Since 2007: Director, Center for Innovative Teaching at the Urban School of San Francisco.
Teaching
- Since 1981: Mathematics Teacher, Math Department Chair, The Urban School of San Francisco, grades 9-12
- - Mentoring and evaluation of new teachers; introduced cooperative groups and hands-on labs; organized teacher collaboration; integrated manipulatives, computers, and graphing calculators into math classes; led a continuous and thorough development of the math program, including substantial curriculum creation. Shared our program with countless visitors.
- - Taught: Pre-Algebra through Calculus; Probability, Statistics; Logic; Math and Art; advanced electives (chaos theory, fractals, infinite sets, transformational geometry, the fourth dimension); BASIC, Logo and Boxer programming; playwriting.
- - Designed and repeatedly helped revise the school's block schedule.
- - As teacher and department chair, pioneered many practices that have become adopted throughout the school.
- 2006: Adjunct Professor, University of San Francisco
- Taught the mathematics field work course for undergraduates in the Dual Degree (math and education) program.
- 2001-2004: Mathematician, Lawrence Hall of Science (University of California, Berkeley)
- Designing and teaching intensive inservice summer courses (with follow-up sessions during the school-year), as part of the State of California Mathematics Professional Development Institutes and the Bay Area Math Project. 2001: algebra. 2002: number theory, with Professor Ted Slaman. 2003: algebra, with Kim Seashore and Emiliano Gomez
- 1992: Visiting Instructor, Mathematics Education, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Course: Teaching Mathematics with Microcomputers.
- 1987-88: Master Teacher, University of California, Berkeley Gifted Program, School of Education
- Grades 2-3: Measurement and Physical Science.
- Grades 7-8: Probability and Statistics (using Boxer, a
computer language for education)
- 1981-83: Math/Science/Computer specialist, Lawrence Hall of Science (University of California, Berkeley)
- Teaching hearing-impaired junior high school students;
teaching Micronesian high-school students and teachers; teaching
in a summer day camp; creating a planetarium show; inventing games
and activities; writing teachers' guides.
- 1980-82: Math/Science/Computer specialist, Ecole Bilingue, grades 2-5 (East Bay French American School, Berkeley CA.)
- Math enrichment; software development; astronomy; physical
sciences; drama.
- 1971-80: Classroom teacher, Black Pine Circle School, grades 3-5; Math Specialist, grades K-6. (Berkeley, CA)
- Self-contained classroom; team teaching; astronomy; physical sciences; drama; French. Math enrichment program; developing educational software.
Publications
Books
(How to get some of them.)Co-edited National Puzzlers' League Cryptic Crosswords (Random House, November 2005) with Joshua Kosman, and co-authored four puzzles therein.
Co-edited Reframing Anti-Semitism (Jewish Voice for Peace, 2003) with Mitchell Plitnick, and wrote one of the essays therein.
Co-authored Zome Geometry ( Key Curriculum Press, 2001, Emeryville, CA) with George W. Hart. This is a book on polyhedra and much more, based on models built in the Zome System.
Wrote Geometry Labs a book of discussion-provoking activities for grades 8-11 (1999, Key Curriculum Press, Emeryville, CA).
Created the Algebra Lab, including Lab Gear Activities for Algebra 1(1995), The Algebra Lab: Middle School(1990), and The Algebra Lab:High School(1990), a manipulatives-based algebra curriculum (Creative Publications, Mountain View, CA, 1990).
Co-authored Algebra: Themes, Tools, Concepts, a textbook (Creative Publications, Mountain View, CA, 1994)
Created the following works, for math lessons through geometric puzzles in grades K through 12: SuperTangrams for Beginners(1 and 2) (1987), Pentomino Puzzles(1986), Pentomino Lessons(1986), Polyomino Lessons(1986), SuperTangram Activities(1 and 2) (1986), Pentomino Activities(1984, all published by Creative Publications, Mountain View, CA) and The Math Machine Pentomino Puzzles(1984, Ideal School Supplies, Oak Lawn, IL).
Co-authored Energy, a physics workbook for educationally handicapped teenagers, with Cary Sneider (1984, Janus Book Publishers, Hayward, CA.)
