Why “primemathblog”?

1. Why a blog?

Because one of my goals in 2016 is to become better connected professionally with the world outside my district…and because Explore MTBoS makes this a great place to start! I’m looking forward to giving myself time and space to reflect more deeply on my work and beliefs and to sharing thoughts and resources with a larger community.

            

2. Why math?

I care about math partially because of the positions I’ve chosen to accept/pursue, but also because it’s helped me to narrow something so huge into something a bit smaller. Although being passionate about effective teaching and learning in elementary mathematics is by no means a small thing, it is slightly more manageable than education overall! Math is a place in which I both feel challenged and feel at home, and I love helping to create that same experience for others, whether that be students or fellow teachers.

3. Why prime?

Well, first of all, because prime numbers are my absolute favorite (to the extent that I set my alarm clock to a prime number every morning!). But, beyond referring to a number that is only divisible by one and itself, the word prime also has the following definitions:

(noun) the most flourishing stage or state

(adj) of the first importance; demanding the fullest consideration

(verb) to prepare or make ready for a particular purpose

These describe so well what I hope to accomplish in my work every day – to bring elementary mathematics to its most flourishing stage by making it of first importance and preparing teachers for this purpose!