Happy New Year. May 2022 bring health and happiness to all–or at least a little less stress and turmoil. I’ve been working to prepare my winter classes (the first meeting is in 3 days!) I think I have the course site completed with dates, assignments, and readings–at least for the first two weeks. I amContinue reading “January 1 Day 664: In the New Year, I Can Do Better.”
Category Archives: reflections
December 30 Day 662: Top 10 of 2021
Preparing to ring in the New Year is a time of reflection and appreciation for the year that we are closing out. So today, I present to top 10 blog posts (as determined by the number of reader views during 2021). #10: January 16 Day 314: The Speed of Change in which I consider my habitsContinue reading “December 30 Day 662: Top 10 of 2021”
December 29 Day 661: Was Stitch Here?
I have fond memories of watching the movie Lilo & Stitch with my family when the boys were young. This scene in particular comes to mind today. Why? It’s still cold and snowy in Tacoma. I needed to find a pair of gloves before this morning’s walk. I kept coming up with only one gloveContinue reading “December 29 Day 661: Was Stitch Here?”
December 15 Day 647: Interview Marathon Part II
My first academic term teaching face-to-face since March 2020 is close to completed. Continuing my COVID practice of assessing students through oral examinations, I recently finished two long days of interviews. This reflection will detail the process and lessons learned (much as I have done in the past as documented in all these posts.) TheContinue reading “December 15 Day 647: Interview Marathon Part II”
December 13 Day 645: Interview Marathon Part 1
I spent 7 hours (plus a few breaks) administering interviews for individual final oral assessments today. I’m halfway done and will complete the rest in another marathon session tomorrow. Every term has one or two students that just give up. The stress and pressure from school, family, and work take their toll. Today, I feltContinue reading “December 13 Day 645: Interview Marathon Part 1”
December 9 Day 641: Behind the Mask
I was so happy to have my students attend class on campus this quarter. It was easier to build community in person than through a screen. I cherished the ability to use group activities at a moments notice without interrupting the energy of the room. Masks kept us safe. But as someone who is notContinue reading “December 9 Day 641: Behind the Mask”
December 8 Day 640: The Key is Flexibility
It’s the last class meeting of the quarter and students presented their projects in small groups. I reserved three study spaces/meeting rooms that were in close proximity to each other. Everyone had the schedule, the presentation rubric, and knew when and where they had to be. It felt like attending a mini-conference. I’m glad thatContinue reading “December 8 Day 640: The Key is Flexibility”
December 1 Day 633: Suspicions Confirmed
I was curious after my last post, so I asked. None of my students knew the 80s sitcom Cheers. One politely inquired “What was it about?” Another responded, “I think it was like Friends but in a bar.” Instead, we found common TV viewing experiences watching Blues Clues. The consensus was that Steve was theContinue reading “December 1 Day 633: Suspicions Confirmed”
November 14 Day 616: Homebody
As I grow older, certain behavioral traits become more pronounced. I am sure they have been there all along, but sometimes it takes reconnecting with someone who has known you for a very long time to make them abundantly clear. I am a homebody. I am happy puttering around the house, focusing on my family,Continue reading “November 14 Day 616: Homebody”
November 10 Day 612: Have You Asked? The Answer(s) Might Surprise You.
I am forever impressed by the grit and perseverance of my students. In a reflection following the oral assessment, I asked how they were doing—both numerically and free response. The numerical range was -5 to 5 where 5=absolutely fantastic 0=meh -5= truly terrible. The average was 1.2–so more positive than the Autumn 2020 score ofContinue reading “November 10 Day 612: Have You Asked? The Answer(s) Might Surprise You.”
Math Belongs to All of Us 