Seeking a publisher for Look! Up in the Sky!an introduction to the Solar System for grades 4 and up.
Articles
"Why I Use Interactive Whiteboards" (The Mathematics Teacher, forthcoming issue)
"A New Path to the Quadratic Formula" (The Mathematics Teacher, February 2008).
"Thoughts on the Art and Technique of Crossing Words", by Georges Perec. An annotated translation, by Henri Picciotto and Arthur Schulman, The Believer, September 2006
"Into the Domain of Shared Endeavor: Teacher Collaboration" by Jonathan Howland and Henri Picciotto, Independent School, Spring 2003
"Ceding the Survey: Depth vs. Breadth in Secondary Curriculum", by Jonathan Howland and Henri Picciotto, The Urban Community, April 1999
"The Turtle in the Age of the Mouse: Why I Still Teach Programming" (Proceedings: Inquiry-Based Geometry Throughout the Secondary Curriculum.St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN 1997)
"Iterating Linear Functions", by Jonathan Choate and Henri Picciotto, (The Mathematics Teacher, February 1997)
"Make These Designs", a graphing calculator lesson on linear functions (The Mathematics Teacher, May 1996).
"Operation Sense, Tool-Based Pedagogy, Curricular Breadth: A Proposal", a chapter in Employing Children's Natural Powers to Build Algebraic Reasoning in the Context of Elementary Mathematics, James Kaput, editor (a book which apparently never came out).
Co-authored "A new Algebra: Tools, Themes, Concepts" (Journal of Mathematical Behavior, v 12, #1, March 1993).
Co-authored "Learning About Sampling with Boxer" for the Journal of Mathematical Behavior, v 10, # 1 (1991). Wrote "Teacher-Created Educational Software: BASIC, Logo, Boxer" (Technical Report E4, the Boxer Group, Graduate School of Education, University of California, Berkeley, 1989), which was excerpted in Logo Exchange(International Society for Technology in Education, Portland, OR, March 1990).
Wrote "Polyarcs", "Simultaneous Pentomino Rectangles", and "Tetratan Puzzles", three articles on my explorations of geometric puzzles. All published in World Game Review(Special Issue on Polyforms, December 1989, Ellicott City, MD).
Wrote three brain-teasers for Gamesmagazine (New York): "Math McPuzzle", "Colorist to the King" (April/May 1987), and "Small Change" (June/July 1987).
Other Media
Wrote Delving into Functions with Function Diagrams for NCTM's online journal ON-Math (Volume 5, #1, 2006-2007).
Provided commentary on video for the Quadratic Equations unit of Seeing Math, a joint project of the Concord Consortium and PBS.
Wrote two units on algebra for the INTEC on-line course for teachers.
Had three problems featured as Challenging Problems of the Month on the Problem Solving Task Center's Web site, June 1996, and three problems as Project of the Monthon the Mathematics Forum.
Wrote three lessons on algebra as part of Teaching Mathematics with Manipulatives, an in-service video course (University of South Carolina, Ed Dickey, editor.)
Created Logo Math: Tools and Games, a comprehensive computer environment to enhance the discovery-based learning of secondary school mathematics (Terrapin Software, Cambridge MA, 1990).
Conceived, designed, and programmed Guesstimation, a computer game to develop students' grasp of number line relationships for whole numbers, integers, decimals, and fractions. (E.M.E Corporation, Danbury, CT, 1987.)
Helped develop kits for the informal learning of physics and mathematics, as a member of the Games Project at Lawrence Hall of Science: Rubber Bones, Bompers, Limbericks, Speed-O-Meter. Wrote all accompanying text and teachers' manuals (1983.)
