Dodecahedron

One of my many weaknesses as a teacher is the lack of hands-on projects in my lessons. On the latest issue of the CMC journal, there is a net of a dodecahedron (12-sided figure) calendar.  I printed it on card stocks and had my students try it on Friday. It was a mild success in that the students enjoyed the activity.  However, in the future, I would focus on improving the quality of the final product.

English Only

Last night, some friends and I went to a play at the New LATC in Los Angeles to support my friend Bryan's first major acting gig. The play was called English Only. It explores the theme of a Chinese-American's struggle in Alhambra, California. Scarlett, the protagonist, experiences intra-racial discrimination, inter-racial romance, and the drama that goes along with her high school senior year. The play inspired me to reconsider my role as a teacher in a high school with mostly Spanish-speaking students. Further, as a Chinese-American finding my own cultural niche between the East and the West, I was very connected to the play. Overall, the play was fantastic on many levels.

Geometry - Is it in you?

This is the second straight year that I'm doing an overload (teaching an additional sixth period). I'm enjoying the opportunity tremendously, though I wish for a period break on somedays.  I have wonderful classes and my great students make each day pleasant. This is the first year that I have all six periods of Geometry.  It's become a course that I really prefer to other math courses.  The above logo is one of my proudest designs.  My friend Tan helped me perfect it.

These logos are used to engage my students - I do not profit from these designs.

Five Day Forecast

Many excellent teachers use class calendars to help students stay on track and organized.  I haven't developed such a system in my classroom yet.  So while watching the weather report during my time on the treadmill, I thought of the idea for the slide above. For now, it only lists the date, activity, and homework number. It will need to be further developed, I'll work on it...

Look Closely

My students enjoyed this one today. Students from one period found as many as thirteen "horses" in this picture. Can you find more?

Math Tutoring

I have been tutoring since I was about fourteen. It was my main source of income to pay for my c

ollege applications, college expenses, and credential program (along with many poor attempts at grad school standardized entrance exams and rejected grad school applications.) My first full-time job was at UC Irvine as a Tutor Advisor.  Ironically, now that I am a full-time high school teacher, I tutor voluntarily. Our fantastic department chair person has developed a tutoring program, a math club of sorts, that provides our students help after school. It has become very popular; we've moved to the cafetaria and I've once counted over 50 students at the session 

with maybe four teachers (yes, we could use more help). This year, students can pay an optional $5 for the sessions. The money goes to buying students snacks, and any left over funds will go toward a math scholarship. I told my students recently: "As long as I'm a public school teacher, I will always offer free tutoring."

I made the design above a few weeks ago to promote our efforts. It has been enlarged and is used as a sign outside of the cafetaria where we hold our tutorials. I felt that the pencil is a neat substitution for the ubiquitous arrow. Here is another version...