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?”

July 24 Day 868: Your Opinions May Vary

I am pleased to announce that the opinion piece I authored for the AMS Notices is now available online. I wrote it specifically for academics in mathematics, yet I believe the need to align metrics of merit with institutional mission and values applies to all disciplines (and all institutions.) I share it with you nowContinue reading “July 24 Day 868: Your Opinions May Vary”

March 27 Day 749: Slow Convergence

Everytime I think I’m done, I get more feedback. Honestly, it’s beginning to mess with my confidence. I’ve just sent in a third revision of my piece–all submitted within the past week. Part of me is flattered that the editor is taking so much time with my writing (she can’t possibly be doing this forContinue reading “March 27 Day 749: Slow Convergence”

March 22 Day 744: Addressing Criticisms

Everybody’s a critic. Nobody likes criticisms–me included. This evening I finished revisions on a piece that I originally posted about January 16 Day 679: Writers Block and submitted last month. The reviewer comments were biting or maybe I read too much snark into them. I had to put them away for a while before I couldContinue reading “March 22 Day 744: Addressing Criticisms”

March 2 Day 724: Gentle Nudges

Sometimes it feels like nagging. Working on a tight deadline but reliant on the input of others. I don’t want my deadline pressures to create stress on anyone else. So what’s a girl to do? Occasional gentle reminders that become more frequent as the deadline fast approaches. Imagine my chagrin, when I received a nudgeContinue reading “March 2 Day 724: Gentle Nudges”

February 16 Day 710: Precision of Language

This is the eve of an important due date: rough drafts of my students’ final projects in Matrix Algebra are due at 8 am. They will spend a good portion of tomorrow’s class in a peer review exercise. I tell students that writing mathematics is like writing poetry–every word has a purpose and is chosenContinue reading “February 16 Day 710: Precision of Language”

February 6 Day 700: Small World

This morning, I received a message from a mathematical friend that made me smile. Apparently her son is in the middle school math class that is reading a current draft of my book. Let me back up. Last Fall I posted September 18 Day 559: A Labor of Love in which I shared that I hadContinue reading “February 6 Day 700: Small World”

January 16 Day 679: Writers Block

One article done. One to go. Between two promised pieces and imminent deadlines, I have been writing a fair amount this week. Perhaps that is why I haven’t posted much to the blog. I spent many hours this Sunday typing gibberish– just to put something on the page. I don’t like any of it. ItContinue reading “January 16 Day 679: Writers Block”

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”