Since March is Women’s History Month, I thought it would be appropriate to recognize some women mathematicians who went against social norms and studied a “man’s” subject. I’m glad there were women brave enough to break down the barriers so that more women could enter STEM fields. I was surprised to find that women have actually been contributing to the field of mathematics since the 4th century. Here are some of them and their contributions to this field.
As a math teacher, I am always looking for role models for my students, especially role models of different backgrounds. I’m taking advantage of Black History month to write about some Black role models who have contributed to my favorite field, mathematics.
In the fall, many math teachers will be using a hybrid or remote learning model, with some students at home and some in the classroom. Teachers cannot be in two places at the same time. If students are working from home, they may need help while the teacher’s attention is focused elsewhere.
In Using math software provided by JFYNet, teachers can move smoothly between models to address students’ questions and give them immediate support to work more independently whether in class or working remotely. Software certainly does not replace the need for a teacher. What it does is give teachers tools to identify and respond to students’ needs quickly and efficiently, no matter where they are. Actually, it does enable teachers to be in multiple places at the same time.
There are basically two types of people in the world: those who already love math, and those who don’t love it yet. In this webinar, we explore why math skills are important, not just to pass required math classes, but also for jobs and for life after high school in our data-driven society where almost everything eventually turns out to be a numbers game.
Yes Virginia, Football Analytics personnel do exist
by Cathie Maglio, Blended Learning Specialist
I love the fall. Not for the reasons you might think– cool mornings, warm afternoons, leaves turning on the trees, fresh apple cider donuts. I do like those things, but I really love fall because it is football season. I have been a football fan ever since I can remember.
The weather is finally nice. You’re sick of school. Going to the beach and hanging out with friends seems like a great idea. After ten months of stuffy classrooms, the last thing you want to think about is next school year. I hear you! You can have fun! But, if you use just a little of your precious summer time to do some studying, you will hit the ground running in September (or August). A little preparation over the summer can really pay off when you head back to class in the fall.
Math on the phone: How innovation by accident discovered a new educational option
Great moments in education sometimes happen completely by accident. An offhand remark inspires a student; a scheduling mistake matches a student with a new teacher who lends a lifetime’s worth of advice; the lack of a Chromebook cart opens a new door for EL students struggling to learn math in a language they have yet to master.
Ever since fifth grade I wanted to be a math teacher. I fell in love with the subject at that point and never wavered from it.
After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in math, I knew I wanted a master’s degree but didn’t know in what. It took twenty years to find the right program, a Masters of Education with a concentration in Technology in Education at Lesley College (now University). The program was being offered at a local school one week-end a month for 22 months.
Improving Accuplacer scores is a worthwhile idea regardless of remediation policies, because it signifies improved foundation skills. Tests like Accuplacer are not just arbitrary exercises: they measure the skills required for an academic or vocational pursuit. Math and English are the foundation skills. In recent weeks we posted two blogs addressing the importance of being ready for the Accuplacer no matter the version. One post highlighted the MATH component while the other focused on ENGLISH. In both cases we shared various online tools, that if used with consistency, will most assuredly help a student improve Accuplacer scores. Here is a compilation of the online resources.
My last blog post discussed the fact that students don’t understand the connection between Accuplacer scores and remedial college courses until they meet with an advisor and see how many non-credit-bearing courses they will have to take. Although some colleges allow a good high school GPA to substitute for remedial math courses, using high school courses as a proxy is much more common for English than math. It’s generally easier to study English on your own than math, but that doesn’t mean you can’t improve your math skills. You may not be pursuing a STEM major, but you will still need to take math courses. Not only do you need basic math skills for everyday living, but you will need math skills for many majors including accounting, trades and social sciences. Keep in mind that the skills you build now are the foundation of success in college.
