Challenge NYT
Math Quiz — NYT Learning Network
Through Math for America, I am part of an ongoing collaboration with the New York Times Learning Network. My latest contribution, a Test Yourself quiz-question, can be found here
Test Yourself Math — October 9th, 2013
This question pertains to a recent report showing that approximately 46.5 million Americans are currently living below the poverty line. What ratio of Americans are living in poverty?
NYT Teaching
Connected Educator Month
As part of Connected Educator Month, I contributed to the New York Times Learning Network’s “What Connected Education Looks Like”, a collection of viewpoints on what being connected means to teachers in this day and age.
Here’s my piece, which was inspired by two mathematicians on Google+ who inspired me to create a Linear Algebra course at my school this year.
I’m teaching Linear Algebra at my high school this year, and social media is to blame.
Two mathematicians I’m connected to on Google+, Theron Hitchman andVincent Knight, regularly post engaging pieces about mathematics, teaching and technology. Theron’s enthusiasm and insight and Vince’s cool applications to operations research rekindled my interest in Linear Algebra. So when discussing what electives to offer our mathematics majors at Brooklyn Tech, I volunteered to create a Linear Algebra course.
As usual, I’m in over my head, but Theron and Vince are there to help, sharing their views on the big ideas in Linear Algebra, using technology to docool things with matrices and pointing me to resources like free e-books and open-source mathematical software. I probably wouldn’t have taken on this challenge without my connections to these mathematicians, but being connected to them and others will help make it work for me and my students.
You can read the NYT LN piece here, and find out more about Connected Educator Month here.
Teaching
2013 PAEMST Finalist
[UPDATE: I was awarded the PAEMST! Read about it here.]
I am proud and excited to announce that I am a finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)!
The PAEMST is a national award given annually to at most two teachers from each state in the US. The awards alternate each year between K-6 teachers and 7-12 teachers.
I have been named a finalist for New York state, along with three other mathematics teachers. Decisions at the national level will be made later this year, and the award carries with it a Presidential Certificate and a trip to Washington, D.C. for meetings and professional development.
It is a great honor to be named a finalist. The application process was intense and comprehensive, but it was a worthy professional experience, and I’m glad that the selection panel saw the value in my work. I also know two of the other finalists from New York and have great respect for them, so I know our state will be well-represented.
You can read the announcement at the New York State Education website, and find out more about the PAEMST here.