Consulting
- Panel at Head-Royce School, Oakland CA, March 2010
- "Teaching in the Long Period"
- Presentations to the math department, and consultation with the instructional leadership at Chapin School, New York NY, February 2010
- "Reinventing High School Mathematics"
- "Nothing Works"
- "Polyomino Perimeter"
- Demonstration lesson: "Polyomino Perimeter"
- Chapin School, New York City (February 2010)
- Envision Schools, Oakland, CA (February 2008)
- Presentation to the Little Red Elizabeth Irwin Math Department, New York NY, February 2010
- Presentation to the Friends Seminary Math Department, New York NY, February 2010
- "Reinventing High School Mathematics"
- Presentation to the Peddie School Math Department, Hightstown NJ, January 2010
- "Seeking Depth in Algebra 2"
- Presentation to department chairs, Berkeley Carroll School, Brooklyn NY, Nov 2009
- "Curricular Innovation: the Urban School Math Department"
- Conversation with Calhoun Math Department, New York NY, November 2009
- "Teaching math in the long period"
- Consultant, Friends School, San Francisco
- Advice on new middle school math program, March 2009.
- Consultant, Redwood Day School, Oakland
- Advice on new high school math program, November 2008.
- Consultant and mentor (supporting teachers, providing advice and training on curriculum and pedagogy)
- San Francisco Day School, 2005-2006
- The San Francisco School, 2004-2006
- Leadership Public Schools, San Francisco Bay area, 2003-2006
- Synergy School, San Francisco, 2002-2004
- Presentation for parent education: "Trends in Mathematics Education"
- The San Francisco School, November 2005
- San Francisco Day School, October 2005
- Synergy School, San Francisco, November 2002
- San Francisco Day School, December 2001
- Sierra School Open Minds event, March 1995
- Urban School 25th Anniversary event, October 1994
- Presentations: "Benefits and Trade-Offs of Block Scheduling" and "Depth over Breadth"
- Westridge School, Pasadena CA, October 2005
- Consultant, Crowden School, Berkeley
- Analysis of math program, suggestions for change. April 2003.
- Presentation: "Teacher Collaboration", with Jonathan Howland
- College Preparatory School, Oakland CA, April 2003
- Woodside Priory School, Portola Valley CA, May 2003
- Consultant, Prospect-Sierra School, El Cerrito, CA
- Meeting with middle school algebra teacher on curriculum, November 2002.
- Meeting with the Mathematics Department, as consultant on teacher collaboration
- College Preparatory School (Oakland, CA), November 2001
- Two-day visit as consultant on "Benefits and Trade-Offs of Block Scheduling" and "Depth over Breadth", including presentations and many meetings.
- Concord Academy, (Concord, MA) April 2001
- Three-day visit to provide a full evaluation of the math program
- Crystal Springs Upland School, Hillsborough, CA, October 2000 (The visiting team included Deborah Hughes Hallett and Emily Scheinman, and was led by Lew Douglas.)
- Workshop: "Block scheduling: benefits and trade-offs"
- Northfield-Mount Hermon School, MA, April 2000
- Guest speaker for Math Night: "The McNuggets Problem"
- Acalanes High School, Lafayette, CA, June 1998
- Tele-workshop: "Mathematics in the block schedule"
- Beaver Country Day School, MA, October 1997
- Math specialist and resource: training teachers; organizing math lab; coordinating curriculum; teaching demonstration lessons, running math inservice workshops. Yearly school-wide themes: Probability and Statistics; Geometry; Measurement.
- Sierra School, grades K-6, El Cerrito CA, 1985-1991
- Probability curriculum unit review.
