Math Me Thinks

Regressions on Desmos

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Sat, 04 May 2024 22:23:00 +0000

See instructional video on YouTube.

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 21:00:00 +0000

Equation Editor in Google Docs

Go to Insert, Equation.

Click on 'New Equation'.

It's not as good as Math Type but Math Type no longer works on Macs, alas.

This works in the Chrome and the Safari browsers.

Common Core Explained

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 23:01:00 +0000

This is a good explanation of the Common Core approach. It is a joy, when a middle or high school student says, "I get it now!"

A Good American - the film

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 22:51:00 +0000

A documentary... the bureaucrats aren't listening to the mathematicians. So infuriating.

When Textbooks go Awry

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Sun, 21 May 2017 20:30:00 +0000

Some of the math books are particularly amusing.

Fidget Spinners and other Fidget Gadgets in the Classroom

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Mon, 15 May 2017 23:50:00 +0000

Erin Silver of the Washington Post has written a good article on the subject of fidget gadgets in the classroom.

In my experience, especially working one-on-one with students, fidget gadgets are a distraction. Instead, I work with students to help develop the skill of keeping focused for a period of time. When the student starts to have difficulty keeping focused, even when they are trying, it is time to take a small break where they can fidget, look at their phone, stare out the window, do jumping jacks or walk around the room.

Another strategy that works for me is to change what the student is working on... If we have been working on Algebra, switch to Art.

Are fidget toys too much of a distraction? - Erin Silver, Washington Post

U Can’t Talk to Ur Professor Like This

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Sun, 14 May 2017 15:30:00 +0000

From Molly Worthen of the New York Times:

U Can't Talk to Ur Professor Like This

I agree with many of the points in the article, especially this quote: “More and more, students view the process of going to college as a business transaction,” Dr. Tomforde, the math professor, told me. “They see themselves as a customer, and they view knowledge as a physical thing where they pay money and I hand them the knowledge — so if they don’t do well on a test, they think I haven’t kept up my side of the business agreement.” He added, “They view professors in a way similar to the person behind the counter getting their coffee.”

So true. I once had the experience of a cheeky (and slightly delusional) 10th grader, verbally accost me in the hallway, claiming that I didn't understand the structure of the academic environment. He scolded me for not understanding that the structure of the high school academic environment was like a corporation and that I was essentially ignoring the stock holders (when his grade began to slip).

As a high school teacher, I invite and insist, my students to call me by my first name after graduation. However, students in college are usually adults. If the professor wants to be addressed as Dr. Worthen, then I do hope that she when she insists on formality, that she also has the mutual respect for her students by addressing them as Mr. Garcia and Ms. Wong. If my doctor would like to be addressed as Dr. Dubois, then he or she might not want to expect to call me Karen. Otherwise, expecting such, is just a way to establish artificial lines of status.

Apparently Gerrymandering has a Math Solution!

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Fri, 12 May 2017 19:22:00 +0000

A math solution! That seems obvious to mathematicians... it might take a while for the politicians to believe the science.

Brilliant

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 16:46:00 +0000

A fun website that can offer challenging alternatives for your precocious math students in the differentiated classroom.

Brilliant.org

Awe Inspiring Mathematics in Nature

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 15:12:00 +0000

A Puffer Fish showing of his mathematical art skills!

Clocks for the Classroom

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 21:45:00 +0000

Or for the Nerd in You

The Albert Clock

featured in the Daily Mail

I wish I had had this in my classroom when I taught middle school.

This one calls out "I'm a math geek!"

You can find it on Amazon.

For those of you who are training to memorize decimal digits of Pi.

Also found on Amazon.

Best Calculator App!

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 22:26:00 +0000

GraphNCalc83

I found an awesome calculator app. If you use a TI-84 or TI-83, you will be pleased with this graphing app. It cost $5.99. I currently am using an iPhone 6s and it is a perfect solution for those days when I don't have my calculator with me.

Find it in iTunes

An Oldie but A Goodie

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 18:39:00 +0000

Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics: Teachers' Understanding of Fundamental Mathematics in China and the United States

I read this book years ago and highly recommend it, still, for any math teacher, especially elementary teachers. It should be the basis of a required course for elementary school teachers and will explain some of the better aspects of the Common Core.

Using Venn Diagrams to find the Lowest Common Multiple and Greatest Common Factor of two Numbers

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 03:48:00 +0000

Combine number theory and set theory into one lesson with the use of Venn Diagrams. A great lesson for 4th and 5th graders but also works for middle school students.

101 Questions

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 01:37:00 +0000

Check out 101 Questions.
This is a fun website that posts random photos and videos that you can use to instigate mathematical discussions in your classroom.

The Proof School is Coming to San Fracisco

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 03:26:00 +0000

What a great idea! Maybe the tide is turning!

