Archive for October, 2012

Just a quick thanks to Linda McDowell, State Unit President of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC),  for her offer to help “spread the word” about Slide-A-Round. I was hoping to take her up on her offer to present at the annual  Mississippi CEC conference in February, but the date did not coincide with my winter break from school as I had hoped. I am still planning to coordinate several meetings in MS during Feb. 14th and 15th.

I met with Debbie Blackmon, our local Chick-fil-A Dwarf House Director of Advertising, on October 24th to discuss the possibility of coordinating a Math Night for Rome City Schools and Floyd County Schools. On Tuesday, November 13th Slide-A-Round will be at the Rome Dwarf House with games, demonstrations, and prizes for our local students. The class with the most students in attendance will receive a free Slide-A-Round Teacher’s Aid as well as chicken nuggets and drinks delivered to their class by none other than the Chick-fil-A COW! We look forward to seeing you there!

I met with Ms. Wilma Lovings, the principal of Westcreek Elementary School in Fort Worth, the day before the NCTM conference began. I was encouraged by her comment on how her teachers could differentiate their instruction with my numberline system. She also offered to share the 100X version at her upcoming principals’ meeting on October 18th. I appreciate her offer to help spread the word!

I was given the opportunity to meet with Mr. David Walls, principal of Kilpatrick Elementary School In Texarkana, AK on Wednesday, October 10th to demonstrate my math manipulatives. He liked the idea/concept and recommended that his faculty members who were planning to attend the NCTM Conference in Dallas stop by for their own personal demonstration.

On Tuesday, October 9th, I met with Ms. Patricia Wright, the Director of Special Programs and School of the 21st Century, and Mr. Eric Eddington, a math specialist in Arkadelphia, AK. They commented  positively about the teachers’ aids which can be attached via the magnets onto classroom dry erase boards.  I am excited about their pending order!

I had the opportunity to meet with Ms. Leasha Hayes, the assistant director/teacher center coordinator for the Wilbur D. Mills Education Service Cooperative in Beebe, Arkansas on Monday, October 8th.  I demonstrated each manipulative and shared examples from the complimentary handouts.  Ms. Hayes provided very positive feedback and wanted to share with her colleagues.

Slide-A-Round Math Manipulatives has been added to the agenda for the regional special education directors’ meeting at the Auburn City School Board of Education on October 19th.  With the information I provide, the special education directors can offer new strategies to their teachers. I will also be able to give a full one-hour presentation at the Alabama Council of Teachers of Mathematics on November 2nd at 10:30 for any teachers who are interested in more information.

I have a follow-up  meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 9th with Karrie Bennett of  the Region VII Center for Assistive Technology to finalize their manipulatives order. After meeting with Teresa Doss in June on my way to the Houston Assistive Technology Conference, she referred me to Ms. Bennett to complete the order process.