- Interactive Math Project (Lawrence Hall of Science, San Francisco State University) Summer 1989
- Presentation to high school math department: "Cooperative Learning"
- University High School, San Francisco CA, June 1988
Workshops
- Summer Workshop: "Visual Algebra" (3-4 days)
- Center for Innovative Teaching, Urban School of San Francisco (July 2010)
- Center for Innovative Teaching, at Flint Hill School, Oakton VA (June 2010)
- Center for Innovative Teaching, Urban School of San Francisco (August 2009)
- Center for Innovative Teaching, Urban School of San Francisco (August 2008)
- Center for Innovative Teaching, Urban School of San Francisco (July-August 2007)
- Center for Innovative Teaching, Urban School of San Francisco (August 2006)
- Summer Workshop: "Hands-On Geometry" (2 days)
- Center for Innovative Teaching, Urban School of San Francisco (July 2010)
- Center for Innovative Teaching, Urban School of San Francisco (August 2008)
- Workshop, Math for America, New York City, November 2009 (1 day)
- Go 3D with Zome
- The Pythagorean Geoboard
- Summer Workshop: "No Limits!" (2 days)
- Center for Innovative Teaching, Urban School of San Francisco (August 2009)
- Urban School of San Francisco, Center for Innovative Teaching (July-August 2007)
- Workshop: "Lab Gear: Manipulatives for Algebra"
- Session for pre-service teachers, Santa Clara University, February 2009
- Session for pre-service teachers, SF State University, November 2007
- Half-day workshop, Castlemont High School, Oakland, May 2004
- All-day workshop, Key Curriculum Press / UC Extension, San Diego, January 2003, April 2002
- All-day workshop, Key Curriculum Press / UC Extension, Emeryville, January 2003, March 2002, March 2001
- Half-day workshop, Klein Unified School District, TX, August 2000
- Teacher Enhancement Workshop sessions, Lewes, DE, July 1995
- Two-day course, Charlotte, NC, July 1994
- Two-day course, Johnston, Iowa (organized by Heartland AEA) June 1994
- All-day workshops in 7 North Carolina towns (sponsor: Math Science Education Network) June 1993
- Training for Create A Vision consultants, January 1993
- All-day workshops in Minneapolis, Denver (organized by Creative Publications, Mountain View, CA) Nov 1992
- North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Summer Algebra Institute, ten 2-hour workshops July 1992
- All-day workshops in Seattle, LA, Chicago, Washington, Orlando, Houston (Creative Publications) June 1992
- New Hanover Schools (Wilmington, NC) May 1992
- Functions Research Group (UC Berkeley) March 1992
- North Carolina State University, secondary math seminar (Raleigh) February 1992
- Math Science Education Center (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) August 1991
- Durham County Schools (Durham, NC) June 1991
- Granger Junior High (National City, CA.) October 1990
- Creative Publications consultants (Sunnyvale, CA) April, September 1990
- Henry Hall Middle School (Larkspur, CA) September 1990
- Mill Valley Middle School (Mill Valley, CA) April 1990
- Marin Academy (San Rafael, CA) February 1990
- Holy Names College, secondary math student teachers, November 1989
- Summer Workshop: "Tool-based Algebra"
- Bishop O'Dowd School, Oakland CA (July 2008)
- Afternoon Workshops: "Tool-based Algebra"
- Skyline High School, Oakland CA (April-May 2008)
- Presentations: "Three Paths to the Quadratic Formula" and "Proof in High School Math"
- Bay Area Professional Development Outreach Group (affiliated with the Park City Mathematics Institute), Palo Alto, January 2007
- Workshop: Incorporating the Geoboard in a Geometry Course
- Gann Academy (New Jewish High School) Math Department, Waltham MA, May 2004
- All-day workshop: "Manipulatives in Secondary School"
- Key Curriculum Press / UC Extension, Emeryville, January 2004
- Mathematician, California Mathematics Professional Development Institute, Delano, CA
- Four-day algebra institute, June 2003; one-day follow-up, October 2003
- Workshop: "Geometry Labs"
- All-day workshop, Key Curriculum Press / UC Extension, San Diego, March 2003, January 2002
- All-day workshop, Key Curriculum Press / UC Extension, Emeryville, February 2003, January 2002, January 2001
- Lawton, Oklahoma Public Shools (Create A Vision, Mountain View, CA) May 1995
- Workshop: "Signed Number Arithmetic -- In Depth"
- Guest presenter, Lawrence Hall of Science Mathematics Professional Development Initiative in Algebra, (Berkeley, CA) March 2001
- Workshop: "Objects to think with: hands-on mathematics"
- Boston, MA, Museum of Science staff, April 2000
- Field expert for the INTEC on-line course on teaching algebra with manipulatives, 1998/99.
