Reading - for fun and to download in my brain!

Sometimes a girl just needs to settle down with a book and enjoy life.

This past year a colleague in my school here, and friends on Twitter mentioned the Maisie Dobbs series. I am enjoying those books still. I read other books along the way, so right now I'm on book 9 of the series.

In the past I wouldn't have said I like historical fiction but I enjoy these. The books are set after WWI and before WWII. Each story has a theme of friendship, along with a mystery. The books aren't the riproaring gotta turn the next page kind of book - or at least not for me. Instead they are thoughtful - maybe even a little slow - they remind me of a British made for TV series.

Recently I saw an ad for a book targeted for people who enjoy Maisie Dobbs. Mr. Churchill's Secretary is similar to the Maisie Dobbs series in that it is set in a similar timeframe. The main character, Maggie, has put her enrollment in MIT on hold. She's a mathematician. YES! She's gone to London to settle the estate of a family member. In the process she stays a while and becomes a secretary to Mr. Churchill. If you like the Maisie Dobbs series, you might like this book (it's also a series) although the writing style is much different.




While I'm mentioning books, I wonder have you seen the Modern Mrs. Darcy website?  It's a treasure trove for readers!  Check it out.

This week's post in particular caught my eye!  The Modern Mrs. Darcy identifies 7 books she wishes she could imprint on her brain.  She writes, "When it comes to these 7 titles, I want every word to sink into my brain and permeate my worldview, because I think my life would be better for it."  Don't you wonder what 7 books she listed?  I did!  Now I feel the challenge to list my 7 books that I wish I could download into my brain!

And that leads me to this question ... what 7 books do you think every teacher should have in their heart and mind?  Let's make a list!  Will you help me?  Name one book in the comments you believe every teacher should read ...

#MTBoSBlaugust Friday Fun Seven Sevens!

Just for fun ... Seven Sevens

SEVEN Places I have lived (there are more!)

1. Virginia Beach, VA
2. Harrisonburg, VA
3. Memphis, TN
4. Fort Worth, TX
5. Newport News, VA
6. Nashville, TN
7. Austin, TX

SEVEN JOBS

1. High's Ice Cream (dipped ice cream)
2. College cafeteria (kitchen duty)
3. Middle School English and Math teacher
4. Salesperson - women's accessories – Thalheimers
5. High school Math teacher
6. Middle School Assistant Principal
7. Elementary Principal

SEVEN MOVIES I Love!

1. White Christmas
2. You’ve Got Mail
3. 84, Charing Cross Road
4. Chocolat
5. Princess Bride
6. Top Gun
7. Big

SEVEN Favorite TV Shows

1. The West Wing
2. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries
3. Friday Night Lights
4. Gilmore Girls
5. The Newsroom
6. NCIS
7. Firefly (movie and TV series)

SEVEN FUN Vacations

1. Disney World
2. San Francisco, CA
3. Chicago, IL
4. Athens, Greece
5. Seagrove Beach, FL
6. Shanghai, China
7. Hatteras, NC

         Seven Websites I visit weekly (some daily)

1. Gmail
2. Facebook
3. Twitter
4. Blogger
5. Amazon
6. Pinterest
7. Weather

        Seven Favorite Game Apps ... all free!

1. Just Get 10
2. 2048
3. Flood It
4. Make 7
5. Merged
6. Bubble Shooter
7. Dot Fight

A Facebook Emoticon Poll ... favorite online formative assessment tool?

I'm having a bit of fun on my Facebook page ...
Posted this informal poll!

Will you click the picture and participate?  It will take you to my Algebra's Friend Facebook page where you can vote using the emoticons!

While there ... feel free to "like" the page!  I post interest math articles, pictures, and the occasional blog post!

Summer Fun Reading! #MTBoS30 - 19

We have six more days of classes ... and then exams!  Students' last day is June 2.  It will be here before we know it!

Yesterday I was chatting with my first class of the day about their summer plans.  I asked if any of them would be reading this summer.  Several raised their hands excited!  So I asked them to share their favorite titles with me ... I'm always looking for a good book to read.

Here are a few of their suggestions!

How does your garden grow? #MTBoS30 - 14

My gardening is a hobby ... I'm glad I am not dependent on it for food.  This year, though, the garden seems to be doing well.

These pictures are from a month ago ...

This week we harvested a few zucchini and several patty pan squashes.  There are three acorn squash just about ready to pick.  The swiss chard grows like a weed - can't eat enough! The tomato bushes are full ... can't wait until they are ripe!

Currently May #MTBoS30 - 10

Just for fun ... here's what is happening currently ...

Fun Math Puns #MTBoS30 - 5

We had a few extra minutes in class today.  Students gave me their best math puns!

Love Padlet for collecting students' ideas!

Here are a few of the puns they shared today ... 

Tried to get a girl... Guess I will have to try another angle.

He became a math teacher because of some prime factors.

Skeptical Mathematicians are often reluctant to cosine even the right loans

Did you hear about the mathematician who invented a device to measure the weight of trees? It's called the log scale.

Deaf mathematicians communicate through sin language.

Math is fun because you get to think "plus" you get to learn.

I used to hate math but then I realized decimals have a point.

He wears glasses during math because it improves division.

I love math puns but some of them don't add up.

Why is the obtuse triangle always so upset? Because it’s never right.

Never talk about infinity with a mathematician. They can go on FOREVER about it!

