Twitter Math Camp 2013 ended yesterday. It was an incredible experience - 4 days with strangers-turned-friends all centered around teaching math. Perhaps not everyone's idea of a good time, but my idea of heaven! There were so many great teaching ideas presented and there are bound to be recaps of those (Greg Taylor @mathtans did a fantastic job while at TMC - I don't think he slept!) so I'm going to take a different tack.
The biggest point I want to make for anyone who wasn't at TMC13 is how inclusive it is. I have never been around a more welcoming, non-judgmental group of (awesome) people. I went there kinda-sorta knowing one person and made all kinds of friends! I am a quiet and shy person and discovered a number of people like me (who knew?!?) and lots of people who seemed okay with hanging out with me, despite my lack of outgo-i-ness (yes, I just made that word up). Not to say that there weren't times that I was feeling oh-so intimidated. The most awesome of which was dinner with David Wees (@davidwees) , Christopher Danielson (@Trianglemacsd), Eli Luberoff (@eluberoff/@desmos) and Sadie Estrella (@wahedahbug). As if that wasn't enough, we were joined by much of team Mathalicious - Karim Ani (@karimkai), Matt Lane (@mmmaaattttttt), Ginny Stuckey (@gstuck) and later by Chris Lusto (@lustomatic) and his girlfriend. Ever know that you are, without a doubt, the least smart person around a table? Yeah... But the food was delicious and I listened to a lot of great conversations. My point is that I never had to eat alone or miss going out - I just went to the hotel lobby and (quietly) joined in with whatever people were doing - sitting around talking, origami, getting tied up in knots... I realize that some of you may not realize what a HUGE deal that is, but it is. So, thank you to everyone at TMC13 for that.
Okay... here are a few fun non-math facts I learned at TMC13:
- Connie H. is not an axe-murderer (important in a roommate you have never met! Thanks, Connie!)
- Max is one of the most genuine and nice people around
- Nathan really is crazy. He was just "that crazy toothpick guy" before.
- Jami is not a ... (or dumb, apparently)
- Glenn can't remember names (but that makes retelling of stories a lot of fun)
- Sadie has a potty mouth
- Sam loves sparkles
- Eli managed to make everyone have a math crush on him by showing off Desmos (how weird does that make us?!?)
- Ashli is the folding queen
- Julie really is that positive and excited about everything!
- Elizabeth loves Flakes
- Don't be late for Lisa's class
I need to remember the following for next year:
- Actually talk to people whom I find intimidating (Fawn, Nathan, Karim...)
- Take pictures. Maybe even with me in them (that's just crazy talk now).
- Find something worthy of sharing. And share it (more crazy talk).
I also love that I now read tweets and blog posts in the voice of the author.
Thank you so much to Lisa and the TMC13 Team for all of their time and effort putting together the best conference any math teacher could ask for. <3
I loved meeting and hanging out with you! Thanks so much for knots in the lobby!! :)
ReplyDeleteThe knots were tons of fun. I have to read up on that session!
DeleteIt was so much fun for me to see you guys doing the tangles in the lobby!! I got a couple of pictures too, tweeted one of them out.
DeleteI wrote about it here, Mary: http://fawnnguyen.com/2013/03/12/20130312.aspx
Hey, you were smart enough to find yourself a seat at that table! That was a delightful dinner, wasn't it?
ReplyDeleteIt was a great dinner, in great company :)
DeleteMary - what a lovely post. Right before I read it, I received a phone call from a teacher I met at Exeter, and I am feeling at the moment so fortunate to have expanded my personal and professional circle this summer by 200+ amazing math teachers. Although we didn't get a chance to speak much at TMC13, I hope to see you and get to know you better at one of these conferences next year!
ReplyDeleteI feel very fortunate to have been part of both.
DeleteI'm so glad you came. It was fun when our paths crossed!
ReplyDeleteMe? Intimidating? Bah!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Mary! I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to talk more.
Next year :)
DeleteGreat recap! Also love that I can now place faces and hear voices when reading blogs and tweets.
ReplyDeleteGreat recap! Echoed a lot of my sentiments about the welcomingness (making up words is fun!) of the community of awesome that is the MTBoS. But it also made me realize how many amazing people were there that I didn't even meet. Next year!!
ReplyDeleteMe?? Intimidating?? (Wait, I sound like Nathan. Grrr.) Mary!!!!!!!!!!! Hey, you should talk... eating with Mathalicious team and all. Now, THEY are intimidating. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Mary, for your gifts. You're so good to me, and I appreciate you more than you know. Love you, Mary!!!
I was glad that I had finished eating before Karim sat next to me...me eating with chopsticks isn't pretty!
DeleteFawn - The stabbing can be a little intimidating to some at first.
DeleteLol...the hashtag that will never die. It was awesome meeting you. I can't wait to hang out some more at tmc14!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an awesome event! Are next year's dates and location out yet?
ReplyDeleteNot yet. Make sure you are following @TmathC on Twitter for news about next year's conference!
DeleteThanks for sharing your perspective! I'm hoping that I can make it next year. This year's was close to home, but I was out of town for a wedding. I am shy like you, so it's great to know that everyone was welcoming!
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Greg slept either!!!
ReplyDeleteI loved loved loved this because this is what I always try to get across to ppl about the #MTBoS: "The biggest point I want to make for anyone who wasn't at TMC13 is how inclusive it is. I have never been around a more welcoming, non-judgmental group of (awesome) people. I went there kinda-sorta knowing one person and made all kinds of friends! I am a quiet and shy person and discovered a number of people like me (who knew?!?) and lots of people who seemed okay with hanging out with me, despite my lack of outgo-i-ness (yes, I just made that word up)."
I hope everyone felt that way. I was worried/conscious that some ppl had met the previous year, and I wanted to know if the people who were new this year felt included... and so far, the people I've talked to said things similar to you!
It was great hanging with you! We'll meet again ... well, probably tomorrow, on Twitter.
Sam
Thanks, Sam. You were so kind and conscious of making sure everyone felt included in the pre-calc session...
DeleteSo good to meet you and finally be able to see your tweets!
Thanks for your wonderful post and for the Flake chocolates and especially for your openness and willingness to put yourself out there. I loved hanging out with you and I hope you'll be at TMC14!
ReplyDelete- Elizabeth (@cheesemonkeysf)
You were the first person I met at TMC13 - can't do any better than that!
Delete