To my friends and colleagues returning to teaching: may your year be filled with curiosity, laughter, and discovery. And to my fellow nonprofit travelers: here’s to the ongoing work of building, sustaining, and dreaming—even when the seasons blur together.
Category Archives: reflections
Practicing what I Preach
When I teach, I want my students to embrace a growth mindset. They need to know that my classroom is a safe place to try wild, creative ideas and that it’s alright to make mistakes. I often tell them that the hardest part of solving any problem is being brave enough to take the firstContinue reading “Practicing what I Preach”
June 18: Reflections and Perspectives
When my kids were young, we would frequently visit Science and Natural History Museums while visiting other cities. I haven’t done it as much since they are now grown men. This past week, while my husband attended the ASM Microbe conference in Atlanta, what did I do? Visit Museums specifically to look for presentations ofContinue reading “June 18: Reflections and Perspectives”
January 7 Day 1400: Milestones
First a quick update: I never tested positive for COVID–only Mark. He had few (if any) symptoms and is now testing clear. We can get back to life as usual. Phew! Only 1400 days since the start of the COVID pandemic experience. After teaching my first classes of the quarter last Thursday, I followed throughContinue reading “January 7 Day 1400: Milestones”
October 2 Day 1303: ICYMI Summer’s Sweet Successes
Today was the first Monday of classes for the Autumn 2023 academic quarter at University of Washington. Wet and rainy, there was no doubt that summer was over. I enjoyed working with my students at UW Tacoma but was grateful for these sweet reminders of warmer, more relaxing times today. Prepared samples arrived from ourContinue reading “October 2 Day 1303: ICYMI Summer’s Sweet Successes”
September 13 Day 1284: Preparing to Meet
Next week officially begins the new academic year for me. It’s later than most as my University is on the quarter system. I have been enjoying my last full week of “summer” working on dueling writing projects. For two days in a row, I started with a modest writing goal for one project and thenContinue reading “September 13 Day 1284: Preparing to Meet”
August 9 Day 1249: Lessons That Really Count
What follows is a recap of my MAA Retiring President’s Address. It contains some slides, all the lessons, and hints at the proofs for identities. The drawings are my own. The title of my talk has its origins at a previous MathFest. Twenty years ago, I was invited to speak in Boulder, Colorado. This isContinue reading “August 9 Day 1249: Lessons That Really Count”
April 7 Day 1125: Feeling Invisible
Honest mistakes happen. I get that. We are all busy people and sometimes we forget to include everyone who should be included–whether its an invitation to the table or recognition for fine work. I keep telling my brain not to read too much into any one oversight. It happens to everyone, right? Yet the moreContinue reading “April 7 Day 1125: Feeling Invisible”
March 30 Day 1117: Is It Time?
I have been writing this blog for over 3 years—initially contributions were daily but now they are trickling to just a few each month. Is it time to declare Math in the Time of Corona a thing of the past? Evidence in favor of a positive response: Evidence in favor of a negative response: PerhapsContinue reading “March 30 Day 1117: Is It Time?”
March 9 Day 1096: Mathematical Relations
Yesterday afternoon, my #TacomaMath colleagues Jenn Crump, Ander Erickson, and I delivered a (virtual) professional development session for teachers in the Tacoma area. One of the activities was to graph our relationship to math over time. Some of the results are given below: Notice only one response had a wholly positive experience. Everyone else hadContinue reading “March 9 Day 1096: Mathematical Relations”
Math Belongs to All of Us 