March 14th — the day we celebrate the most famous number in mathematics. Grab a slice of pie and explore the infinite wonder of π. My Pi Day Passion: Fun & Philanthropy Pi Day is an event that I look forward to every year and is truly my favorite event of the year. I love seeing students dive into fun explorations, from digit memorization contests and pie-eating challenges to engineering pi-throwing machines and lively relay races. But most importantly, this time of year marks the St. Jude Math-a-Thon for my classes, a special event where my students engage in service learning. They solve math problems and fundraise for St. Jude, ensuring no family ever receives a bill. St. Jude has help push childhood cancer survival rates from 20% to over 80% and the Math-a-Thon is a way for students to help support that mission. You can visit my schools fundraising page to see our progress or contribute, or learn more about the Math-a-Thon here. What’s All the Fuss About Pi? Pi (π) is more than just a number — it’s a fundamental constant that unlocks the secrets of circles and appears throughout science, engineering, and mathematics. For nearly 4,000 years, mathematicians have been fascinated by this irrational number, which begins 3.14159… and continues infinitely without repeating. 🔢 Irrational Never ends, never repeats — a decimal that goes on forever. 📐 Universal Found in geometry, physics, statistics, and even music. 📅 Pi Day Celebrated every March 14th (3/14) around the world. A Journey Through Pi’s History The pursuit of pi spans ancient civilizations to modern supercomputers — a testament to humanity’s enduring mathematical curiosity. Activity: Discovering Pi with Circles! 🔵 In this hands-on experiment, students physically discover the relationship between a circle’s circumference and its diameter — arriving at pi themselves through measurement and division. Materials Needed Step-by-Step Instructions Activity: The Pi Puzzle Challenge 🧩 A creative twist on the classic “Four Fours” puzzle — using only the digits 3, 1, and 4 exactly once per expression, build equations that equal every number from 1 to 30. Use any operations: +, −, ×, ÷, exponents, square roots, factorials, and parentheses. 🎯 Objective Explore pi’s digits through logic and mathematical creativity. How many numbers from 1 to 30 can you construct? 💡 Example: Making 1 (4 − 3) × 1 = 14 ÷ (3 + 1) = 1Both use 3, 1, and 4 exactly once! 🚀 Push Further Try using factorials (3! = 6), concatenation (31 from 3 and 1), and nested square roots for harder targets. NASA Receiver Riddle 🚀 In December 2023, NASA transmitted the first ultra-high-definition video from deep space using new technology known as Deep Space Optical Communications, or DSOC. DSOC uses an infrared laser to transmit data at a much higher rate than current radio transmitters. The 15-second video, featuring a cat chasing a laser, was beamed to Earth from the Psyche spacecraft at a rate faster than many terrestrial internet connections. The Challenge DSOC’s transmission had to travel 30,199,000 km to reach Earth. Even traveling at the speed of light, that takes a long time! And all that time, Earth was still moving along its orbit. That meant that the team needed to aim the laser transmission at where Earth would be when the signal arrived. 🔭 Your Challenge Determine how many kilometers ahead along Earth’s orbit did the team need to aim the laser? 💡 Hint: Use pi to calculate Earth’s orbital circumference, then figure out how far Earth moves in the time it takes light to travel 30,199,000 km. (Things you’ll need to know: Speed of light; Earth’s orbital radius; and Earth’s orbital period) Want to see the video NASA transmitted across space? Check it out below 👇👇👇 Beyond the Basics: Pi’s Infinite Nature Pi is irrational — its decimal representation stretches on forever without repeating. This endless quality is what makes it endlessly fascinating. The quest to compute more digits has fueled breakthrough advances in algorithms and computing architecture. While no one will ever write down all of pi’s digits, its unwavering ratio is a cornerstone of geometry and science. Pi-ku Poetry: A Syllabic Celebration ✍️ Inspired by the 5-7-5 syllable structure of a haiku, a “pi-ku” follows a 3-1-4 syllable pattern, mirroring the first three digits of pi. It’s a playful, creative way to connect mathematics and language arts — perfect for Pi Day! Try writing your own pi-ku and share it with the class. The constraint of exactly 3, then 1, then 4 syllables makes it delightfully tricky. The Enduring Fascination From ancient mathematicians scratching figures in sand to researchers pushing supercomputers to their limits, pi continues to captivate. It bridges geometry, calculus, probability, physics — and even art and music. Pi Day is a celebration not just of a number, but of the human drive to understand the elegant order underlying our universe. Explore More Pi Day Resources 📚 Delve further into the fascinating world of Pi with these curated resources for all ages and interests, offering deeper insights and engaging activities for continuous learning and fun. Official Pi Day Site Discover official Pi Day celebrations, history, and activities from around the world. Visit PiDay.org Educational Activities Find lesson plans, worksheets, and interactive tools for teaching Pi concepts. Exploratorium’s Pi Activities Fun Facts & Games Explore trivia, mind-benders, and entertaining ways to celebrate Pi’s uniqueness. Math Is Fun – Pi NASA Pi Day Challenge Tackle real-world math problems inspired by NASA’s space exploration missions. JPL Pi Day Challenge Embrace the Wonder! 