- Three-day workshops, and two-week summer institutes: "A New Algebra"
- New Orleans Public Schools June-July 1997, January 1998, June-July 1998
- Workshop: "Fonctions Affines sur la TI-92" ("Linear Functions on the TI-92")
- Université d'été, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France, July 1996
- All-day workshops: "A New Algebra"
- Acalanes Unified School District, August 1995
- Creative Publications-sponsored workshop for Haddonfield, NJ teachers, July 1995
- Alief, Texas schools, July 1995
- Connecticut Department of Education April 1994
- Create A Vision seminars (Montclair NJ; San Francisco, CA) July 1993
- Workshop: "Functions"
- Teacher Enhancement Workshop sessions, Lewes, DE, July 1995
- Two-day course, Charlotte NC, July 1995
- Acalanes Unified School District, August 1994
- Workshops: "Trends in Mathematics Education"
- Westridge School, Pasadena, CA, November 1993
- Acalanes Unified School District, September 1993
- Workshops: "Manipulatives in Secondary Math"
- DesMoines, Iowa, Independent Community School District. August, September 1993
- San Francisco Education Fund, January, March 1991
- San Francisco Unified School District, April, Dec 1990
- San Lorenzo Unified School District, March 1990
- Workshop for K-8 Teachers: "Geometric Puzzles"
- University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC.) March 1992
- Durham Arts Council, NC, November 1991
- San Bruno USD, CA February 1988
- Workshop series: "Manipulatives in Junior High School"
- King Junior High, Berkeley CA, January-March 1991
- One-week Institute: "Manipulatives, Computers, Discovery in Secondary Math" August 1990
- Lecture in Summer Institute for K-8 teachers: "Geometric Puzzles" August 1987
- Demonstration Lesson, grades 3-6: "Inventing Puzzles" February 1986
- Nueva Learning Center, Hillsborough CA
- Workshop: "Logo Math: Tools and Games"
- University of California, Berkeley, secondary math student teachers March 1990
- The Boxer Group, UC Berkeley School of Education, May 1989
- Workshop: "Creativity"
- JFK University, Orinda, CA March 1990
- Demonstration lessons and workshops: "Tangrams", "Polyominoes", "Pentominoes"
- Orinda Unified School District, CA, Spring 1988
- Workshops: "Geometric Puzzles", "The California Mathematics Framework", "Computer Tools in Secondary Math"
- Demonstration lessons on geometric puzzles in grades 1-8.
- Maumee Valley Country Day School, grades K-12, Toledo OH, October 1987
- Demonstration lesson: "Geoboards and SuperTangrams"
- Pennycook School, Vallejo Unified School District, 5th grade June 1987
- "Cooperation, Logo and Other Escapes from Tradition"
- Woodrow Wilson Institute Workshop (College Preparatory School, Oakland CA.) June 1987
Presentations at Professional Conferences
- Escape from the Textbook!
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 2010
- California Math Council, Southern Section, Palm Springs, November 2010
- The Geometry of Conic Sections
- California Association of Independent Schools, North Hollywood, CA March 2010
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 2009
- Space: an Alternate Elective after Algebra 2
- California Association of Independent Schools, North Hollywood, CA March 2010
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Annual Meeting, Washington DC, April 2009
- California Association of Independent Schools, Oakland, CA, March 2009
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 2007
- Panel: "How Schools Foster Innovative Teaching."
