look at can be puzzles or games, about fascinating mathematical principles or real-world applications.

2. Tasks are low-floor, high-ceiling

We bring together people of all mathematical backgrounds, capabilities and confidence. So it’s essentially like any heterogeneous group of learners! Importantly, presenters use problems that will be accessible and interesting for a wide range of ability levels. We encourage presenters to choose a task that:

they are excited and curious about
is relatable to all participants
is full of mathematics and welcomes different strategies.

3. Time is made for teaching reflections

During a session, time is spent exploring maths problems together. Time is also allocated for thinking about how to adapt and run each task with students. For example:

how a problem may be adapted to extend students in need of further challenge
what strategies can be used to support students who are struggling
how to support students to connect and explain their ideas.

4. Attendance is opt-in

A core intention of Maths Teacher Circles is that sessions are enjoyable. We want you to join us because you're curious about maths and teaching. Opt-in attendance means you have the choice over how you are spending your time learning.

5. Sessions run regularly

By returning to Maths Teacher Circles sessions regularly, participants:

deepen their mathematics knowledge
develop their classroom practice over time
learn from a variety of presenters
join a committed learning community.

Our History

In 2020, Maths Teacher Circles came to Australia for the first time. Since then, over 700 teachers, academics and other maths enthusiasts from across Australia and overseas have come together to share ideas about maths and teaching and to learn from one another.

This celebrated approach to professional development has been running in the United States for approximately 20 years and has a rich history that extends back even further.

Maths Circles were first formed in Russia and Bulgaria in the 1900s as a form of collaborative and non-competitive mathematical enrichment for students.

Behind The Scenes

Michaela Epstein

Founder & Director

Michaela is a maths educator who is deeply committed to sharing great maths ideas with others.
After searching for ways to make professional learning more meaningful, she founded Maths Teacher Circles in Australia.
Michaela is also a past president of the Mathematical Association of Victoria, has taught at schools in rural and urban areas and now works closely with teachers throughout Australia.
Michaela developed a curiosity for maths from her grand-mother. She now has the privilege of sharing this love of learning with her young daughter.