🎉 “Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” — Albert Einstein This Pi Day, whether you’re measuring circles, cracking the 3-1-4 puzzle, writing pi-kus, or savoring a slice of pie — take a moment to marvel at π. It’s a reminder that mathematics is not just calculation; it’s a profound language describing the elegant, boundless mystery of our universe. Happy Pi Day — 3.14159… and counting! 🥧 Pi Day 2026: A Day to Remember 🎉 This year’s Pi Day was a true testament to the brilliance and compassion of my students, leaving me incredibly proud as I reflect on how they bridged the gap between logical mastery and meaningful impact. Through our dedicated participation in the St. Jude Math-a-Thon, these bright learners turned their mathematical skills into a force for good, successfully raising over $1,700 to support the life-saving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Their enthusiasm didn’t stop there; they also rose to the challenge of the NASA Receiver Riddle, expertly applying the constant of Pi to calculate the precise orbital distance required for the Psyche spacecraft to aim its laser. Watching them navigate both the complexities of space exploration and the simple power of charity has been a profound experience, proving once again that math is a tool not just for discovery, but for connection. Pi reminds us that mathematics is not just about numbers, but about the elegant patterns, profound mysteries, and tangible good we can create in our world and beyond. Cheers!
I recently joined Nicole Hamilton and Lucas Owen as a panelist in a webinar titled “An AI-Resistant Approach to Teaching Statistics,” which explored how statistics instruction must evolve in a world where generative AI can quickly perform calculations and produce answers. Rather than focusing on limiting AI, the conversation centered on designing learning experiences that emphasize human reasoning, curiosity, and authentic data exploration.One key takeaway is that statistics instruction should move beyond procedural calculations and instead focus on sense-making with real data. When students investigate authentic datasets, pose their own questions, and interpret patterns, the learning becomes far more meaningful—and much harder for AI to replace. We also discussed how student engagement plays a critical role: when students are working with data that is meaningful and relevant to them, they are far less likely to rely on AI because they are genuinely invested in exploring and understanding the results themselves. The discussion also highlighted the importance of student discourse, data storytelling, and creative visualizations. When students explain their thinking, critique conclusions, and communicate insights through visual representations, they engage in the kind of statistical reasoning that mirrors the work of real data scientists. Ultimately, the webinar reinforced an important idea: the best way to make statistics education “AI-resistant” is to design learning that prioritizes inquiry, interpretation, and human insight. When students become investigators and storytellers with data—especially data that connects to their interests and experiences—statistics transforms from a set of formulas into a powerful tool for understanding the world. Access the webinar recording and resources here. Cheers!
Every year on 11/23, we celebrate one of the most famous patterns in mathematics — the Fibonacci sequence. What is the Fibonacci sequence? It’s a list of numbers where each number is the sum of the two before it: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21… This simple rule creates a pattern that grows in a beautifully balanced way. The Golden Rectangle & Golden Spiral When squares with Fibonacci side lengths are arranged together, they form a golden rectangle — a shape whose proportions stay the same as it grows. If you draw a smooth curve through the corners of these squares, you get the golden spiral, a shape that expands outward while keeping the same proportions. This spiral models growth found in many natural forms. Where do we see it in nature? The Fibonacci sequence is everywhere! • Sunflower seeds grow in spirals that match Fibonacci numbers. • Pinecones have spiral patterns that follow the sequence. • Nautilus shells show growth close to the golden spiral. • Hurricanes and galaxies swirl in spiral patterns with similar proportions. • Even leaf arrangements follow Fibonacci spacing to help plants get more sunlight. Fibonacci Day Resources View activity in Google Slides. Coming Soon: I will be using this Google Folder to share activities and lessons related to the Fibonacci Sequence. You can also access resources by selecting the “Resources” link and clicking on “Math”. Fibonacci Day reminds us that math is built into the fabric of the world around us. Look around today and see where you can spot these incredible patterns! #FibonacciDay #GoldenRatio #MathInNature #mtbos #iteachmath
NCTM 2025 was an inspiring event for educators focused on enhancing mathematics education. The conference emphasized engaging, inclusive teaching strategies and showcased NCTM’s resources for inquiry-based learning. Sessions on data literacy and culturally responsive teaching highlighted the importance of representation. Moving forward, the goal is to foster diverse, student-centered math experiences.
The NCTM Annual Conference provides educators with resources to enhance lesson planning, foster a sense of belonging among students, and build a supportive math teaching community, empowering both teachers and learners.
