Three Cheers for Math

I wanted to take a moment to celebrate the hard and challenging work that our math and science teachers are doing, with a special emphasis on math. New Tech has been working on improving its math learning, making many changes last year and this year. And our math teachers have taken quite a beating in the press and the online conversations, as you may know. The education writer for the Napa Register decided to write a story about "how New Tech teaches math" and has been interviewing me, our Superintendent, and our students. Hopefully the article will accurately capture our program (both its strengths and challenges) and be printed this weekend.

Yesterday I sat in during the student interview portion with the reporter, and was so proud of our students and of the things that they said about how they learn math at New Tech. There was an alumni from 2005, as well as two students who are currently in Scientific Studies and one student who was in Scientific Studies last year and just completed NVC Pre-Calc. They spoke with sincerity and enthusiasm, telling stories about the incredible projects they've completed, and all the ways that the learning has stuck with them. They said things like, "I see math in the world around me," and "I understand that we use math every day of our lives", and "I know how to think about word problems instead of just wanting the teacher to tell me what formula to use," and "I used to think writing in a journal for math and science was rather silly, but now I find it useful to look back on my writing and reflect on my own process of learning," and "the journals help me to reflect on my own understanding in a deeper way." I could just go on and on. I wish I had a secret recording so that I could play it back for you, so that you all could hear the "thank you's" and appreciation that they expressed about you, their teachers and staff, at New Tech. They spent a lot of time talking about the level of trust, respect, and responsibility that all staff shows towards them, and how good it makes them feel about themselves, and how it builds their confidence to be successful in the future.

Thank you for all you do, and remember to pat each other on the back for taking on such a giant challenge of teaching in a project-based learning environment. Your noble work is making our world a better place. In all sincerity, Michelle