Why was 6 afraid of 7?

Math Nerds of the World Unite!

This week Salt Lake City hosted the national convention for NCTM - the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. NCTM is the largest organization in the world promoting math education and there were over 10,000 people attending this convention in Salt Lake. I got to go!! I even worked as a volunteer on Friday morning.

I've been a member of NCTM (and it's Utah affiliate UCTM) since before I even began teaching, but this is only my second conference I've been to. It was cool! i met people from all over the country. I learned all sorts of things from new ideas on how to teach slope to discovering the unit circle. I joined a group of teachers in some math kinesthetics doing function aerobics and I learned how to teach geometry using quilts from the Underground Railroad. Besides new ideas and activities, I also attended a session on closing the achievement gap and why so many of our students are lagging behind. I attended a session on how to get my National Board Certification and decided there is no way in the world I am going to do that, but that I may pursue a masters from Western Governor's University (they gave me a mouse pad). I also ventured many times through the exhibit hall and collected as much free stuff as I could, from pens and pencils to posters and t-shirts.

It was a good experience. It was rejuvenating. I'm glad I went. Now tomorrow, I go back to the real world of teaching and try to apply all that I have learned. Good luck to me! (At least I have a good collection of pens and pencils to last another few months at school.

Happy Birthday to Me!

You're invited . . .

James and I are throwing a party this week. We are using my birthday as an excuse. Anyone within reading distance of this blog is welcome to come. It will be Friday night at our home. We don't get company very often and thought that my birthday would be a good excuse to have people over.

So . . . you can come if you'd like! It will be Friday night. Come anytime after 7:00ish or later. There is no obligation to come nor an RSVP required. No gifts please. Just come for refreshments if you'd like!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Grandpa Huber turned 79 on April 4th. Happy Birthday to him.

He's a good Grandpa and a good man.

(We took some pictures at his birthday party on Sunday! I'll post some more later.)

Spring! Bulbs! Yippy!

One side of my little yard has a bit of snow still on it, but the other side has a few pretty pansies that survived. And . . . . . there are at least 10 bulbs that are coming up!!!!!!! I'm so excited. I planted them last year, but sometimes bulbs don't come up right away, so I didn't know. But, there are 10!!!! I'll keep you posted.