March 14th — the day we celebrate the most famous number in mathematics. Grab a slice of pie and explore the infinite wonder of π. My Pi Day Passion: Fun & Philanthropy Pi Day is an event that I look forward to every year and is truly my favorite event of the year. I love seeing students dive into fun explorations, from digit memorization contests and pie-eating challenges to engineering pi-throwing machines and lively relay races. But most importantly, this time of year marks the St. Jude Math-a-Thon for my classes, a special event where my students engage in service learning. They solve math problems and fundraise for St. Jude, ensuring no family ever receives a bill. St. Jude has help push childhood cancer survival rates from 20% to over 80% and the Math-a-Thon is a way for students to help support that mission. You can visit my schools fundraising page to see our progress or contribute, or learn more about the Math-a-Thon here. What’s All the Fuss About Pi? Pi (π) is more than just a number — it’s a fundamental constant that unlocks the secrets of circles and appears throughout science, engineering, and mathematics. For nearly 4,000 years, mathematicians have been fascinated by this irrational number, which begins 3.14159… and continues infinitely without repeating. 🔢 Irrational Never ends, never repeats — a decimal that goes on forever. 📐 Universal Found in geometry, physics, statistics, and even music. 📅 Pi Day Celebrated every March 14th (3/14) around the world. A Journey Through Pi’s History The pursuit of pi spans ancient civilizations to modern supercomputers — a testament to humanity’s enduring mathematical curiosity. Activity: Discovering Pi with Circles! 🔵 In this hands-on experiment, students physically discover the relationship between a circle’s circumference and its diameter — arriving at pi themselves through measurement and division. Materials Needed Step-by-Step Instructions Activity: The Pi Puzzle Challenge 🧩 A creative twist on the classic “Four Fours” puzzle — using only the digits 3, 1, and 4 exactly once per expression, build equations that equal every number from 1 to 30. Use any operations: +, −, ×, ÷, exponents, square roots, factorials, and parentheses. 🎯 Objective Explore pi’s digits through logic and mathematical creativity. How many numbers from 1 to 30 can you construct? 💡 Example: Making 1 (4 − 3) × 1 = 14 ÷ (3 + 1) = 1Both use 3, 1, and 4 exactly once! 🚀 Push Further Try using factorials (3! = 6), concatenation (31 from 3 and 1), and nested square roots for harder targets. NASA Receiver Riddle 🚀 In December 2023, NASA transmitted the first ultra-high-definition video from deep space using new technology known as Deep Space Optical Communications, or DSOC. DSOC uses an infrared laser to transmit data at a much higher rate than current radio transmitters. The 15-second video, featuring a cat chasing a laser, was beamed to Earth from the Psyche spacecraft at a rate faster than many terrestrial internet connections. The Challenge DSOC’s transmission had to travel 30,199,000 km to reach Earth. Even traveling at the speed of light, that takes a long time! And all that time, Earth was still moving along its orbit. That meant that the team needed to aim the laser transmission at where Earth would be when the signal arrived. 🔭 Your Challenge Determine how many kilometers ahead along Earth’s orbit did the team need to aim the laser? 💡 Hint: Use pi to calculate Earth’s orbital circumference, then figure out how far Earth moves in the time it takes light to travel 30,199,000 km. (Things you’ll need to know: Speed of light; Earth’s orbital radius; and Earth’s orbital period) Want to see the video NASA transmitted across space? Check it out below 👇👇👇 Beyond the Basics: Pi’s Infinite Nature Pi is irrational — its decimal representation stretches on forever without repeating. This endless quality is what makes it endlessly fascinating. The quest to compute more digits has fueled breakthrough advances in algorithms and computing architecture. While no one will ever write down all of pi’s digits, its unwavering ratio is a cornerstone of geometry and science. Pi-ku Poetry: A Syllabic Celebration ✍️ Inspired by the 5-7-5 syllable structure of a haiku, a “pi-ku” follows a 3-1-4 syllable pattern, mirroring the first three digits of pi. It’s a playful, creative way to connect mathematics and language arts — perfect for Pi Day! Try writing your own pi-ku and share it with the class. The constraint of exactly 3, then 1, then 4 syllables makes it delightfully tricky. The Enduring Fascination From ancient mathematicians scratching figures in sand to researchers pushing supercomputers to their limits, pi continues to captivate. It bridges geometry, calculus, probability, physics — and even art and music. Pi Day is a celebration not just of a number, but of the human drive to understand the elegant order underlying our universe. Explore More Pi Day Resources 📚 Delve further into the fascinating world of Pi with these curated resources for all ages and interests, offering deeper insights and engaging activities for continuous learning and fun. Official Pi Day Site Discover official Pi Day celebrations, history, and activities from around the world. Visit PiDay.org Educational Activities Find lesson plans, worksheets, and interactive tools for teaching Pi concepts. Exploratorium’s Pi Activities Fun Facts & Games Explore trivia, mind-benders, and entertaining ways to celebrate Pi’s uniqueness. Math Is Fun – Pi NASA Pi Day Challenge Tackle real-world math problems inspired by NASA’s space exploration missions. JPL Pi Day Challenge Embrace the Wonder! 