Article Archives
Projects (Fall 2004)
Each class in the Mathematics Department is working on projects throughout the course of the year. The purpose of these projects is to discover mathematical concepts and their applications. Some examples of projects for this year are:
Geometry
Pre-calculus
Parabolic Grill
Interest Rate and Investment Project
Car Sales: Buying vs. Leasing
Pre-calculus Honors
Howard Gardner: Mathematical Intelligence
Finances, budgeting, and money management
AP Statistics
Investment Portfolio Statistical Analysis- students play the stock market with an initial $10,000 investment
Active Board Technology (Fall 2003)
Recently, all of the math classrooms have been outfitted with Active Boards (electronic white board).
The goals for this technology are:
-to create a more interactive learning environment
-to have ready access to dynamic mathematics software, such as virtual TI-83 calculator, Geometer's Sketchpad, Matlab, and Minitab, during each class
-more effective and efficient use of classroom time
Our hopes for the future use of this technology are:
-for the students to download the lesson notes as the lesson is presented
-to post lessons to Edline
Lillian DeWitt (Fall 2002)
Click here for more pictures: DeWittMovie
Born and raised as a Buckeye in Ohio, the only university that mattered was Ohio State. Leaving home to go to college for me meant being an hour away. While there, I met and eventually married a guy from New Jersey and ended up moving to the east coast after his graduation.
After a few more moves and 13 years of raising a family, I decided to finish my degree and officially be a teacher of math. For years, I had tutored math, substituted in the classroom, and taught summer school at the schools where my husband was employed. Now it was my turn to go back to school. When we moved to Miami, I took a job at St. Thomas University with the intention of finally finishing a degree in mathematics. What an experience it was for me to bring my report card home to my kids for approval.
Proximity to Monsignor Edward Pace High School led to a position as a math teacher just as I graduated. I ended up teaching there for ten years. An opportunity arose at Miami Country Day School and I decided to make a change. That change lasted five years. The same thing happened last year and I chose to come to Ransom.
Teaching touches lives, not only for the student but also for the teacher. Learning is a lifelong experience. I learn from the students just as they learn from me. What a wonderful opportunity for us all! If we all keep open minds as we go through life and are not afraid of change, a wealth of knowledge is exchanged.
Over the years I have found that my most gratifying moments from education come not from the actual time spent in the classroom (although the time in the classroom is the reason they happen), but from former students whom I bump into in later years. I take great pride in hearing that I made a profound difference in their lives. I have found that while teaching, even though I work with the teenager, I am really working with the person that they will become over their lifetime. Sometimes the fact that I never give up on them or rarely give in to them sets the stage for great things to happen. It also doesn't hurt if you happen to be a little unconventional at times too.
The Math Department is pleased to welcome Ms. DeWitt to the RE community
|
