May 8, 2026
Dr. Zalman Usiskin, Famed Guest Speaker
We Need Another Revolution in School Mathematics, K – 12
Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse in Rosemont, IL

Jump to Reservations – and a one-time membership special!

On Friday, May 8, 2026, MMC welcomes Dr. Zalman Usiskin to close out our 2025–2026 season. This will be Zal’s 30th MMC dinner meeting presentation!

Zal taught at Niles West High School before returning to graduate school to earn his doctorate. Just two weeks after accepting a faculty position at the University of Chicago, he gave his first talk at MMC. As a longtime professor and a founder of the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project (UCSMP), Zal has shaped curriculum, teacher education, research, and policy at the local, national, and international levels. His work on algebra, geometry, transformations, applications, modeling, technology, statistics, and curriculum reform has influenced classrooms across the United States and around the world. The landmark collection of 38 of his articles, We Need Another Revolution: Five Decades of Curriculum Papers, published by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in 2014, reflects a combination of intellectual depth and practical insight into what mathematics education should accomplish.

His ties to MMC are longstanding and meaningful. He served on the Board of Directors during the transition from the Men’s Mathematics Club to the Metropolitan Mathematics Club of Chicago and later received MMC’s Lifetime Achievement Award. His wife, Karen Usiskin, also served as MMC president, leading the organization to a period of record membership and engagement. Zal’s writing in Points and Angles, Mathacrostics, contest problems, and his steady support of our professional community has helped shape the spirit of this organization.

Zal shared following preview of this presentation: 

A “revolution” is a change in the way we operate or think about what we do.  Since 1960, there have been five revolutions in what mathematics students are expected to learn in school.  In the 1960’s, the new math; in the 1970’s, a counter-revolution, back-to-basics; in the 1980s, problem-solving as the major theme; in the 1990s, the NCTM standards and NSF projects; and in 2010, another counter-revolution, the common core.  Widespread applications of mathematics, advances in technology, the growth of AI, and what we have learned about the acquisition of languages, require us to rethink not only what we teach, but also how we conceive of number and arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and analysis, and the logical structures that undergird them.  It’s time for another revolution. 

Please join us on May 8, 2026, for what promises to be a rich and insightful evening. Zal is known for entertaining and engaging talks!

In addition, in an incredible show of commitment and generosity, Zal and Karen Usiskin have donated funds to MMC to help defray the rising costs of attending MMC dinners. Thanks to their gift, all members will receive 50% off the cost of dinner, now costing a member just $25 for a delicious meal, great conversation, and meaningful learning. Thank you to Zal and Karen for this remarkable gift to our community. 

Please register for this dinner meeting here by Monday, May 4!

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Payment for dinner meetings is due at the meeting, paid by cash or check or Zelle. Credit cards cannot be accepted at this time.
Prices are $25 for members and $55 for nonmembers.

Thanks to all of you for sponsoring this dinner meeting!

Payment accepted in advance or at the welcome desk by cash, check, or Zelle. No credit cards. Please notify us as soon as possible if you cannot attend, as MMC is financially responsible for all reserved meals, including no-shows.

NOT A MEMBER YET, but want to take advantage of the special dinner rate? No Problem! Fill out this membership form. You can pay the $25 membership fee (cash, check, or Zelle) at the registration table into the dinner and pay just $25 for the dinner and talk. We are sure you can do the math, but this means you pay $50 for both a year of membership and the dinner or $55 for just the dinner at the non-member rate.

Please give names for ALL attendees with special meal needs.

(You should get a confirmation email for your reservation.  Please check your junk/spam folder if it does not appear in your inbox soon.)

6:00 pm Doors Open
7:00 pm Dinner & Talk

Now through June 1: $25 1-year membership fee (usually $35)

(You should get a confirmation email for your reservation; if you do not receive it soon, please check your spam folder.)

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