- Independent Curriculum Group conference, Philadelphia, January 2010
- Independent Curriculum Group conference, New York City, January 2010
- Reimagining High School Math
- Panel, Independent Curriculum Group conference, Philadelphia, January 2010
- Presentation, Independent Curriculum Group conference, New York, January 2010
- Panel: "Veteran Teachers Reflect"
Presentation: "Math: Visual and Interactive!" - Center for Innovative Teaching Tech Symposium, Urban School of San Francisco, August 2008, 2009
- Laptop Institute, Lausanne Collegiate School, Memphis TN, July 2007
- Teacher collaboration: a key to improving math instruction
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 2008
- Geometric Transformations and Symmetry
- Bay Area Math Project, Albany CA, May 2008
- Serving Our Strongest Students
- Keynote address, California Association of Independent Schools Mathematics Day, Oakland CA, March 2008
- Nothing Works! The Art of Teaching Mathematics
- Mathematical Association of America, Intermountain Section, Provo UT, March 2008
- California Association of Independent Schools, Atherton, CA, March 2007
- California Association of Independent Schools, North Hollywood, CA, March 2006
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 2005
- Infinity: an Alternate Elective after Algebra 2
- California Association of Independent Schools, Atherton, CA, March 2007
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 2006
- Three Paths to the Quadratic Formula
- California Association of Independent Schools, North Hollywood, CA, March 2006
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Annual Meeting, Anaheim, CA, April 2005
- California Association of Independent Schools, Northern Regional Meeting, March 2005
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 2003 (major speaker)
- Small group problem-solving session for middle school teachers
- California Association of Independent Schools, Northern Region Math Day, Palo Alto CA, March 2004, as support for Prof. Andrew Bernoff
- "Go 3D with the Zome System!"
- Bay Area Math Project, Berkeley CA, April 2003
- Minicourse, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, April 2002
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Annual Meeting, Orlando, April 2001
- Northwest Mathematics Conference, Victoria BC, October 2000
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 1999
- "Seeking Depth in Algebra 2"
- Minicourse, with Naoko Akiyama, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, San Antonio, April 2003
- Minicourse, with Naoko Akiyama and Scott Nelson, California Math Council, Southern Section, Palm Springs, November 2001
- "Teacher Collaboration", with Jonathan Howland
- California Association of Independent Schools, Northern Region, March 2003
- National Association of Independent Schools, San Francisco, February 2002
- "Algebra: What? When?", a roundtable discussion
- California Association of Independent Schools, Northern Region, March 2003
- "Lessons in Teachers' Mathematics"
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 2002
- "Symbol Sense: Deep Algebra for All", with Scott Nelson
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 2002
- "Building Visual Foundations for Calculus", with Richard Lautze
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 2001
- "Le diagramme-fonction et la géomètrie dynamique" (Function Diagrams and Dynamic Geometry)
- Cabri World Conference, Montreal, June 2001
- "The Circle-Trig Geoboard", with Richard Lautze
- California Association of Independent Schools, Northern Region, March 2001
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 2000
- "Teaching About Functions"
- Bay Area Math Project, Albany, CA, January 2001
- Middle Grades Symposium, California Math Project, San Diego, CA, April 1995
- Mini-Course, NCTM Annual Meeting, Boston, April 1995
- Middle Grades Symposium, Bay Area Math Project, San Francisco, CA, March 1995
- Mini-Course, Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Denver, October 1994
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 1993
- California Math Council, Southern Section, Palm Springs, November 1993
- "Geometry Labs"
- Council of Math/Science Educators of San Mateo County, Redwood City, CA, March 2000
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Annual Meeting, San Francisco, April 1999
- Mini-Course, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Western Region, San Jose, March 1997
- Middle Grades Symposium, Bay Area Math Project, San Mateo, CA, February 1997
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 1995
- California Association of Independent Schools, Northern Region, March 1995
- "Geometric Puzzles"
- California Association of Independent Schools, Southern Region, March 2000
- California Association of Independent Schools, Northern Region, March 1999
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Western Region, February 1989
- California Math Council, Central Section, Fresno, October 1988
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 1987
- California Association of Independent Schools, Math Day, Hillsborough, March 1986
- "Depth Over Breadth in the Secondary Curriculum", with Jonathan Howland
- California Association of Independent Schools, Northern Region, March 1999
- National Association of Independent Schools, Dallas TX,
February 1999
- "Strategy and Tactics of Reform"
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 1998
- Closing address, Illinois Council of Teachers of Math, October 1997
- "How to design rich activities; how to make them pay off"
- California Math Council, Southern Section, Palm Springs, November 1997
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Annual Meeting,
Minneapolis, April 1997
- " The Turtle in the Age of the Mouse: Why I Still Teach Programming"
- St. Olaf/NSF Geometry Conference, June 1997
