Author Archives: Jenny Quinn

October 11 Day 217: Priorities

I thought I had things under control. But it is 11:30 pm on a Sunday night and I have just finished grading written homework from last week. Here were my priorities based on what got accomplished today: Wash clothes and masks Food shopping before breakfast. Post annotated notes and recordings from Wednesday’s classes…finally. Prepare andContinue reading “October 11 Day 217: Priorities”

October 10 Day 216: I Wonder

My husband Mark and I have been walking in the mornings for around two months. It helps us see the beauty in the world and start the day with a positive attitude. Now that the academic year is back in full swing our adventures are more repetitive and local. But even after several visits toContinue reading “October 10 Day 216: I Wonder”

October 9 Day 215: One Down….

Today I finished the last eleven of the seventeen interviews, completing the first oral assessment in Calculus II. Spread out between 9 am and 6 pm, you might think it would make me feel exhausted. To the contrary, I found it exhilarating. More lessons moving forward: For future group assessments, I must make some timeContinue reading “October 9 Day 215: One Down….”

October 8 Day 214: Oops…I Winged It Again

If I were looking for a silver lining to our pandemic year, it would be the new found facility with remote technology allowing for virtual visitors from beyond our in-person reach. I was excited to be a visitor at Roanoke College in Virginia, a mere 2700 miles away, without ever leaving the comfort of myContinue reading “October 8 Day 214: Oops…I Winged It Again”

October 7 Day 213: Speaking of Math…

So I am three oral interviews into the 17 group assessments that need to occur this week and I’ve already learned so much. The rubric works. What a relief! I am impressed how team members pay attention and try to help others succeed without giving too much away. I must fight the impulse to makeContinue reading “October 7 Day 213: Speaking of Math…”

October 5 Day 211: Anxiety is Everywhere

I woke up from an anxiety dream this morning. It was a classic unprepared-for-lecture-sure-the-people-would-figure-out-I-was-an-imposter dream. I don’t get them often. In fact, the last one was back on July 4 Day 118: Anxious Dreaming, and it was about teaching classes this autumn. I know that these dreams are manifestations of my worries and doubts. I tryContinue reading “October 5 Day 211: Anxiety is Everywhere”

October 4 Day 210: Looking for Autumn

My husband and I have been taking morning walks during our continued isolation to spend time together, move our bodies, and appreciate the beauty that is all around us. Tacoma is the city of my heart—located on the Puget Sound with a working port, a remarkable urban park (Point Defiance), a famous bridge (Galloping Gertie),Continue reading “October 4 Day 210: Looking for Autumn”

October 3 Day 209: Oral Fixation

Let me be completely honest, last Spring when I decided to administer oral final exams in my Matrix Algebra class, it was because I needed to create a situation where I was testing my students’ understanding of mathematics and not their core principles with respect to academic honesty. In my mind, oral exams did justContinue reading “October 3 Day 209: Oral Fixation”

October 2 Day 208 Part 2: After

It was relaxing. A Zoom meeting with mathematical friends, both old and new, to collaboratively color online. The conversation flowed effortlessly as we concentrated on filling in white spaces with splashes of joyful color. There were four images to choose from (see them in their original form in this morning’s post.) and below you seeContinue reading “October 2 Day 208 Part 2: After”