Am I the only one that is a little bothered by inconsistent functions? When I click a button on the vending machine, one output is expected. There may be two inputs to get that Coca-cola…. But if I click the Coke button, that’s the only output I expect. So what’s happening with Samoas, folks? Depending on the bakery they use, I may get a Samoa, or I might get a Caramel Delite. That, my friends is NOT a function! Anyone else bothered by completely unimportant math-related minutia? Just me?

One of the most influential conversations I’ve ever had began as it often did, back when I was in the public school. I was complaining about the work load, the lapses in administrative ethics… A dear friend turned to me, and says “you’re not a tree.” The seemingly random statement threw me for a moment. But the meaning hit. I huffed. “Education is everything I’ve ever done. What? I go get an entry level job in a new field?!” He smirked, patted my forehead and said “aww. Did someone forget how to learn stuff?” You may laugh. I did. You might say “How RUDE!?!” I didn’t. I laughed, took his advice, and started Flippin’ Math. Since 2017, I’ve learned a great deal about websites, setting up an email list. All the baby entrepreneur things, working to build my life, as opposed to accept it. I’m excited about Skool, about having a community to build the “something better”. Anyone else hit that wake-up and make a change moment?

I grew up LITERALLY in the school. When I was born, my mom had been working at the school where my sisters were enrolled. She wasn't on the payroll at the time, but had been a "PIP", parent in participation for years before I came along. I grew up to the smell of mimeograph ink, as mom made copies for all the teachers. As soon as I could walk, I found the library, where I was taught to thread the filmstrip projector so I could watch "There's a Wocket in my Pocket". . . Again. My best friend in my early years was the principal at the time. As a 3-4 year old, I would sit and tell him jokes. (I freakin LOVE YOU, Mr. Wiskerson!) I never really imagined growing up to be anything other than a teacher. I thought it was gonna be music, but honestly, I think music was too sacred to me for it to be my dayjob. I taught music for 4 years. Got my Masters, have taught math since 2013. Covid ran me out of the public school system -- not only because it was horrendous on the front lines as public school teachers, but because it showed me that virtual was possible, and could be very effective (when done intentionally, instead of as a band-aid in a time of crisis).

Every math teacher's favorite question. To be fair, it's easy to see where math is useful for a math teacher. . . but in what ways have you found yourself using math? I got lots to say on this but am hoping for folks to join in so I can talk with you guys, not just post to write a journal entry. :) How do you use math? What do you teachers say when kids ask this?

From the rhythms to the resonance of the pitches we sing, it's math. It's the audible representation of the mathematical relationships in the world around us. People who know me as a math teacher are often surprised that my Bachelor's was in music. But people who knew me in my youth are probably surprised I'm doing anything other than singing!