u/Formal_Tumbleweed_53

Teachers, have you ever taken a ride share that turned into a “parent conference”? It seems to happen to me regularly.

One time, on a trip, the driver heard I was a high school teacher and started asking me about his son and social media and he was so concerned. After listening, I realized that his son would daily initiate conversations with his dad about what he was seeing on social media because he wanted to be sure he wasn’t going outside any expectations. “Sir, if your teen aged son is coming to check with you about his social media use, I think you’re probably doing a fantastic job as a father with a fantastic kid.”

Today I had an Uber driver who it turns out both graduated from the HS where I teach and is now a parent of a student who will be starting there next week. It was a lovely conversation and by the time we got to my destination, the mother was asking if I would be available during our “welcome” day this week, even though I won’t be teaching her daughter, she wants to check in with me.

Maybe not so lighthearted observation … I am happy to be reminded that what we do every day is truly a contribution to the overall community. And I really love that. Have a wonderful start to your school year all!!

Teachers, have you ever taken a ride share that turned into a “parent conference”? It seems to happen to me regularly.

One time, on a trip, the driver heard I was a high school teacher and started asking me about his son and social media and he was so concerned. After listening, I realized that his son would daily initiate conversations with his dad about what he was seeing on social media because he wanted to be sure he wasn’t going outside any expectations. “Sir, if your teen aged son is coming to check with you about his social media use, I think you’re probably doing a fantastic job as a father with a fantastic kid.”

Today I had an Uber driver who it turns out both graduated from the HS where I teach and is now a parent of a student who will be starting there next week. It was a lovely conversation and by the time we got to my destination, the mother was asking if I would be available during our “welcome” day this week, even though I won’t be teaching her daughter, she wants to check in with me.

Maybe not so lighthearted observation … I am happy to be reminded that what we do every day is truly a contribution to the overall community. And I really love that. Have a wonderful start to your school year all!!

I have been teaching secondary math for several decades, but have never taught Geometry nor honors. This year they have assigned me Geometry Honors. I am working on putting some lessons together. I'm just trying to crowd source ideas for specific topics, this time compass constructions. How do you introduce compass constructions? How do you convey its importance to a class of students new to Geometry? (It will be our second lesson of the year.) Any ideas are welcome!

I say Season 4 Episode 6 "Sophie". Syd at the hospital talking with Clair ... I'm blubbering. Stuff with Faks and Carm and the baby ... so much fun. What's yours?

I'm finishing my umpteenth rewatch. WHY why why does the very last episode still make me weepy when I know exactly what is going to happen and even what the last line is? WHY?

I teach mostly high school juniors. I am typically asked by 30-40 students each year to write a recommendation letter. I spend several hours working on each letter. It is a huge process.

Given the increased prevalence of AI these days, I’m wondering if there has been any change in the weight that recommendation letters have in the admissions process this coming year? I don’t mind spending that much time, but it is a sacrifice and if the letters aren’t really needed, I’ll take a different approach.

Also, what might be a different approach I should take if there are changes to how recommendation letters are used?

Thank you!

I teach mostly high school juniors. I am typically asked by 30-40 students each year to write a recommendation letter. I spend several hours working on each letter. It is a huge process.

Given the increased prevalence of AI these days, I’m wondering if there has been any change in the weight that recommendation letters have in the admissions process this coming year? I don’t mind spending that much time, but it is a sacrifice and if the letters aren’t really needed, I’ll take a different approach.

Also, what might be a different approach I should take if there are changes to how recommendation letters are used?

Thank you!

I am a veteran math teacher (36 years) but am teaching Geometry Honors this coming year (first time teaching Geometry AND any honors course).

My question: how do YOU introduce the concepts "point, line, plane"?

I feel like this is one of the most important concepts in Geometry and leading up to all the different calculus related content that most of these students will eventually take. I want to introduce it in such a way that really makes them think and understand and be able to apply these concepts to the rest of what we will be doing throughout this course.

Any and all ideas will be very greatly appreciated!

I have posted here recently and gotten so many helpful answers. I am a veteran math teacher (36 years) but am teaching Geometry Honors this coming year (first time teaching Geometry AND any honors course).

My question: how do YOU introduce the concepts "point, line, plane"?

I feel like this is one of the most important concepts in Geometry and leading up to all the different calculus related content that most of these students will eventually take. I want to introduce it in such a way that really makes them think and understand and be able to apply these concepts to the rest of what we will be doing throughout this course.

Any and all ideas will be very greatly appreciated!

I have posted here recently and gotten so many helpful answers. I am a veteran math teacher (36 years) but am teaching Geometry Honors this coming year (first time teaching Geometry AND any honors course).

My question: how do YOU introduce the concepts "point, line, plane"?

I feel like this is one of the most important concepts in Geometry and leading up to all the different calculus related content that most of these students will eventually take. I want to introduce it in such a way that really makes them think and understand and be able to apply these concepts to the rest of what we will be doing throughout this course.

Any and all ideas will be very greatly appreciated!

I have been teaching secondary math for 36 years. I have (by choice) never taught an honors class. This coming school year, I will for the first time be teaching an honors class. (Honors geometry, to be specific. And I’ve never taught geometry, either.)

At this school (specifically in this division), there is open enrollment. So I have been told that there will be many students who choose to take honors who “aren’t really honors students.” I still want to teach the class as if every kid there IS a future math major, or engineer, or medical researcher/doctor, or rocket scientist, etc. I want to assume that they will all take AP Calculus BC in high school.

TL/DR: tell me everything to keep in mind for teaching honors math. From the basic best practices to your ideas on how to approach lesson design to how to inspire them to think outside the box mathematically to optimal challenges to make available to them.

THANK YOU!!

I posted recently about how much I like the Arnie Vinick character. Today I look at the Clear + Vivid feed (Alan Alda's podcast) and the topic for today's episode (July 7, 2026) is the creation of that character. I just wanted to let everyone in this sub know in case you are into podcasts and want to listen.

I am on my umpteenth rewatch. I keep finding myself remembering how much I love watching Alan Alda in anything he's in. He does such a fantastic job with Arnie Vinick. He (the senator) is truly a good man. I LOVE that they played a Republican that is a good man against the entire Democratic party that the show is based on. You want Santos to win, but you aren't necessarily wanting to see Vinick lose. I really love this show!!

I LOVE when Kristin Chenoweth is introduced. She's fantastic! I have watched the first few seasons so many more times than the last couple. But really, she's so good.

I have been teaching high school math for 36 years but next year will be my first time teaching Geometry. I am working on putting together some lesson plans and wondering what software everyone uses for creating nice looking Venn Diagrams. Google says that Canva is good at this, and my district gives us a Canva account. But I have never learned to use it, and it seems extremely complex. Is it worth spending time over the summer to learn Canva to make Venn Diagrams? Do you have a better way to do this?