The Proof School - SF

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 21:02:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 23:34:00 +0000

Math Phobia - A Problem for Modern Math Teachers

How many math teachers have heard a parent say, "My daughter/son is not anxious with any other teachers... it is just your class!"?

Last week, as we were heading for finals, I heard this again. My response... Yes, math does cause anxiety for many students. It is the most common class to cause fear. You can find many articles, about the phenomenon, on the Internet. You will probably not find ONE about Social Studies anxiety or English phobia. Please try to remember that it is the subject matter, not the teacher, that most often causes the problem. It is a problem related to performance anxiety in the subject.

What can parents do to help their kids with math phobia? They can do the exact same practices that they use to help their children with reading and other subjects. When a child is small, a parent will sing the alphabet, read to him, take her to the library, recite nursery rhymes, etc.

For math, play counting games. Start with 10s, then 5s, 2s, and so on. Play mental math games. I often did this on road trips when my kids were small (captive audience). For example, "What two numbers add to 7 but multiply to 12?" Answer: 3 and 4. Start with numbers between 1 and 10. As the child gets more accomplished, add larger numbers and negatives.

A parent, who is NOT afraid of math, who interacts with a child in a relaxed, comfortable manner, playing math and number games, will produce a strong, confident math student, much less likely to suffer from math anxiety.

I tell parents: If you see a child who is afraid of the water, you will find a parent who is also afraid of the water. If you, the parent, tell your child that you are unable to do math, or that you were never any good at it, then you will reap what you sow. YOU will be the underlying cause of your child's anxiety. Please remember that when you confront and blame the teacher.

Some Great Facts About the PISA Report

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 17:19:00 +0000

http://youtu.be/hf9UVg-TdH0

"Math is the great mental bogeyman of an unconfident America"

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 22:47:00 +0000

There’s one key difference between kids who excel at math and those who don’t

This is a great article by Miles Kimball and Noah Smith busting the 'I can't do math' myth.

Key Curriculum Press sold to McGraw Hill

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 02:31:00 +0000

It was with sadness that I discovered, this weekend, that Key Curriculum Press had been sold to McGraw Hill.

I hadn't read about the sale. I discovered it when I needed to inquire about my copy of Geometer's Sketchpad. I have (had) version 5 on a laptop when a small relative, who shall remain unnamed, spilled a glass of water on it in the middle of the night when she was sleeping. The laptop fried.

I waited a few months and bought a new laptop. I needed to install Sketchpad, a product that I own, on my new device. And that is how I discovered that Key Curriculum Press, a company that I loved, sadly, had been sold.

I called MrGraw Hill. I couldn't find the purchasing email but I did have my name and receipt number. The person did say that she found my information, verifying that I had purchased the product, but said that if it had been over a year since I purchased the product, she wouldn't be able to help me. I challenged her on this. In my world, especially since they are still selling version 5, I own the product and should still be able to use it. Even Apple understands this! She said she would research it when if I could find my receipt email.

Even if I purchased a new copy, downloading the product seems to be awkward for the big publishing company. Usually, if I purchase a software online, it is downloaded within an hour or so. Apparently McGraw Hill takes several DAYS to process an order. And, there is no mention, on their site, that the product key will be sent to the customer... In fact, they ask for the mailing address of the customer, indicating that the product will be mailed. Yikes! Since my new laptop does not have a disc drive, that would present another problem. Phew! After speaking with the customer service rep, I discovered that this was just a problem with the website and not the actual way that the product would be delivered (I don't understand how a little publishing company knows this but one of the big boys seems to have 'issues').

There is a happy ending to this story. I found the product key and was able to activate my software without the 'help' of the company. The moral of the story... The small publishing company that was Key Curriculum Press had much better customer service. I will miss you Key Curriculum.

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 01:49:00 +0000

Geometer's Sketchpad

iPad App

I use Geometer's Sketchpad a lot, for demonstrating ideas to students and to create images for tests and lessons. GSP has an iPad app that is free! You can create dynamic illustrations in GSP and import them to the iPad app.

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 00:55:00 +0000

Hi Everyone...

Yes, I've been away for awhile, well not really, I just haven't been posting. So what's new?

I am going to be exploring some more online learning environments, especially for high school students.

I was inspired when I read that Amazon purchased a company named TenMarks this week. I set up an account and am testing it on students. Let's see how it goes!

You can check it out at TenMarks.com.

Find the Value of x - Triangle Problem from NCTM

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 04:50:00 +0000

Geometric solution for the NCTM problem of the day.

Why HS Math Scores are Low(er)

noreply@blogger.com (MathChique) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 16:18:00 +0000

Thank you Professor Ellis for breaking down and clarifying why are students are having difficulties in math. I'm waiting, not so patiently, for the legislature and leadership to 'get it'!

Why HS Math Scores are Low(er)