As I parented children moving through school, it seemed to me that one of the best features in their educational years was variety in their teachers. We want -- in our math classes and throughout our schools -- to educate people who can keep on learning and who can respond to unexpected situations. Multiple choice questions on SAT tests represent only one aspect of that variety.
Teachers meet a variety of students -- and none of us are perfectly suited for them all. One of the interesting students to whom I tried to be helpful speaks in the following poem, "The Prince of Algebra," also previously posted in this blog on January 10, 2014.
The Prince of Algebra by JoAnne Growney
Madam Professor,
let me introduce myself.
I'm Albert James,
whom you may know
by my test score
that's lower than my age.
Your algebra tests
are too long for me
in fifty minutes,
but I am proud
of my attendance.
I never miss class,
never come late.
I'm preparing
for a new career.
For thirty years
I was with
the Postal Service,
never absent,
never late.
Your mathematics
is important!
It runs the clock
which runs the mail.
Now I train to be
a first grade teacher.
I will teach
mathematics
by punctuality
and perfect attendance.
As well as in various blog-postings, several more of my math poems are online here at my webpage.
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