Sooooo… my last post was what? Three years ago? My daughter turns three in October, so yeah. That’s where I’ve been. Lots of new moms take up blogging, I run for the hills. But busy I have been, for sure. I’ve taken up adjuncting, teaching a graduate class on Universal Design for Learning in Math for CAST, a lovely think tank-y kind of place that specializes in exactly what MathAffect does – reads all the latest research and extracts practical knowledge for improving education. MathAffect uses the UDL framework for understanding students’ unique learning profiles (but that’s a whole ‘nother post to come), so teaching a course on UDL keeps me fresh and lets me keep my finger on the pulse of education research. Plus, by teaching about 20 public school teachers a semester, I reach a lot more students.
And what about students? I still work one on one with students of all ranges of ability, from the dyscalculic to the woefully inadequate word “gifted,” and everything in between, an amazing spectrum of neurodiverse minds, each as unique as a fingerprint. MathAffect has moved to South Freeport, which means that we now have our own large sunny yellow classroom, with room for jumping the number line or teaching larger groups of students. Having our own space really changes the equation (pun intended, I am still as HILARIOUS as ever, :P).
Finally, professional development. This took a back seat for a year or two, but those of you who know me know that I am addicted to learning. I am currently two classes away from my certification as an educational therapist, which is important to me, since there is a strong therapeutic aspect to any teaching methodology that capitalizes on the affective networks. My latest coursework has had me designing early reading interventions, which was amazing and so incredibly rewarding. I am still working on integrating all I have learned into MathAffect’s UDL framework, but so far I’ve had excellent results. Pretty soon MathAffect will be reinventing itself as Affect Academics, able to provide learning interventions as unique and diverse as the students themselves.
Hm, what else? Oh right, the kid. She keeps me busy. Very, very, very busy. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Here she is, summiting her first mountain, sans handholding or carrying. If you ever feel like life throws too many mountains your way, look at a child. What we ask them to do, every day, whether in the classroom or outside of it, is daunting. Every day holds mountains. Every day here at MathAffect, we’re providing students with the tools and supports they need to make it to their own personal top. It’s the best job in the world.
