I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be a featured speaker at the Utah Council of Teachers of Mathematics (UCTM) 2026 Conference, taking place January 27–28, 2026. This is one of the most energizing professional learning events for math educators in the region, and I’m honored to be part of it alongside so many inspiring teachers, leaders, and advocates for high-quality math instruction. (Utah Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, January 27—I’ll be leading a session all about building grit in the math classroom. In this time together, we’ll explore practical strategies you can use right away to help students move from simply surviving challenging content to thriving academically and personally.

We’ll dive into:

* Why grit matters for deeper mathematical learning

* How to cultivate a Growth Mindset as a classroom culture

* Practical moves that strengthen Resilience, Self-Efficacy, and Time Management in students

* Tools and classroom structures that support persistence and confidence

Teachers will leave with usable ideas that support both student agency and equitable access to rigorous mathematics.

Math classrooms are rich with productive struggle, complex problem-solving, and opportunities for sense-making. But without intentional support, students often interpret difficulty as inability. When we teach for grit in math, we help students understand that struggle is not a barrier—it’s a pathway to understanding and confidence.

This is especially important in mathematics education because sustained effort and reflection are necessary for students to move from procedural fluency to conceptual understanding, reasoning, and sense-making.

The Utah Council of Teachers of Mathematics (UCTM) hosts this annual conference to bring together educators for learning, connection, and inspiration. UCTM 2026 will feature sessions, panels, and presenters focused on best practices in math teaching and leadership. (Utah Council of Teachers of Mathematics[2])

Whether you’re a classroom teacher, instructional coach, math specialist, or school leader, UCTM offers an opportunity to grow your practice and expand your professional learning network.

Let’s Thrive Together

I hope you’ll attend my session on January 27 and join the conversation about how we can design classrooms that empower students to thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally. When we build grit with intention, students not only persevere—they grow in confidence, agency, and joy in the mathematics.

See you in Utah!

— Dr. India White

References

[1]: https://www.utahctm.com/registration-1 "UCTM 2026 Conference Registration"

[2]: https://www.utahctm.com/ "Utah Council of Teachers of Mathematics"