When I started teaching high school, I was rather shocked that the routine on the job at the time included a course evaluation form to be filled in by students at the end of every term. Teenagers were to evaluate adults!I was particularly disturbed by the pedagogically questionable assumptions and implications of the form. One… Continue reading Student course evaluations
Author: hpicciotto
Keeping track of manipulatives
Hands-on materials are an important tool in the math classroom, but they are a pain to keep track of. Spending time outside of class organizing tangram sets, say, is a real hassle. Having students do it during class is a waste of valuable instructional time. My suggestion, using tangrams as an example:- To minimize mix-ups,… Continue reading Keeping track of manipulatives
Software for high school math
I often get asked what software I use in teaching math.I have been involved in educational computing for decades, and over that time, I have developed some preferences which are not always the dominant ones in the marketplace.- Fathom vs. Excel. Spreadsheets are a powerful environment for teaching math, and one place where a strong… Continue reading Software for high school math
Little girls and math
A friend is concerned that her daughter may already be getting the wrong message about math and gender in kindergarten. This is not as far-fetched as it seems, according to this article. She is planning to start a math club of sorts for her daughter and her friends.My advice to her: do whatever math you… Continue reading Little girls and math
Upcoming Conferences
I'll be speaking about Escape from the Textbook! at two conferences of the California Math Council: Palm Springs (Nov 5) and Asilomar (Dec 4.) For the latter, I'll be joined by Carlos Cabana, now a teacher at Mission High School in San Francisco.I hope to see some of you there!--Henri
Answers
Correspondents frequently ask:Do you have answers to (this or that worksheet on the Web site)?Typically, no. I'm sorry, but I don't have the time or interest to write up answers.The exception is that if the activity appears in a book, the answers are indeed written up, as the publisher usually demands it. (Even then, I… Continue reading Answers
Geometry book recommendation
A correspondent asks for a recommendation for a geometry book.My favorite by far is Geometry: A Guided Inquiry by Chakerian, Crabill and Stein. This is the book that had the greatest impact on my approach to teaching high school math. It came out in the 1970's, I believe, but was far ahead of its time.… Continue reading Geometry book recommendation
Completing the Square animation
A correspondent sent me a Geometer's Sketchpad version of my Completing the Square animation. I posted it.I often use technology that is different from what many math teachers use. (Cabri rather than GSP, TI-89 rather than 83/84.) Thus I depend on outside contributors to send me other versions of the files I post. Thanks in… Continue reading Completing the Square animation
Creative Publications Manipulatives Update
Lab Gear Activities for Algebra 1 and the 3D Lab Gear are no longer available from Creative Publications / McGraw-Hill. Moreover, they have redesigned their Web site, and all the URLs have changed.Pentomino Activities, Lessons, and Puzzles is going out of print, but is still available.Short run: I've updated my publications page, and the Lab… Continue reading Creative Publications Manipulatives Update
Another middle school opening
A Berkeley, California public school teacher writes: We are looking for a creative, dynamic, collaborative teacher for an open position at our middle school. For the upcoming year, the open position is for 7th grade (Pre-Algebra), but many of us like to loop, so in future years there's the option of many configurations as we… Continue reading Another middle school opening
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