Online Professional Development Sessions

Stocking Stuffers from the #MTBoS

As the weather gets colder, it seems many math teachers are cozying up to their computers and becoming reflective. In a great reflection on Number sense, Mark Chubb asks How big is “Big”? This post begins with a simple question, place the number one billion on the number line above. What emerges from that is just how many students, and teachers, have trouble conceptualizing really large numbers. The post continues to discuss the importance of number sense, and how strategies like contexts, visualization, and estimating can help. 

As the year draws to a close, you may take time to think about things that really matter. Sometimes that’s taking time to reflect on the myriad of strategies for supporting struggling students like Anna Blinstein did last week. Other times it’s thinking bout those messages you receive from former students who are having success in their higher math classes like Caitlyn Gironda did last week. Or maybe you just want to do a big comprehensive blog post about all the best stuff that happened this year. John Rowe did just that with a compendium of his 2016 math learning highlights which actually summarize a lot of #MTBoS highlights as well. If you are wrapping up your year by re-reading some of your favorite blog posts from this year, be sure to nominate some for Ilana Horn and Tina Cardone’s Best Blogs of 2016.

Written by Carl Oliver (@carloliwitter)

Greetings!  Here’s what I’m reading this week…you might want to as well.
 
Something provocative where you wouldn’t think to look…
In last week’s Hack Education, Audrey Watters explores the data that we give away unthinkingly on our own, and on our children’s (and students’) behalves.  Starting with a look at Pokemon Go and Hello Barbie (clearly not an educational toy, but a cautionary tale nonetheless), Watters goes on to examine the ways in which the collection and use of data in education do not actually serve their ostensible purpose (effective accountability) and, in fact, may cause harm and discrimination.  She says, “How will education and education technology balance data collection – accountability and transparency – and information security? In light of Wikileaks and the DNC hacks – all those who combed through this stolen data looking to confirm, for example, their suspicions about Hillary Clinton and the Common Core – how might education data be further weaponized?…..It’s weaponized already, of course. None of this surveillance plays out equitably. None of the surveillance and none of the punishment.”
 
Please go read it yourself (and subscribe!); I can’t match Watters’ scholarship and writing, but you get the idea.  This is IMPORTANT stuff to read, and to keep reading.
 
Something fun
After your dose of reality and serious issues, take a puzzle break.  If you don’t know about Naoki Inaba’s puzzles, you can read about them in a number of places, but I first read about them at Math Equals Love (thanks, Sarah!).  Last week, Sarah wrote a post about some geometric puzzles – Zukei puzzles – and they are as addicting as the area mazes (there’s an app for them, you know).  Sarah also shared a document containing the puzzles with instructions in English.  Inaba Puzzle has a website of its own as well, if you want to go hunting for more.  After all, you’ll have loads of time over the holiday break!

 
Dan does it again
I know we are all loyal readers of dy/dan, but I have to celebrate and highlight his recent post, The Bureau of Non White Math White Dude Math Education Keynote Speakers, in which he gives us a list of people who are not white and/or not male to invite to speak INSTEAD of him.  Each speaker’s specialty is briefly described, with the exception of the inimitable Tracy Zager, who as Dan so eloquently describes, would entrance and enrich us by reading the tax code. Thanks, Dan!

A wish for all Just reading Pam Wilson’s post about lighting up her classroom for the holidays brought a smile to my face.  The best holidays to everyone.

Cheers,
Wendy Menard  (@wmukluk)

In this space, we usually discuss education and math happenings in the virtual world, but today I want to share some print that is rocking my physical word.  
 
I recently began reading Mike Flynn’s new book, Beyond Answers: Exploring Mathematical Practices with Young Children. From the opening pages, I’ve really appreciated Mike’s insight and the way he has captured the thinking of young mathematicians.  Although I’m only halfway through the book, I’m finding Christopher Danielson’s review to be spot on. 
 
As if trying to read one book at the busiest time of the year wasn’t difficult enough, I keep getting lost in my computer. The reason? It’s the place I chose to download my e-copy of Tracy Zager’s much-anticipated book, Becoming the Math Teacher You Wish You’d Had.  My only issue with Tracy’s book is that I want to litter it with highlighter stripes and Post-Its but I’ll have to wait until January 5^th for my hard copy.
 
Both Tracy and Mike do a beautiful job of making student and teacher thinking the backbone of their work.  If you’re looking to be inspired, then treat yourself this holiday season. 

Written by Graham Fletcher (@gfletchy)