- "Lab Gear: Manipulatives for Algebra"
- Workshop, Conference for the Advancement of Mathematics Teaching, Houston, TX, July 1997
- Mini-Course, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Southern Region, Atlanta, February 1997
- Mini-course, Association of Teachers of Mathematics in New Jersey , October 1995
- Middle Grades Symposium, Bay Area Math Project, San Diego, CA, April 1995
- Middle Grades Symposium, Bay Area Math Project, San Francisco, CA, March 1995
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Eastern Region, Pittsburgh, PA, October 1993
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 1992
- North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Raleigh, NC, October 1992
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Annual Meeting, Nashville, April 1992
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, North East Region, New Hampshire, Nov 1991
- California Math Council, Southern Section, Palm Springs, November 1990, 1991
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Southwestern Region, New Mexico, Nov 1991
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Central Region, Kentucky, October 1991
- NCCTM, SCCTM, Carolinas Math Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina, October 1991
- Conference for the Advancement of Mathematics Teaching, Texas, August 1991
- California Association of Independent Schools, Northern Section, March 1991
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Central Region, Indiana, March 1991
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Western Region, California, Feb 1991
- Santa Clara Valley Mathematics Association, Santa Clara, January 1991
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 1990
- California Math Council, Central Section, Fresno, October 1990
- Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Denver, October 1990
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Western Region,
Hawaii, July 1990
- "Do manipulatives really help children learn mathematics?"
- Panel discussion, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics,
Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, April 1997
- "Graphing calculator activities for algebra"
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 1996
- California Association of Independent Schools, Northern Region, March 1995
- "Operations"
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, April 1996
- California Math Council, Southern Section, Palm Springs, November 1995
- "Avoiding Backlash: Teaching to All Levels"
- Supervisors' Breakfast, Association of Teachers of Math of New Jersey, October 1995
- "A New Algebra"
- Keynote speech, Association of Teachers of Math of New Jersey, Trenton, May 1995
- Mini-Course, NCTM Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, April 1994
- California Association of Independent Schools, Northern Region, March 1993
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Central Region, Minneapolis, November 1992
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, North East, Hartford, CT, October 1992
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 1991, 1994
- California Math Council, Southern Section, Palm Springs, November 1991, 1994
- "Learning New Things in New Ways with a Computational Medium: Boxer", with Dr. Andrea diSessa
- National Educational Computing Conference, Baltimore, June 1995
- "Concrete and abstract algebra with children"
- Early Algebra Conference, Center for Research in Mathematical Sciences Education, Madison, WI, June 1994
- "Iterating Functions"
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Western Region, San Francisco, February 1994
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 1992
- "Square Roots: A Tool-Based Approach"
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, April 1993
- Council of Math/Science Educators of San Mateo County, Redwood City, CA, March 1993
- "Logo Tools and Games in Secondary Mathematics"
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Annual Meeting, New Orleans, April 1991
- California Association of Independent Schools, Computer Day, San Francisco, March 1990
- Hands On Technology Conference, Los Angeles, February 1989
- "Mathematical Modeling and Probability/Statistics: a new course after Algebra 2"
- Santa Clara Valley Mathematics Association, Santa Clara, September 1990
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, April 1990
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 1989
- California Association of Independent Schools, Northern California Conference, 1989
- "A Teacher's Perspective of Boxer"
- American Educational Research Association , Annual Meeting, San Francisco, 1989
- "Pentominoes"
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Annual Meeting, Anaheim, CA, 1987
- California Math Council, Northern Section, Asilomar, December 1984, 1985
- "Cryptic Crosswords"
- California Association of Independent Schools, Northern California Conference, 1985
Boards
- Bay Area Math Project
- Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Problems with a Point
- A project of the Educational Development Corporation, Boston
- Member of the Advisory Board
Professional Associations
- Founder and coordinator: Escape from the Textbook!
- A sharing and collaboration network for math teachers who want to escape from the textbook, whether for a day, a unit, or a whole course.
- California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS)
- Faculty member, Retreat for Experienced Teachers, since 2007.
- Faculty member, Retreat for Beginning Teachers (Secondary), yearly, 1991-2005. (Chair of the RBT faculty, 1997-2005.) Master Teacher workshop on teaching math; sessions on the challenges of first year teaching, on the special challenges of working in independent schools, on general pedagogical techniques, and in general on the teaching profession.