🎉 “Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” — Albert Einstein This Pi Day, whether you’re measuring circles, cracking the 3-1-4 puzzle, writing pi-kus, or savoring a slice of pie — take a moment to marvel at π. It’s a reminder that mathematics is not just calculation; it’s a profound language describing the elegant, boundless mystery of our universe. Happy Pi Day — 3.14159… and counting! 🥧 Pi Day 2026: A Day to Remember 🎉 This year’s Pi Day was a true testament to the brilliance and compassion of my students, leaving me incredibly proud as I reflect on how they bridged the gap between logical mastery and meaningful impact. Through our dedicated participation in the St. Jude Math-a-Thon, these bright learners turned their mathematical skills into a force for good, successfully raising over $1,700 to support the life-saving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Their enthusiasm didn’t stop there; they also rose to the challenge of the NASA Receiver Riddle, expertly applying the constant of Pi to calculate the precise orbital distance required for the Psyche spacecraft to aim its laser. Watching them navigate both the complexities of space exploration and the simple power of charity has been a profound experience, proving once again that math is a tool not just for discovery, but for connection. Pi reminds us that mathematics is not just about numbers, but about the elegant patterns, profound mysteries, and tangible good we can create in our world and beyond. Cheers!
I recently joined Nicole Hamilton and Lucas Owen as a panelist in a webinar titled “An AI-Resistant Approach to Teaching Statistics,” which explored how statistics instruction must evolve in a world where generative AI can quickly perform calculations and produce answers. Rather than focusing on limiting AI, the conversation centered on designing learning experiences that emphasize human reasoning, curiosity, and authentic data exploration.One key takeaway is that statistics instruction should move beyond procedural calculations and instead focus on sense-making with real data. When students investigate authentic datasets, pose their own questions, and interpret patterns, the learning becomes far more meaningful—and much harder for AI to replace. We also discussed how student engagement plays a critical role: when students are working with data that is meaningful and relevant to them, they are far less likely to rely on AI because they are genuinely invested in exploring and understanding the results themselves. The discussion also highlighted the importance of student discourse, data storytelling, and creative visualizations. When students explain their thinking, critique conclusions, and communicate insights through visual representations, they engage in the kind of statistical reasoning that mirrors the work of real data scientists. Ultimately, the webinar reinforced an important idea: the best way to make statistics education “AI-resistant” is to design learning that prioritizes inquiry, interpretation, and human insight. When students become investigators and storytellers with data—especially data that connects to their interests and experiences—statistics transforms from a set of formulas into a powerful tool for understanding the world. Access the webinar recording and resources here. Cheers!
Every year on 11/23, we celebrate one of the most famous patterns in mathematics — the Fibonacci sequence. What is the Fibonacci sequence? It’s a list of numbers where each number is the sum of the two before it: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21… This simple rule creates a pattern that grows in a beautifully balanced way. The Golden Rectangle & Golden Spiral When squares with Fibonacci side lengths are arranged together, they form a golden rectangle — a shape whose proportions stay the same as it grows. If you draw a smooth curve through the corners of these squares, you get the golden spiral, a shape that expands outward while keeping the same proportions. This spiral models growth found in many natural forms. Where do we see it in nature? The Fibonacci sequence is everywhere! • Sunflower seeds grow in spirals that match Fibonacci numbers. • Pinecones have spiral patterns that follow the sequence. • Nautilus shells show growth close to the golden spiral. • Hurricanes and galaxies swirl in spiral patterns with similar proportions. • Even leaf arrangements follow Fibonacci spacing to help plants get more sunlight. Fibonacci Day Resources View activity in Google Slides. Coming Soon: I will be using this Google Folder to share activities and lessons related to the Fibonacci Sequence. You can also access resources by selecting the “Resources” link and clicking on “Math”. Fibonacci Day reminds us that math is built into the fabric of the world around us. Look around today and see where you can spot these incredible patterns! #FibonacciDay #GoldenRatio #MathInNature #mtbos #iteachmath
NCTM 2025 was an inspiring event for educators focused on enhancing mathematics education. The conference emphasized engaging, inclusive teaching strategies and showcased NCTM’s resources for inquiry-based learning. Sessions on data literacy and culturally responsive teaching highlighted the importance of representation. Moving forward, the goal is to foster diverse, student-centered math experiences.
The NCTM Annual Conference provides educators with resources to enhance lesson planning, foster a sense of belonging among students, and build a supportive math teaching community, empowering both teachers and learners.