To the guy that invented 0, thanks for nothing.

Why is one-fifth so stressed?  Because he’s Two Tenths.

Math puns are a sine of a big problem

What is the exponential function's favorite thing to do in summer?  Rolling logs 

Mathematics teachers call retirement the aftermath.

What do you call a mathematician with a gun?  Trigger-nometry 

What did the evil quadratic equation say when his plan was defeated?  ARGH! I'VE BEEN FOILED

What are tree's favorite kind of math?  Twigonometry.

I was having trouble in math until my teacher SUMMED it up for me.

I can do algebra and I can do trig, but graphing is where I draw the line.

What's a snake's favorite formula?  The PYTHON-gorean theorem!   

#70 Days Just for fun

Today I played with the app, Tellagami.  I just have the free version ... can make 30 second videos with limited avatars.

I'm leading a short session on Desmos in a couple of weeks ... so I experimented with Tellagami to explain why I like Desmos.  Check it out here.  It's just my first run at it.  I want to try again soon.

I envision using the app in class ... 30 second videos on vocabulary, maybe explaining just one problem, or thoughts about a concept.

30 seconds is very short!

#MTBoSBlaugust 5 Just who am I?

Tell us about you!  Post 20 facts about yourself. Several years back I participated in a Facebook game posting the ABC's of me.  I updated them for today's post!

A - Age: My chronological age? My mental age? My “health” age? Or just how old I feel today?  Let’s just say I’ve been an educator for more than 30 years, and married for more than 40 years! Yup, “old!”

B – Birthdate: February 23

C - Chore you hate: The only one I really like is grocery shopping. I don’t mind cooking. I love to delegate all the others!

D – Drink: Still like Diet Coke, Diet Root Beer, Diet Dr. Pepper, but most often I choose water!

E - Essential to start your day item: Enough sleep, a cup of coffee, and quiet time.  My favorite

Lyle Lovett lyrics: “Hardwood floor creakin'  Bedroom door squeakin'  She's standing in the kitchen  I thought she was still sleepin'  Kiss her on the forehead  Asked her how she slept  She says, 'honey it's so early,  We probably shouldn't speak yet.”  The morning wasn’t made for conversation!

F - Favorite color: I love bright colors, primary colors, nature’s colors!

G – Gent:  The love of my life, my best friend, Ron

H - Height: 4’11”and on my way to heaven!

I - Instruments you play: Computer … the one I used to play … piano

J - Job title: Math teacher

K - Kid(s): 2 grown sons, 2 grandsons, and each fall about 150 teens!

L - Loves: the beach, sand, sunshine, surf, reading, flowers, family time, quiet time

M – Music: 60/70’s pop, showtunes, some country

N - Nicknames: my husband sometimes calls me Lois, Jr after my mom.  She died in 2010; I miss her! I am very much like her!

O – One wish: to learn to be content no matter my circumstances

P – Pet:  Tweety, our cockatiel!  He’s celebrating his 18^th birthday with us!

      Pet Peeve: Whining unless it is my turn to whine

Q - Quote from a movie … two favorite romantic ones … 
“Will you love me for the rest of my life? No, I will love you for the rest of mine.” (Phenomenon) 
Laying in bed worried whether her mate Beldar still loves her, Prymatt asks him what he would do if she died. Beldar responds: “If, for some reason your life functions ceased, my most precious one, I would collapse, I would draw the shades and I would live in the dark. I would never get out of my slar phase or clean myself. My fluids would coagulate, my cone would shrivel, and I would die, miserable and lonely. The stench would be great.” Satisfied, Prymatt smiles and goes to sleep. (Coneheads)

R – Residence: central Texas!  We’ve also lived in Virginia and Tennessee.

S - Siblings: Yes! 2 sisters!

T - Time you wake up: Too often … 2 am, 3 am, 4 am, 5am … but did you mean when I get up? 6 am to leave the house by 7:30

U – University:  Trevecca University in Nashville, TN for undergrad and The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA for master’s degree

V - Vegetable you dislike: Okra

W – Worst habit: procrastinating? Avoiding exercise? Snacking when I’m not really hungry?

X - X-Rays: only broke one bone … just a week or so before my wedding!

Y - Yummy food you make: The family seems to like my cakes! Carrot cake, German Chocolate Cake, Coconut Cake!

Z - Zoo favorite: I like the “big” animals … elephants, giraffes … 

That was fun!  Now ... how about you?

NaBloPoMo #3 A Coincidental Conversation

A coincidental thing happened today ... made me chuckle.

Students asked me about my weekend.  I told them I had a nice weekend but that I worked too much ... I was grading quite a bit this weekend.

One student offered ... just give us all 100's!

I replied that's exactly what my husband says ... just give them A's and everyone will be happy!  I continued, "But then when my supervisor checks my gradebook, he'll ask me why I've been giving completion grades!"

A student asked, "You mean you aren't allowed to give us completion grades?"

"That's right!  The grades in the gradebook have to represent mastery of required content!" I replied.

We all sighed and the bell rang.  I glanced over at my email ... and guess what was there!

Hello Beth,

Thank you for keeping up with your gradebook! You have at least five grades entered, it does not look like any grades are based on completion, all grades are out of a 100-point scale, and the class averages look good! :)

Please let me know if there is anything I can help with. Thank you.

YES! My supervisor had checked the gradebook ... now isn't that quite the coincidence?!?