Online Professional Development Sessions

Word From the Blogosphere

Where I Started

The first blog I ever read (and first treasure trove I came across) was Math Teacher Mambo by Shireen Dadmehr.  So wonderful were her resources, and so generously shared, that I made a separate folder on my computer for them. I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Shireen in person – we have been at PCMI during different summers – but I’ve always been a huge fan of her creativity and energy.  So like many readers and friends, I am sure, I was saddened by the loss of her husband a year and a half ago, and wished that I did know her in person, and could lend any kind of comfort and support that might help.
 
But I should have known that the spirit and ardor that Shireen communicates through her blog would help her get through this most worst of times.  She has shared some of her journey with us in Things I’ve “Learned” From Being a Widow.  In her typical articulate fashion, she communicates some of the larger life lessons that loss teaches us (I’ll let you go read about them yourself), and then..on to the math.  With her signature creativity and thoroughness, she writes about (and shares) three great activities she created for her Algebra 1 class.  Shireen remains a blogging icon for me – I continue to add her resources to that folder of mine.
 
I’ve written about Resourceaholic before, because she ALWAYS FINDS THE BEST STUFF!  And her April 10 post was no different – she had a link to these Access Maths revision resources that are very inviting.  Just look at these:   

Finally, I have a video for you: Chris Emdin’s Keynote at SXSWedu.  If you were, like me, not lucky enough to attend in person, do not despair.  Listening to him speak, even on my computer over a month after the speech had been delivered, was more than inspiring – a wake up call to all of us who need to make sure ALL of our students are being heard and well-served.  It’s a powerful must-see – go watch it NOW!
 

Cheers –
Wendy Menard
@wmukluk

Spring is here! As the tulips and daisies pop, so does the need to review some of the work from this year. By using the colors Red, Amber, and Green Julie Morgan describes an elegant way to offer differentiated support for students seeking to master solving trig functions in the post Solving Trig Equations Red Amber Green. Dane Ehlert describes a technology infused review activity in his post, Student-Created Review. Using Google slides, each student developed a guide to the major concepts from that year and included an image. Students often used Autodraw to create something cool (h/t Cathy Yenca).
 
As the students are reflecting on their work, so is Mark Chubb. His recent post Unintented Messages looks back at the various educational initiatives which are recently becoming popular as if they were the topic of a drug commercial, specifically the side effects. He writes, “…in education, we tend to discuss the benefits of any program or practice without thinking through how this might affect our students’ well-being in other areas.” The post describes some interesting side effects from things like ability tracking, and calling on the simplest ideas first in class discussion.

In a heartwarming tale of her life-long experience with math, Alison Krasnow describes the up-and-down path that led to her current position as an educator and a Desmos fellow. She describes a recent rebirth as she writes, “Starting in Park City and again when I did Math For America and again now within the #mtbos community, I have found my people.” If you want some warm and fuzzies, check out 44 Reflects On 17.

Written by Carl Oliver (@carloliwitter)

As the NCTM annual conference wraps up, it’s time to start thinking about next year. If you’ve ever thought about presenting at a local, state, or national conference then do yourself a favor and check it out Robert Kaplinsky’s and Dan Meyer’s recent posts.
 
At this year’s annual conference they gave a presentation on presentations and have done us the favor of summarizing their thoughts in a series of posts. They’ve also reached out and sought advice from 14 speakers who have this presentation thing dialed in.
 

 
After a 6-month blogging hiatus (probably due to prepping for ShadowCon), Kassia Omohundro Wedekind shared a 2 part series on building data routines in the elementary grades. Stemming from the numberless word problem work of Brian Bushart and Regina Payne, mixed with the notice and wonder work of Annie Fetter, Kassia shares how she’s turning data into storytelling.

Written by Graham Fletcher (@gfletchy)