- Organized a professional development conference for math teachers in grades 3-12: Escape from the Textbook! in March 1988, and the secondary mathematics component of an Association-wide conference in April 1989.
- Math representative, Academic Services Committee, 1987-1989
- Member of accreditation visiting team for WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges)
- Bentley School, Lafayette CA, February 2005
- Midland School, Los Olivos CA, March 2004
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
- Editor of the "Activities" column in The Mathematics Teacher (1995-97)
Council for Technology in Mathematics Education (CLIME)
California Math Council (CMC)
Education
Secondary: French Baccalaureate (Mathematics), 1966
- Undergraduate: Centre d'Etudes Mathématiques, Beirut, Lebanon
- American University of Beirut
- Princeton University
- University of California (Berkeley)
B.A. (Mathematics): U.C.B., 1970
M.A. (Mathematics): U.C.B., 1972
Math Specialist Training: Community Teaching Fellowship, U.C.B., 1971
California Teaching Credential: Standard Elementary, grades K-8 / St-Mary's College, Moraga, CA, 1975-6
Other Interests
Word Puzzles
- Member, as Hot, of the National Puzzlers' League (NPL), since 1985.
- - Since 1995, cryptic crosswords co-editor for The Enigma (the NPL's monthly newsletter)
- - Co-editor of National Puzzlers' League Cryptic Crosswords (Random House, November 2005)
- - Picture puzzle editor for The Enigma, 1999-2002
- - Vice-President, 1989.
- Founder, ABC River Cluists
- Berkeley word puzzlers club: semi-annual Equinox Word Games parties since 1985; weekly team solving of cryptic crosswords since 1982.
Since 1987, co-author with Rebecca W. Kornbluh of an ongoing series of variety cryptic crosswords, published in The Enigma, Dell PuzzleSpectacular (New York, NY, Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon, editors), Tough Puzzles, and Tough Cryptics (Stan Newman, editor, Long Island, NY). Some of these have been reprinted in Random House Cryptic Crosswords, Volumes 1 and 2 (1994, 1995) and National Puzzlers' League Cryptic Crosswords. For twenty years (1988-2007), contributed a puzzle a year to the NPL convention.
Created several party games for word aficionados, some of which were published in Super Party Games (by John Chaneski, Sterling Publishing Co, 1999)
Made a presentation in English about Italian-language "classical puzzling" (enigmistica classica) to the 160th Convention of the National Puzzlers' League, in Big Sky, Montana in July 1999. It was published in The Enigma, August 1999.
Made a presentation in Italian about English-language cryptic crosswords to the joint meeting of the 58th National Congress of Classical Puzzling and the 20th Convention of the Italian Rebus Association, in Verona, Italy, in June 1999: I cruciverba enigmistici.
From October 1997 to March 1998, co-author with Joshua Kosman of "Word Salad", a monthly series of narrative word puzzles for San Franciscomagazine.
Constructed "On the Table", a cryptic crossword, for Word Ways, the Journal of Recreational Linguistics, November 1986 (Morristown, NJ).
Theater
Co-authored Seeing Double, A Middle Eastern Comedy of Error with Joan Holden and the San Francisco Mime Troupe (1989). (New York Times review.)
Co-authored the Factwinoplays, with Joan Holden and the San Francisco Mime Troupe. Wrote "Comics on the Stage," an essay. (All published in West Coast Plays 15/16, California Theatre Council, Los Angeles, CA, 1983.)
Drama critic for Artbeat ("San Francisco's Independent Arts Newspaper"), 1980-1983.
Hundreds of political street theater performances (founder and leader of the SDS Radical Arts Troupe on several campuses, 1967-71, and Beast Street Theater in Berkeley, 1972-75.)
Miscellaneous
Native speaker of French.
Hobbies: astronomy, bicycling, birding, literature, painting, and especially puzzling.
Member, then Chair of the Board of Jewish Voice for Peace, a diverse organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for a just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on human rights and international law. (2002-2009)