This week's Student of the Week is Paul M (who will send me a photo of this handsome fellow?)!

Paul is the walking embodiment of Most Improved Math Student. Super proud of this guy! When he was in grade 8 (and 9 too) Paul was not the most focused of students. He's ALWAYS been a great guy - personable, thoughtful, cheerful - but he used to concentrate more on the social aspect of Math class, rather than the MATH! (nothing abnormal about this. Drop by my grade 8 class some time and witness how little sustained work takes place sometimes).

Now, here is Paul in PreCalculus 12, earning good marks, coming in for extra help, getting all his work done on time. A dream student! I am so impressed with his ability to persevere, to organize his time, to stay motivated (even when things are hard).

Paul has always been a big fan of "The Draw" (pulling names out of the white bag). I believe he has asked me {"can we pull a name today?") more than any other student I teach. It would have been appropriate if he had WON the actual contest this year but, sadly, that was not the case... and hence the reason that Paul is Student of the Week.

It's been great to teach you, Paul. Words I would use to describe you are "genuine", "warm-hearted", and "amiable". Thanks for always being such a positive force in my classroom. May you never lose your pleasant disposition and quick smile. All the best!

It’s no secret that Americans aren’t exactly leading the pack in mathematics.
Out of the profusion of statistics that support this fact, the most telling may be that math performance by American high school graduates is roughly the same as most high school dropouts in other countries.
My newest study in the journal Science Advances uncovers another possible reason for what Quartz has called America’s “spectacularly bad” arithmetic skills: It’s math anxiety.
To be more specific, my research shows that math anxiety leads to math avoidance. And, as anyone who has played an instrument, participated in athletics, or tried to master any nature of new task can tell you, failure to practice, or to spend time working on getting better at a thing, tends to produce less-than-stellar results when it comes to developing any type of skill.

This week's Student of the Week is Seraphina W-D!

Writing these Student of the Week posts is so sad. It makes me think about saying good-bye to all you wonderful people after five special years together. And so, it is with genuine sorrow, that I write the following about Seraphina...

Seraphina was in my Math 8 Tech class (oh the amazing computer skills I taught that class. hahaha!). It did not take long to realize that she was a unique person. What struck me most was how Seraphina was always smiling, always positive, always laughing. Five years later and Seraphina is exactly the same way. It's such a rare and admirable trait (I sure don't possess it but wish I did). What a treat to be around someone who (almost) never complains, who looks for the good in the world, who is supportive and thoughtful and kind. I can honestly say that I feel a little happier EVERY time Seraphina walks into my classroom. It was true in grade 8 and it's still true today.

(incidentally, I remember one day when Seraphina was NOT happy at all. In fact, she was very sad. It was so different than her usual way of being that I found it super alarming!! I felt panicked! But... no surprise... the very next day she was back to her usual bubbly self)

In grade 10 Seraphina went to Prince of Wales to do the TREK Outdoor Education Program. This is a very well-regarded and competitive program; students from all over the district apply. This points to something else I love about Seraphina: she is not afraid to take risks. Whether it is applying to specific programs or volunteer positions or jobs, Seraphina is eager to "give it a shot". Most people get stopped by the fear of failure ("what if I don't get accepted?") or the unknown ("what if I hate it?") but Seraphina is courageous enough to just "go for it"! Want to live an extraordinary life? Adopt this mindset immediately!

Of course, I was so sad when Seraphina left (and I feared that she would stay at PW for the rest of high school) but, happily, she returned to KG in grade 11. In the past two years we have shared many special moments. We have spoken of so many different things - Poland, sandwiches (we ALL know Seraphina LOVES sandwiches), chess (Seraphina and I are equally bad at chess... but we enjoy playing), success, failure, death, wealth, morality... the list goes on and on. Sounds pretty heavy but the thing I will remember most (and best!) about Seraphina is all the laughs we have shared together. Seraphina has a world-class laugh and I have been lucky enough to hear it on MANY occasions.

I could say so much more, Seraphina, but let me end here by simply saying "thank you". Teaching you has been a joy (so determined! So hard working! So organized! So responsible!) but getting to know you as a person has been the BEST. You have always been so kind to me. Some of the conversations we had when my dad was sick (and after he died) made a huge difference to me. I will never forget you for that alone but there are so many OTHER memories that I will treasure just as much.

Good luck to you, Seraphina (I KNOW that great things await you in the future). May you never lose your incredible, positive outlook on life. I love you, SWD!

Maths teacher Diarra Bousso Gueye was grading a set of algebra papers when she had a Eureka moment.

Gueye, who had long harbored fashion aspirations from her childhood when she made clothes for her dolls, pondered what if she took the equations she taught to create drawings and prints for clothing?

Soon after that classroom moment, her brand Diarrablu started using math concepts such as geometric transformations and quadratic transformations to create multiple prints in bold colors.
"My work is fully focused on the use of mathematics for the creative process," she told CNN.