We made it home safe. It is currently 2:39 so none of you are actually reading this. Thanks to everyone! pic.twitter.com/CjQZCelApd
— Timon Piccini (@MrPicc112) July 30, 2015
We made it safely home from L.A, as many of you found out TWO MONTHS AGO. Yes, it has been many moons since I saw the loveliest math teachers in the world, and all I can think of is just how inspiring you all were. I have had this post brewing in my head this whole time, and it is not going to win any Pulitzers, but it is true. These are my thoughts (if anyone is reading this ghost town of a blog) on TMC 15.
#myfavourite
If Fawn wasn't your favourite you are objectively wrong! Yes, I am being facetious; you are allowed to have other favourites, but seriously, Fawn made you laugh; she made you cry; she made you cry because you were laughing, and then I think she even made you laugh because you were crying! Fawn reminded us why we are teachers, and also why we became a part of this crazy MTBoS community. It was inspiring, and only solidified my love of her and all that she does. #forthenguyen
#mtbos
What an incredible group of people we have to interact with. This was my first experience of TMC, and I was just floored by the number of incredible conversations and minds that were in any given direction. What really got me was just how many more people there are who are contributing and engaging in this group than I ever expected. We can be secluded in our own blogs, and even the close knit mini groups of friends we have made, that we forget about the whole. Never have I seen so many teachers gathering all together to learn during their summer. I feel that bears repeating many times. Hundreds of teachers took time from the resting, relaxing, to fly, drive, probably bike, and I bet some weirdos were kayaking along the way, in order to engage in what we are apparently taking a break from. The reality is this group of people do not break from being teachers. It is what we do. It is what we live and breathe. Summer does not end that, in fact it only gives us time to dig even deeper than we can when the school year begins, and we have to worry about all the other non-teaching specific responsibilities we have.
#tmzombie
ThIs is @MrPicc112 "zombie walking" #TMZombie @LisaSolt @JamiDanielle pic.twitter.com/gDWWGcAdMW
— Laurie B-Worthington (@lauriebworthy) July 23, 2015
My next favourite people were definitely Hedge and John Mahlstedt. Hedge is my sister from another Mister, so I knew she was awesome but it was great to meet John, and see how two great minds came come together to plan something so awesome as a mathematical zombie apocalypse. I realised just how awesome these two when they had us in teams planning which cars we would steal, hot wire, and take to safety. It was pure inspiration, and I hope one day I get to use it. My current context might not work yet, but I am looking how I can fit it in.
#myonething #numbertalks
Besides the general inspiration, my one big thing that I am taking on this year is Number Talks. Chris Harris (my other new favourite person) led the discussion and really inspired me to start getting my kids to do more mental math. They are engaged, and I cannot wait to see how the whole year progresses. I can already see how it will enhance many of the topics that I will be teaching. The fact that kids are forced to talk, and discuss in mathematics, means that they are becoming stronger mathematicians every day! I love it.
#friends
Yup, @MrVaudrey is the prettiest Barbie at #tmc15 pic.twitter.com/oYUQs4rkPR
— Timon Piccini (@MrPicc112) July 24, 2015
This is still the aspect of the MTBoS that still blows my mind. You are actually my friends. I don't know how that happened. I remember reading about it and thinking, "Yeah right," but you truly are! I especially hung out with Mr. Matt Vaudrey (FYI his family is the bomb), but there were so many others that I cannot even begin to count.
#somuchmore
There is so much more that I could express, but I did not want this to drag on. You have inspired me to be a more devoted blogger. I miss the engagement that I once had, and I am trying to jump bank into this amazing world. I can't wait to see you more #mtbos!
#notes #extendededition #onlynerdswillreadthis
If you want a more detailed, but possibly harder to follow version, you can look at my notes. I am not sure if they are helpful to you, but maybe they are.
