tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2975388834877667565.post3911557160396088852..comments2015-08-01T18:40:16.141-07:00Comments on Rebuilding an Empire: #TMC15 Reflections of a Social Introvert Part 2Mike Waechterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831817013393945182noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2975388834877667565.post-49174304197726306462015-08-01T18:40:16.141-07:002015-08-01T18:40:16.141-07:00Claire, thank you for your comments. I guess that...Claire, thank you for your comments. I guess that is part of what blogging is all about. Opening windows for others. Introverts unite....<br /><br />You asked about how I got the courage to become more involved and I think it is just taking baby steps. Chats are an easy way to join in a little at a time. I do #msmathchat on Mondays and if the conversation is about something I feel confident about I chime in, if not then I just watch. Then a few replies to other tweets to get your feet wet. This is about the stage I am in. I want to be more involved and after going to TMC I feel like after putting faces to Twitter handles it makes it a little easier.<br /><br />If you can make it to TMC16 go for it. Doesn't matter where it is it will definitely be worth your time. We are already talking about a family trip to MN next summer.<br /><br />Oh and yes Vaudrey is a rockstar!!! Mike Waechterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01831817013393945182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2975388834877667565.post-5949533097079506462015-08-01T10:32:35.438-07:002015-08-01T10:32:35.438-07:00Mike, I love this post. You're right, it's...Mike, I love this post. You're right, it's definitely more of an experience than a conference. Thank you so much for sharing yours!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2975388834877667565.post-84954098489028606062015-08-01T07:17:09.964-07:002015-08-01T07:17:09.964-07:00First, as someone who did not attend, let me THANK...First, as someone who did not attend, let me THANK YOU for sharing your Experience at the Conference. I feel energized with ideas even though I did not attend because people who were there were willing to tweet and blog about what they learned. <br /><br />Second, as an introvert myself, I was wondering what finally gave you the courage to be more active in the MTBoS conversation? I feel guilty that I am just lurking around, but a little self conscious about what my contribution would be. <br /><br />Third, I completely understand your "awe" at the rockstar status of people you've been following online. I am only recently active on Twitter, but started finding math blogs via pinterest and Google searches. I found Dan Meyer through Google and Fawn Nguyen's blog when I took the Stanford "Maths" Online course for teachers and parents the summer it was free. Fawn's visual patterns helped my students tremendously. I found out about TMC through Matt Vaudrey (who I am recently realizing is also of rockstar status) when we were coteaching a 3 day lesson of Barbie Bungee in my classroom. He is just an Ed Tech Coach in my district and I first met him at a Google Training at the beginning of the school year. It was only later, after Spring Break, when I had a question about Google Classroom that I realized he was such a math guy. In that conversation, he reminded me what a great resource Twitter was for finding ideas, signed me up for a 3 day coteaching experience that was awesome, and also convinced me to present DESMO at our District's 2nd annual back-to-school Ed Tech PD. He also casually mentioned Fawn Nguyen's first name in the conversation as in "Fawn and I are presenting Barbie Bungee at this math conference at the Claremont Colleges this summer". First two thoughts were, He's on first name basis with her? And, can I go to this conference? By this point the conference was booked, which is a bummer because I live 10 minutes from Claremont McKenna Colleges and TMC16 is so far away. I started reading more and more online (I have a DESMO presentation and a new school year to prepare for) and started to realize Matt is also a rockstar in the math internet world. I wonder if any other teachers in my district realize this. I tried to explain all this to my department chair because our very traditional, direct instruction dept could use some help and how we have this great online resource actually a real life person who works for our district and is paid to help us. It's hard to explain!!! Ha Ha<br /><br />Once again, thanks for sharing your thoughts from TMC15. Wish I'd been at those tables eating BBQ and talking math. Sounds like a fun, summer night!!!Claire Vertihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06017776316973919362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2975388834877667565.post-11459959487177094942015-07-31T22:27:00.015-07:002015-07-31T22:27:00.015-07:00Mike, I was a newbie too. Awesome, right? I miss t...Mike, I was a newbie too. Awesome, right? I miss taking and sharing and geeking out about how and why we do what do already, and want to just thinking about it, write about it, digest all day, my poor DH and kids (the dog doesn't complain too much.) You got it so right when you said, "TMC you build relationships and resources to better your craft. Yup, awesome. Amy zimmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09960137549431994944noreply@blogger.com