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MTC Summer Intensive Schedule 2014
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MId-Hudson Math Teachers’ Circle  

Summer Intensive Workshop Schedule

Bard College - Reem and Kayden Center for Science and Computation (RKC)

                 31  Campus Road

                 Annandale on Hudson, NY

tuesday, July 8

wednesday, July 9

thursday, July 10

Steering Committee:

Beth Goldberg ~ Linden Avenue Middle School

Eleanor Pupko ~ Spackenkill High School

Lauren Rose ~ Bard College

Joy Sebesta ~ Bard College

Sheila Shaffer ~ J. Watson Bailey Middle School

Jeff Suzuki ~ Brooklyn College

Support for the Mid-Hudson Math Teachers Circle has been provided by the Mathematical  Sciences Research Institute, National Security Agency, Bard College, and Ulster BOCES.

Speaker:  Michael Gilliam

Title:  Explorations with Origami: Developing a Feel for the Sparsity of the Rational Line

Abstract: This workshop will introduce a tool to help give your class an added dimension of fun: origami. Origami can be used as an interactive teaching tool to discuss many mathematical concepts. In addition to learning some basic folds, we will use this textured experience to motivate the need for irrational numbers, systems of linear equations, and more.

Michael Gilliam is an assistant professor of mathematics at The College of New Rochelle. He earned his BA in pure math at the University of California, Berkeley, and his MA and PhD at the University of Montana, Missoula. Although he spent most of his time in graduate school studying theoretical mathematics, his position in New Rochelle has piqued further interest in learning methods. His current project is to characterize a subclass of entire functions that have the property of being CZI. Outside of the school, Gilliam's other interests include surfing, rafting, and hiking.

Speaker: Beth Goldberg

Title:  Professional Learning Teams and the Master Teacher Program

Abstract: Professional Learning Teams (PLT’s) are powerful vehicles for enriching your knowledge and sharing information with your peers through collaboration and critically examining the practice of teaching. Beth and Eleanor will talk about their experiences using PLT’s as members of the NYS Master Teacher Program.  The will also facilitate a PLT in which workshop participants share best practices and lessons learned from the common core curriculum implementation.

Beth Goldberg is a mathematics teacher in Red Hook’s Linden Avenue Middle School teaching Algebra I and eighth grade math. Before engaging her passion for math and teaching, Beth had a twenty year career in banking where she was a senior vice president at JP Morgan Chase managing a global portfolio of cash management products. Beth has been recognized as a Master Teacher by the New York State Department of Education.

 

Speaker:  Mary Krembs

Title:  How to Wrap A Balloon

Abstract:  Much classroom time is devoted to studying surface area in math classrooms.  But has all that conversation given you a practical advantage in your life? There you are with a roll of wrapping paper and an unwrapped present.  How do you know if you have enough paper?  When you are done wrapping, were you efficient or did you use more paper than you needed to? And how about tape?  In this session we will explore the geometry of surface shape.

Mary Krembs has a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She worked for many years in industry as a programmer, mathematician and manager. Mary began her career at IBM working first in development then moving to the TJ Watson Research labs where she left to become Senior Vice President of Technology at Harte-Hanks Interactive. She maintains a technology consulting business to this day. She moved over to higher education, teaching undergraduate and graduate mathematics and computer science first at Marist College and then Bard College. She is currently a faculty member in both the Bard Master of Arts in Teaching as well as the Bard undergraduate mathematics departments.

Speaker:  Jim Matthews

Title:  Developing Algebraic Reasoning with Frogs, Towers, Geometry, and Nuggets

Abstract: We increase student learning of algebra when our students are interested in the subject and believe they can be successful. In this session we will explore motivating problems that require mathematical reasoning and algebraic solutions appropriate for beginning algebra students.

Jim Matthews has been a faculty member at Siena College for over 30 years, where he teaches mathematics, computer

 science, and courses for the education department including supervision of student teachers.  In recent years he has been

teaching Discrete Mathematics, Analysis of Algorithms, Theory of Computation, and Methods and Materials for Teaching

Mathematics.  Prior to joining the faculty at Siena he was a secondary mathematics teacher in Chatham, NY and he has taught

mathematics for many years in Kindergarten through 6th grade classrooms. He has also worked as a consultant for many school

districts and educational associations, the majority of this work for urban and rural schools.  When not working, Jim likes to run,

bike, hike, and ski. He also enjoys puzzles and games, magic, reading, and hanging out with his friends and family.

Speaker: Eleanor Pupko

Title:  Professional Learning Teams and the Master Teacher Program

Abstract: Professional Learning Teams (PLT’s) are powerful vehicles for enriching your knowledge and sharing information with your peers through collaboration and critically examining the practice of teaching. Beth and Eleanor will talk about their experiences using PLT’s as members of the NYS Master Teacher Program.  The will also facilitate a PLT in which workshop participants share best practices and lessons learned from the common core curriculum implementation.

Eleanor Pupko co-owned and operated a dairy farm for many years and now teaches BC Calculus, AB Calculus, Honors Precalculus and Algebra 2/Trigonometry at Spackenkill High School.  She has presented at numerous conferences, piloted the Mathematics B Regents exam, served as an AP Reader and was recently selected for the Master Teacher Program.

