Thing 3

I have discovered that I can read ALL DAY and not realize that time has gone by!
One particular article from Free Technology for Teachers caught my eye, "30+ Alternatives to YouTube". Since YouTube is blocked by our school system, this alternative has a myriad of resources you can use instead. All kinds of links are available at this site, from the History and Discovery Channels to C-span to Math-a-Tube to you can just about name it! I can't wait until Fall break so I can check out all the links, especially the math ones!
And this is just one article!
I've been complaining lately about how long it takes me to find some really great standards-based, hands-on math activities. I just didn't know where to look! Thanks for the 23 Things class, Caroline!

Thing 2

After reading eight blog posts from our reading list (I couldn't seem to stop), I am amazed at the interaction between authors and readers! Some authors write about their thoughts and opinions while others refer to some type of research. It's all very personal! Reading these blogs is like reading someone's diary! And being able to comment on what the author is thinking/feeling! Books, both fictional and non-fictional, now seem so one-sided, so one-dimensional. Still, both forms, blogs and books, can be thought-provoking, pleasurable, and/or provide us with knowledge for a myriad of things.
I've noticed that some bloggers are concerned with proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation while others just seem to want to get their point across. There doesn't really seem to be any "style", just giving opinions, ideas, etc., but what does a math and science teacher know about types of writing? Postings and comments seem to be very informal, and, well, comfortable!
It's interesting to see, as I read these blogs, how some readers perceive certain blogs. Upon reading the comments made in response to their blogs, the authors can then see how their thoughts are being misconstrued AND can (somewhat) immediately clear up these misconceptions. It's also interesting to see how comments can lead a blog in a certain direction, how they expand the ideas set forth, and how they inspire others to engage in the "dialogue".
Since I tend to see things from a math perspective, I am somewhat limited in how I see the usefulness of blogging. I can certainly see math teachers and students bantering back and forth about solutions to problems, algorithms, etc. I can see math teachers discussing ways to teach particular skills. I can see math teachers and students challenging and validating each others' ideas and beliefs. I'm not sure I see other ways that blogging can benefit the math community. I am sure that someone will post a comment to expand my thinking, though!

Thing 1B

I just read the article, A Day In The Life Of Web 2.0, by David Warlick. As I sit here with my jaw dropped open to my belly button, I'm thinking "where have I been?". What great tools we have at our fingertips (pun intended), but we're not using them to our full advantage. As a math consultant, there are a myriad of ways I could be communicating with math teachers! I could create videos of exemplary math teachers facilitating activities with their students so that other teachers will feel competent in facilitating activities in their own classrooms. We could share ideas about practices that are best for our students' learning of math. We could develop our own activities collaboratively without ever meeting! If we are going to make great strides in math achievement, we must search and collaborate! What a fantastic way to all get on the "same page". And I thought e-mail was great!
I am so thankful that I stumbled upon this class and was allowed to join, even though I am no longer in the classroom. Who knows? I may return!
Photo from Flickr: Pipe

Thing 1A

I am just nuts about math! Hence, I am currently working with the math teachers at WBMS to improve our math scores on the CRCT. I taught mostly math and science at WBMS for 27 years. Before that, I taught science at Jefferson City Schools. I retired at the end of the 2007-2008 school year with a year and a half of sick leave so I have 30.5 years experience. When I applied for retirement my mother was ill and I wanted to spend more time with her, but she passed away before I retired. I decided to retire anyway, and I'm glad I did! I needed a longer break than just summer! Now, I am a contracted math consultant working 2 days a week with some really great teachers!
I am taking this course because I am an ignorant dunce when it comes to the internet! I am hoping to learn EVERYTHING, or at least 23 things, about the net to make improving math scores a reality.
By the way, my image is from www.coolmath-games.com, but I don't know how to link yet.