From: Sheila.King@f315.n103.z1.fidonet.org (Sheila King)
Newsgroups: k12.ed.math
Subject: MATHMAGIC                
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 92 20:40:00 PST
Organization: FidoNet node 1:103/315 - Castle of the Four , Diamond Bar CA

Carol,

-> How did it go with your principal?  Did the idea of
-> computers/modems/telecommunications lighten up the room as
-> you spoke?  Was he in awe?

Well, I haven't had a chance to show him/tell him yet. The first faculty
meetings were today (Mon. Aug. 31st). There are also some tomorrow. But
I had an excuse to get out of them this year. I had two final exams
today at the University. (Differential Equations and Combinatorics).
Tomorrow I have my Physics final. So I wrote a note to my
vice-prinicpal, and she excused me for missing the meetings. I will
start attending on Wed. Whether I will be able to meet with the
principal that day is not certain. One has to go through his secretary.
I just couldn't bring myself to go down there before I actually had to.
I have all my textbooks at home, so I can do schoolwork without driving
down there. And it's a LONG drive, through traffic and all. And I was
still dealing with other parts of my life. But believe me, once I have a
chance to talk with him, I will let you know how it went and what the
results are. I don't expect anything immediate, like him going out and
getting a modem this year or anything. But he might help me think of
some compromises. Or, at least it will make him aware of what's possible
and maybe next year we'll get a computer. I can't afford to be too
hopeful. My hopes have really been dashed in the past. (The one year
when I wrote up the estimate for the computer for my dept. head, I was
virtually certain that we would get it. It was very hard for me to deal
with it when it didn't happen.)

-> Did he reciprocate with a teaching assignment?  ahhaha.

Well, a teaching assignment is guaranteed. The only question is how much
advance notice they will give you of what you are actually going to
teach. But I did get up the nerve to call my dept. head on Sat. and it
is now finalized. 2 classes of Honors Pre-Calc, 1 class of Alg. 2 and
both classes of Honors Geometry. So the Honors Geometry will still be my
private project again this year, so that does give me a certain measure
of freedom. I just have to be cautious of not expecting too much of my
students (it may be unreasonable for me to expect kids who don't have a
computer with a modem at home to spend two lunch periods per week in the
computer lab. If it is optional and the student decides to do it
voluntarily, that's one thing. But, if I _require_ it, that's
another...as I'm sure you understand.)

-> I'm forever in your debt for that great "write a letter to
-> little sister/brother idea."  That was wonderful!  I used it
-> and was so "cool" for that idea the kids had never heard
-> of...hehehhe.......o.k. o.k. I didn't tell them it wasn't
-> mine...sorry.  heheh.

Well, I'm glad it worked out well. It wasn't my idea either. (Most of
the ideas I get for teaching aren't!) This one I got at a math
conference a few years ago. The presentation was about incorporating
more writing into the math curriculumn, and the presentor's example was
actually about having the students write about how to add fractions.

-> Finally, I'm getting a load of messages from compuserve.
-> They say they are getting teacher chat?  I guess they cannot
-> get Channel 2, is that right?

Gee, I don't know about this. I will cross-post this part of your
message into K12_Sysop and see what info I can garner. Will let you know
the results.

-> My phone line/modem are being activated on Monday and my kids are so
-> excited about the program.

Hooray!

-> My math classes are really coming along and I am enjoying my 7th
-> graders (last year it was only 8th, this year, I have mixed.)

I am excited about my new preparation this year, too. (It will be my
first time with Pre-Calc.) I like to do something new every few years.

-> THe responses for mathMagic are building and it seems to be really
-> gaining
-> attention.  I'm nervous as heck but really anxious to get it
-> underway.

I was wondering if they are going to write something up about the
Mathmagic project for the Mathematics Teacher magazine? Well, I guess
you and Alan could co-author it, or something. I think you will have to
wait until the program has run for a while until you'll be able to do
something like that. But I really think that after the program has run,
so that you have experience with it and with dealing with all the little
things that can possibly go wrong, that in the end an article should
definitely be published on this!!! (Maybe towards the end of the school
year.) I think the editors would be excited to have an article on this
topic in the magazine.

Sheila
                

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