2020 was a year like no other. Sometimes it is hard to see the bright side when important activities are getting cancelled right and left. In the cover image, family members selected a Zoom background of a place they would like to visit. Mark and Anson picked locations from their hearts to which they wouldContinue reading “January 1 Day 299: and a Happy New Year”
Category Archives: reflections
December 19 Day 286: By the Numbers
286: The number of days since the University of Washington system suspended face-to-face classes on all three campuses to address concerns around a novel and rapidly spreading coronavirus. 200: The number of posts I have made to Math in the Time of Corona at this time—essentially one per day for two quarters with a summerContinue reading “December 19 Day 286: By the Numbers”
December 12 Day 279: On Being a Good Host
When was the last time you slept in your guest bed? I must admit, it was an eye opening experience. The fold down couch in the office was not particularly comfortable. The dinosaur sheets (left from when the boys were young) were rough. My feet hung out over the edge. Our last visitor to useContinue reading “December 12 Day 279: On Being a Good Host”
December 10 Day 277: That Feeling When…
…you have finished another quarter of remote teaching because of a global pandemic and there is still so much to accomplish. Letters of recommendation to graduate schools. Manuscript revisions. Grading. Final exams. Email. More grading. Meeting preparations. Blog post. Dinner. (And not necessarily in that order.) There was no release. No celebration of a milestone.Continue reading “December 10 Day 277: That Feeling When…”
December 9 Day 276: With a Whimper
My last two classes of the Autumn 2020 went out not with a bang, but a whimper. Only about 1/3 of the students attended. I released expectations, procedures, and questions for the oral final interviews to be scheduled throughout exam week (December 14-18). Friday appointments are looking pretty crowded already. I answered questions and thenContinue reading “December 9 Day 276: With a Whimper”
December 3 Day 270: This Time It’s Personal
The past three days (and by that I mean mostly today), I have been conducting the third round of interviews for oral assessments in Calculus II. The first one occurred in the second week of the quarter in groups of 3-4. The second one occurred in the fifth week of the quarter in groups ofContinue reading “December 3 Day 270: This Time It’s Personal”
December 2 Day 269: Sisyphean Task
Just two more days of class meetings and I will get that boulder up and over the hill or it will crush me under its weight once and for all. Students are feeling the same. Meant as light conversation for people arriving to class early, I asked “how is everyone doing?” A response in theContinue reading “December 2 Day 269: Sisyphean Task”
December 1 Day 268: Another Golden Moment
When the number of views and the number of visitors are consecutive Fibonacci numbers, the views per visitor metric is golden. I noted this happening once before, 212 days ago. And just like that, the moment has passed. I’m glad to have captured and appreciated it before it disappeared. I wonder how often it occurs?
November 29 Day 266: Excitement of New Possibilities
My youngest son spent the day putting the finishing touches on his college applications. My husband and I sat here as he hit submit— and celebrated each one. Even the computer threw confetti on screen. Personally, I think he has our credit card number memorized from typing it in ten times. He has selected aContinue reading “November 29 Day 266: Excitement of New Possibilities”
November 26 Day 263: Thanksgiving
I am thankful for… …morning walks with my husband. …a warm house full of all my boys. …a day to be together, cook, eat, and play. …talking with family from a far. …meaningful work (but none today thank you). … good friends. …the hope of a better tomorrow. (And a special thanks to my husbandContinue reading “November 26 Day 263: Thanksgiving”
Math Belongs to All of Us 