Would You Ever Retake the SAT?

WSJ.com: I Took the SAT Again After 41 Years: Inspirational? Fun? Zany? Brainy? Would you ever retake the SAT?

http://digg.com/d1sGRZ

Many congrats to Sue Shellenbarger! The headline on WSJ’s home page says “the terrifying experience of retaking the SAT after 40 years.” Education needs better PR!
As Robin the Math Lady, I teach Algebra and Geometry for the SAT but really focus on the psychology of studying and learning Math. Many people have Math and test anxiety hence the name of my web site -- Math Confidence.

By viewing test prep as an opportunity for learning, people can improve their brain fitness (just like going to the gym increases physical fitness). Congrats to Sue for taking on this challenge! You have inspired me to seriously consider registering for the October SAT ;)

Inspiring Students To Think ;)

This letter is reminiscent of a student who said:
"The reason I don't like your class is that it forces us to have to think!"

New York Times Letter
Latin? Try Basic Math
Published: May 25, 2009
To the Editor:
A May 19 letter suggested teaching Latin to make college diplomas more readable.
Although making sure that the college population gets a well-rounded education is a laudable goal, I, a professor of college math for more than 30 years, bemoan the fact that people cannot do simple arithmetic.
Many college students (and, yes, college graduates) cannot add fractions, multiply decimals or calculate the square footage of an L-shaped room (forget about calculus or higher math.)
These things are required in everyday life to convert recipes, calculate a sale price or buy an air-conditioner. Calculators are a bad substitute. They absolve the student from the requirement of thinking.
On a recent exam, a student complained to me not that the exam was too long or too hard — but that he had to think.
Arnold FischthalNew York, May 20, 2009
The writer is an assistant professor of mathematics at Queens College.

The Mind Can Drive While it Does Other Things

The title of this blog post links to Verlyn Klinkenborg's article called "The Paved Mind" about how we can weed out the inessentials and drive while multitasking (talking on phone, texting, filing nails, etc)

This is what Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi says about the mind and flow
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow.html

Studying Math can provide this flow experience ;)

SAT Score Cut-Offs: SAT as an Indicator, National Curriculum?

In response to: Colleges Acknowledge SAT and ACT Score Cut-Offs in Admission

It is important to note that some fields of study use the SAT as a measure of ‘keeping up with the Joneses’. Engineering schools want high Math scores (to follow along with profs who write a dozen equations on the board); likewise, journalism schools want high verbal scores.
Because grades are subjective, the SAT is a broader indicator. Due to the absence of a national curriculum, we can think of the SAT as a unifier for a reasonable body of knowledge for high schoolers.
Studying for the SAT (or any test) can promote brain fitness at any age
http://mathconfidence.blogspot.com/2009/03/sat-as-predictor-indicator-brain.html

Can You Resist the Marshmellow? Self-Control and Success

This excellent article highlights the importance of self-control and mentions the famous marshmellow experiments done at Stanford in the 1960's and 1970's. Includes Math as a subject that benefits from self-control.

AP Classes for College? for National Curriculum?

AP classes are increasingly popular. People debate whether to allow all students into these classes. While I am unsure of a fair requirement, there is something that the AP does quite well -- it nationalizes curricula. If more students have studied AP World History (for example), perhaps colleges can assume more uniformity in student preparedness.

Why Don't Students Like School

This book is excellent for teachers, parents and students. Dr Willingham's main point is that thinking is hard and takes a lot of work and for most people, it does not come naturally. Today, this book enhanced my professional development Math workshop as it highlighted many of the attitudinal issues that Math teachers must address.