Teach For America

Should I join Teach for America?

Fractal Dimension

Check out explanation of a fractal dimensions based on the following definition of a dimension of a self-similar object. The dimension is an exponent of the number of self-similar pieces with magnification factor N into which the figure may be broken.
Hope this make sense for you. ;-).
Sierpinski triangles can help you visualize the concept.

Math, Music and Dance

Math and music harmony close relations are well known.
On Math forum Julie Strandberg claims math connection to dance too.
Since dance can be recorded as a plot then it should be possible to use math to analyze it! It's just a function!
This dance movement documenting system is called labanotation and used to archive popular dances and entire ballets.
Dance can be used to teach math!

Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education

Here is a free issue of Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education published by Kluwer.

Powerpoint and Macromedia flush lessons on the Web

Both Powerpoint and Macromedia flush lessons are great teaching tools!
This site sells powerpoint math lessons.
These movies shows family of hyperboloids and the 4th dimension. Davide Cervone production.

Was Mathematics Invented or Discovered?

Here is one view.
Here is a brief math history overview. This is in fact huge math history site! It has even clickable maps of mathematicians birthplaces!

Mathematics Pronunciation Guide

This guideincludes most mathematicians and mathematical terms that may been encountered in high school and the first two years of college.

Do you say "two thousand three" or "two thousand and three" when you talking about 2003?
Talking about numbers is not easy! Top 10 APA Trouble Spots
Check out this discussion with Dr. Math at Math forum.
Of course it depends whom you are talking to.
To check how it will sound in Brithish English, American English, Australian English, Canadian English, Irish English, Scottish English and Welsh English go to fonetiks.org
Still confused? Then use Merriam-Webster dictionary pronunciation!

The Mathematics Contests on the Web

This is on going math contest for students! List of old problems is available too! Students submitting correct solutions will have their name, school, and location displayed on that contest's site.
Look here for more links to Math contests sites.
Or you can go directly to White House website for more problems submitted by David Rock from University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Doug Brumbaugh from University of Central Florida


Oracle ThinkQuest contest with a variety of prizes. Teachers can coach teams of 3 to 6 students, ages 9 to 19. Teams have 6 months to build a website on any topic within one of the official competition categories. In math they have already Algebra (23) Arithmetic (60) Calculus (11) Chaos Theory (6) Fractals (9) Geometry (26) Puzzles (6)Statistics (2) and Trigonometry (2).
Some are very creative!

Reviews of math textbooks

I was about to write reviews on some math books I had used when I discovered this site.
Here is the list of the books I had on my desk at that time

Peterson's Get Wise! Mastering Math Word Problems by Maureen Steddin
and here is a link to a good source of the world problems


Math coach. A parent's guide to helping children to succeed in Math by Wayne & Ingrid Wickelgren


Calculus by P.Abbot, revised by Hugh Neill


Barron's Review Course Series. Let's Review: Math B by Lawrence Leff

Mike Kelley holds this web page together with aluminum foil and chewing gum

Serious help on how to teach calculus for the calculus phobe. Lessons are presented as a flush movie with a verbal narrative. Simply the best I found on the web so far!
Has very helpful search that works great. You can also use alphabetical index to navigate the site.
Mike Kelley's site impressive collection of awards and recognitions
Good stuff indeed!

More K-8 math lessons on the web

This is AAA math website.
Covers many topics taught at kindergarten and up to 8th grade.
There are lessons on consumer math too. For example
how to calculate tip.

Teaching Philosophy

Detailed Statement on Teaching Philosophy by Andrew V. Knyazev who is with Department of Mathematics at University of Colorado at Denver. Here is his approach to testing:

I open each session with a brief reminder of the previous session's material and an outline of the day's topic, and I typically conclude with a summary of key points. There is a special session for review before every major test. I usually speak clearly, loudly, and slowly, but enthusiastically. Students are encouraged to learn from each other as their grades are not curved, thus, students are not competing with their classmates. In some classes, I give group projects and homework. When possible, I distribute solutions to homework problems, quizzes, and tests. To reduce students' anxiety about tests, I make old exams available on the Web, and often give practice tests. I usually give a test on prerequisites during the first week of the course. I do not consider memorization to be the most important in math courses; all my tests are open book/notes. Assignments and projects are naturally integrated into my courses. I spend time explaining the assignments and solving similar problems in class for further discussion.

My first interview for math teacher job.

I had my first interview for a math teacher position. Besides common personal questions I was grilled on my lesson plans and how I will spend 75 minute lesson time minute by minute. My IT credentials where of help of course but lack of teaching experience showed, especially when some visual aid tools were discussed. In upcoming blog posts I’ll talk more about lesson plans.

What issues should a teacher think about before a job interview? I wish I had found this site before! Especially discussions on changing career from an engineer to a teacher.

Update
I lost it! I shoot myself in the foot, saying “math lessons might be boring at times". Never ever boring! You are entertainer/teacher! Not exactly stand up comedy but close! Each time you want to say boring simply say interesting (but not exiting!). You will do yourself great service by changing your vocabulary a bit.

The Chicago Sun-Times about teachers certifications

It's interesting reading about:
Teacher shortage at 'crisis' level
5,243 Illinois teachers failed key exams
Kids take the test, say it's too easy
Why are teacher tests secret?
Tips for parents who want to know about a teacher's state certificate
Teachers who barely passed the Basic Skills test
and more ...

ADHD rating scale

I found this post on assigned seat blog:" I was just given a form I'd never seen before. It's entitled "ADHD RATING SCALE IV - SCHOOL EDITION." I am to return it completed concerning a student in about an hour. There are 18 different statements concerning behavior and a scale of 0, 1, 2, and 3.
0 == "never or rarely" 1 == "sometimes" 2 == "often" 3 == "very often"

1. Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork.
2. Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
3. Has difficulty sustaining attentino in tasks or play activities.
4. Leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected.
5. Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
6. Runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate
7. Does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish work.
8. Has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly.
9. Has difficulty organizing tasks and activities.
10. Is "on the go" or acts as if "driven by a motor."
11. Avoids tasks (e.g. schoolwork, homework) that require sustained mental effort.
12. Talks excessively.
13. Loses things necessary for tasks or activities.
14. Blurts out answers before questions have been completed.
15. Is easily distracted.
16. Has difficulty awaiting turn.
17. Is forgetful in daily activities.
18. Interrupts or intrudes on others"

Good reminder that it's all about child... and teacher's "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder".

Tasteful selection of internet math sites

This page is the handiwork of Fred Koch. He reviewed hundreds of internet math sites and selected those he considered the best.
Another good place to look will be Exworthy Educational Links
Site has a lot up to date links to Middle/High School Math,
lesson plans for all subjects and grades, education related news and much more... Highly recommended first stop on the web!

Something is wrong with these triangles...or is it?

How did it happen? Dare to comment?

...and the winner is ... news.yahoo.com

As polls were closing across the US I was following presidential election results on the web and found out that the best site with the up to the minute detailed info was news.yahoo.com/elections/
CNN was only distant second.
The small sites like uselectionatlas.org and wikipedia were only third.
I also found out interesting site that monitors blogs on the web technorati.com. It gives up to the minute picture on what is hot and what is not.
The best prediction of the election outcome was at the strategisphere.com even so they got Ohio wrong.