Speaker: Lauren Rose

Title:  Probability, Weird Dice, and Polynomials

Abstract:   When you roll two standard dice, the probability of rolling a sum of  2 is 1/36, and the probability of  rolling a sum of 3 is 2/36, and so on.  However, what if you change the numbers on the dice, and allow duplicates?  Is it possible to create a new set of dice where the probability of getting any sum is the same as it is for standard dice?  In trying to answer this question, we will show how this problem, and its solution, can be modeled using polynomials.

Lauren Rose received her PhD in mathematics from Cornell University, and has been a mathematics professor at Ohio State University, Wellesley College, and Bard College.  In addition to co-organizing the Mid-Hudson Math Teachers Circle, she organizes the Biannual Mid-Hudson Mathematics Conference for Undergraduates, runs a summer research program for undergraduates,  and oversees the mathematics program in the Bard Prison Initiative.  She is a co-founder of the Bard Math Circle, an enrichment program for upper elementary and middle school students.  She enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for mathematics with others and believes that mathematics can and should be made accessible to all.  

Speaker: Sheila Shaffer

Title: Working with the Common Core

Abstract:   Participants will break into small groups to discuss their experiences implementing the Common Core State Learning Standards (CCSLS) during the 2013-2014 academic year.  Provided questions will establish some parameters for the discussion.  We will then come back together for a large group summary.

Sheila Shaffer has been teaching for the last 31 years, in schools in  NY, MD, VA and GA.  She has been teaching math in Kingston for the past 15 years, and this past school year, was appointed to the first Instructional Math Coach position with the district.  She served as a member of the National SAT Committee from 1993 to 1996, has been included in numerous  Marquis Who’s Who publications, and is currently serving on the Mid-Hudson Math Teachers Circle  Steering Committee.

Speaker:  Jeff Suzuki

Title: Polynomials, the Arithmetic of Dinner Rolls, and Endekaphiles

Abstract:  I'm thinking of a polynomial with whole number coefficients.  When x = 1, the value of the polynomial is 22. When x = 25, the value of the polynomial is 33,334. What is the polynomial?  To answer this question, we'll take a close look at banquets and baked goods.

Jeff Suzuki is Associate Professor of Mathematics at Brooklyn College, and the author of Mathematics in  Historical Context (MAA Publications) and A History of Mathematics (Prentice-Hall), as well as numerous articles in Mathematics Teachers and Mathematics Magazine.  His current projects include how mathematics is used (or should be used!) in the law.  He is also a member of the Mid-Hudson Math Teachers Circle Steering Committee.   

Speaker: Csilla Szabo

Title:  Who is the Center of Your Social Network?

 

Abstract: In this workshop we will explore different ways to define the center of a social network. We will answer questions such as: Who controls information flow?  Who can directly influence others?  Who is most likely to spread the flu?        We will also use Gephi, a network analysis tool, to analyze our Facebook networks.

  

Csilla Szabo attended Western New England University, graduating in 2004 with a B.A. in Mathematics.  She received an M.S. in Applied Mathematics in 2006 and PH.D. in Mathematics in 2009 from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  Her research interests are in network science and computational cell biology.   After graduate school, she was an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the United States Military Academy at West Point and is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Bard College.

Speaker:  Lauren Wolf

Title:  Vedic Mathematics:  A Glimpse of Math Tricks

Abstract: What does mathematics have to do with Hinduism? Well, just as the basic principles of Hinduism lie in the Vedas, so do the roots of mathematics. The Vedas, written around 1500-900 BCE, are ancient Indian texts containing a record of human experience and knowledge. Thousands of years ago, Vedic mathematicians authored various theses and dissertations on mathematics. It is now commonly believed and widely accepted that these treatises laid down the foundations of algebra, algorithm, square roots, cube roots, various methods of calculation, and the concept of zero.

There is more than one way to reach a correct answer in mathematics. Vedic math, an ancient Indian method, sidesteps traditional computations in a manner that provides a shortcut, while being fun to use and to learn. I would like to address multiplication of large numbers and teach you tricks how to multiply these numbers quickly. We will have tricks to square large numbers and we will multiply vertically and crosswise. We will number crunch.

 Lauren Wolf received her PhD from the University at Albany. While she was a graduate student she taught at the University at Albany as well as Dutchess Community College, Hudson Valley Community College, Sage College and Bard Prison Initiative. Lauren will start a tenure track Assistant Professor job at CUNY Hostos in the fall. She will also continue to teach for Bard Prison Initiative. Lauren loves to teach and is always looking for innovative ways to make students love and appreciate mathematics.

Speaker:  Japheth Wood

Title:  Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally

Abstract:   Why is Order of Operations important, and where does it come from?

Japheth Wood is a mathematician with an interest in the mathematical education of students and the mathematical preparation of teachers. He is the executive director of the New York Math Circle, a professor at the Bard Master of Arts in Teaching program, and a director of the Bard Math Circle.  Japheth earned his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, has lived and worked all across the US and abroad. He now lives, works, and plays in the mid-Hudson Valley and NYC.