Book Review: ‘Playing with Math’ feat. editor Sue VanHattum

The MathEd Out Podcast

Click Here to subscribe to MathEd Out on iTunes

For this special episode we discuss the book ‘Playing with Math‘ edited by California Math Teacher and blogger, Sue VanHattum. We discuss details of the book (to be released, fall 2014), the inspiration behind the book as well as the questions it poses and the implication it has for progressive mathematics education.

From the books website:

Playing With Math: Stories from Math Circles, Homeschoolers, and Passionate Teachers has over 30 authors, who each tell their delightful stories of sharing their enthusiasm for math with others. It was lovingly compiled and edited by a teacher whose passion is to share the love of math with as many people as she can.

This 328-page book was 5 1/2 years in the making. It’s ready to head to the printers now, and can soon be in your hands.

Whether you enjoy…

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MathEd Out Podcast Episode 4 feat. Mathy McMatherson on Assessment and Feedback

The MathEd Out Podcast

Click Here to subscribe to MathEd Out on iTunes

This week we are joined by Tucson math teacher, Daniel Schneider better known in the twitter/bloggersphere as Mathy McMatherson. In Daniel’s relatively short time teaching he has built up a strong following and is known for his thoughts and ideas to do with assessment, feedback and standards based grading.

We talk to Daniel about all of the above as well as the implementation of common core across the US.

[audio https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/82726094/MathEdOut/06-02-2014%20Mathy%20McMatherson%20-%20Assessment%20and%20Feedback.mp3]

Links from the show:

Everybody is a Genius

Miss Calcul8

Fawn Nguyen

Dan Meyer

Michel Pershan

Sam Shah

Common Core Standards

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Why I am Switching to Middle School

 

As of the next academic year I will be teaching middle school mathematics. I will be sad to leave my current school but am very excited about the prospect of teaching younger minds.  Here’s why:

• I am looking forward to (hopefully) ‘catching’ middle school students with the wonder of mathematics before they reach high school. The most upsetting thing I hear is when students enjoyed math at elementary level but then got completely put off before they reached high school. I hope to do something to make sure this doesn’t happen for my students.
• I am looking forward to teaching just ‘Math.’ I have enjoyed focusing on Algebra and Probability & Statistics but have missed having the time to make connections between the disciplines. My aim will be to blur the lines between algebra and geometry so that students have a very strong sense of the link between them.
• Experience tells me that middle school math lends itself to Project Based Learning (#PBL) fairly well. This is something close to my heart and I look forward to modelling what it means to be a mathematician to my students.
• I get to chat and share great ideas with #msmathchat peeps on Twitter

I am truly grateful to Herron High School for trusting me to teach their students for the last two years.