TMC 17 Reflection

/
0 Comments
I attended my 3rd TMC (Twitter Math Camp) this summer in Atlanta. I must thank Sam Shah for blogging all those years ago when I discovered the TMC, then #MTBoS and was encouraged to start blogging in 2012.

Every year there is magic in the air, and this year, from the TMC 2012 founders to the 2017 first timers, it seemed everyone had a magic wand. It turns out that very early on we made inclusivity our theme and equity our unifying passion. It was wonderful, political, and complicated.

There is no particular order to this list of goodness, just a bunch of random thoughts and one or two regrets, as I left before the wonderment of the Sunday morning session. If you are lonely in your math world, please consider joining #MTBoS and venture out to Twitter Math Camp in Cleveland the summer of 2018. The folks you will meet, will become, like they have for me, my allies, mentors, colleagues and friends.

First, I wrote all my notes for this post using my purple pen from the Math Forum. Thanks, I love it.

I must thank Holy Innocentes School for their hospitality. From the bus driving director to the receptionist who liked my corduroy jumper. The folks and thoughtfulness of the building design complimented MTBoS perfectly.

The AtlantaCenter for Civil and Human Rights is a must see. Within minutes, I met my 19 year old’s future husband, the amazing young man at the information desk; articulate, smart, kind (okay, and handsome). The powerful images, (looked at the segregationist in their 3x3 matrix and they looked just.like.Trump’s cabinet—heart-sinking and disgusting), the interactive diner counter, the music, photos, artifacts, and world political freedom map were all intense, beautiful and pitiful, hopeful and cruel. My roommate and I Norma, happened upon one of two performances of The Collision Project, an original performance of 21 diverse, crazy talented high school students who work with an artistic director and a work of literary merit (This year, John Lewis’, graphic novel trilogy, March) to create a choreographed, musical, spoken word original work. For 70 minutes or so we were entranced, lifted up, and felt true hope.

TMC Takeaways:

James Cleveland’s watch. (And his energy and positivity)

Lisa and Jason Henry. Enough said.

#Talklessam, my morning session. Led by Chris and Mattie, the room was alive with the sound of well-facilitated openness, invitations to build a culture classroom of acceptance and productive debate. I am grateful to all the participants. Some highlights that show how easy it is to build in more student talk are using Ken-Ken puzzles to get students accustomed to My Claim is…My Warrant is… to using Estimation 180 to build definitive sides and let the claims roll. I also found out there is research against cold calling, take that Raul.

Universal talk of growth mindset and open invitations to take risks and #pushsend.


The explicit tone of social justice, opened up by Grace A. Chen’s keynote, “Math is necessarily political,” kept on our minds again and again, through open discussion, continued discussion, and our collective heavy sigh learning of the transgender ban in the military, renewing our efforts to be kind, warm, and inclusive.

Sam Shah’s favorite counter bell, for “math joy moments.” This is exactly what happens in my head when I listen to my favorite podcasts and my mind wonders out my mathy lens.

A special appreciation to first-times who stepped up to share a My Favorite or lead a session.

David Butler’s SQWIGLES for 1-1 tutoring.

Carl Oliver

Someone, not sure who, (please let me know) introduced the idea of “Graph of the Week,” to engage math as a vehicle for understanding.

I appreciate Graham Fletcher’s Friday’s keynote for the much appreciated humble humor and for the picture of an incredibly long Georgian worm that will gross my sister out. And thankful for his pearls, Always do a second problem for those who got the first wrong to redeem themselves, and “Vulnerability is the birthplace of professional development.” (Truly, this is why the MTBoS works the way it does.)

The willingness of folks to give up their lunch-time for more peer to peer time like the math and equity discussion sparked by Grace Chen and facilitated by Carl Oliver, (@carloliwitter) and for the Julie Reulbach ( I Speak Math) facilitated meeting of folks using CPM.

Definitely for the new folks I met, like Andrea who invited me to do the 5K fun run at Red Brick Brewery. Nothing like a fun run to understand where you are.

And for the catnaps I was able to sneak in on the chairs and benches of HIS.


That’s a wrap. If you have any questions about any of it, DM @zimmerdiamonds


About Post Author

Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Fusce dapibus, tellus ac cursus commodo, tortor mauris condimentum nibh, ut fermentum massa justo sit amet risus.

You may also like

No comments :

Like what you read? Want to contribute to the conversation? Leave a comment!

About Me

About Me
Hi there, I'm Amy! A high school math teacher, poet, crafter, athlete, and mom. This blog features both math and teaching strategies, as well as some of my favorite recipes and everyday triumphs and struggles. Thanks for stopping by, feel free to share on Twitter, Facebook, or email me if you have any questions!

Join the Community - Follow and Share!

Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn

Followers