Hello, I'm 
and welcome to my contest.
My fiancée, 
, will be assisting in the judging
At a glance this contest may make you run away.
This contest is all about 
and 
.
I know that you are poets and saying "Yuk, gag, no way!"
If you have children or planning to attend college, you should keep reading.
I am a tutor and a future teacher in Mathematics.
Hence, my AP name Poetic-Theorem
Writing was my most challenging subject in college! However, with the help of a great instructor and brilliant tutor, writing became much easier and fun as well.
To be successful in any major, reading, writing and mathematics are essential.
My passion is not only about mathematics but also about the entire learning process.
Learning is fun, but the most common statements I receive from my students are...
Why do I have to learn this stuff?
How is mathematics, or a particular lesson, important in my career?
I've never been good at Math, "I'm not smart enough."
First, "smart" has nothing to do with learning! I never use the term, "smart"!
I'm not smart. If I was, I would not have to spend countless hours understanding the many different concepts and applications in mathematics.
I am developing computer-based lessons plans that cater to different majors.
This has been a challenging effort and time consuming to say the least.
My programs include math problems and / or applications that are specifically designed to assist students in their majors.
My efforts are helping students become more interested in mathematics because they see how math will be applied in their particular careers.
as well as plays an important role in everyone's career.
Poets have mastered skills in writing and grammar. Then poets use creativity combined with these skills to produce wonderful 
pieces.
is essential in every field, yet I am sad because I am surrounded by college students that have problems writing a simple paragraph and essays are nightmares.
MY CONTEST IS SIMPLE:
I WANT ANY WRITES PERTAINING TO NUMBERS AND / OR MATHEMATICS
To help inspire you, please consider the following:
I am often criticized for this thought, but mathematics is all about
and should not be about memorizing countless formulas. One is not learning math if they are relying on memory alone.
Our Lives are
Additionally, you may think about the many different poetic styles such as haikus, sonnets, etc...all of which has specific mathematical patterns
The following is one of my favorite math poems; the author is unknown:
A friend should be
Mathematical
They should
Multiply the joy
Divide the sorrow
Subtract the past
And add tomorrow
Calculate the need
Deep in your heart
And always be bigger
Than the sum of
All their parts
RULES: No erotic writes please, not suitable for this contest
I want your writes to pertain to anything about math, numbers, patterns, etc... Be creative as always. Help show me how to combine the passion for writing with the patterns in mathematics. Inspire new ideas for me to use in my classroom in the future. I found my passion for poetry when I began writing after developing major depression. Writing and reading poetry was healing, especially after joining AP.
Both and
are about life.
REWARDS:
FIRST PLACE: 500 points
SECOND PLACE: 300 points
THIRD PLACE: 100 points
HM- THREE 30 points
MOST OF ALL HAVE LOTS-OF-FUN
IMPORTANT RULES UPDATE: 3 / 22/ 2007
I am allowing prewrites and they will be judged equally as new writes. However, I do not allow a prewrite to be in more than one contest at a time. Generally, most poets find this to be disrepectful. Additionally, if you have a new poem, please don't enter the poem as a prewrite in another contest.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter
Bo; Poetic-Theorem
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on March 29, 2007
- Rewards: Gold: 500, Silver: 300, Bronze: 100, Honorable mention: 3 people
- Final notes: I really thank everyone that entered my contest. Every entry was so very good, which made judging difficult to both Amanda and I. Most importantly, you have inspired me with new ideas to use in the classroom. This is so important because your ideas may help students enjoy learning mathematics. I also thank you all because we received many more entries than we expected. Unfortunately, many educational based contest does not do well. However, you made this contest very successful. Your responses proves that learning is not only essential in our lives but also fun as well.
Thank you,
Amanda & Bo
Contest Winners
-
Friendship and Math...
they have more in common than you think...by WhollySurrendered 35 lines, 2 comments, on Mar 29 12:16 AM 2007. In Math, Friendships, Life
Gold trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 2758406, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
-
In life as in science
the same rules applyby light insight 20 lines, 4 comments, on Dec 30 4:23 PM 2005. In Personal, Society, Other
Bronze trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
I don't believe in magic
or so I've always thought• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
The artistic mind betrays
And distorts fact and truth• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Honorable mention
Entries [8]
-
I'm no Dan Brown, so I wrote a poem about math rather than complex number patterns.by Neophyte 10 lines, 6 comments, on Mar 19 9:16 PM 2007• Commented on by judge.
-
Love...
Where does it go to hide~• Commented on by judge.
Add a comment
Comments
-
Well I for one will try it but unfortunately Most education based contest fail. The only contest I have held was to find an alternate way to get in touch with students about Daltons atomic theories since they were bored and inattentive and primarily English students and those who entered the contest made poems that were...less than desirable though at least they tried...
-
-
I feel much the same as you. When I thought of this contest I told Amanda that I may not get many entries. However, I have to give it a shot. I want to get others interested in the entire aspect of learning, which involes writing to math.
Thanks for giving this a try. I'm looking forward to your entry.
-
-
I am good at poetry, math is not a strong suit of mine. I will try of course.
-
-
Hi darlin'
I am good with writing but not with math, all you can do is try
That is the beauty of writing, you can try many different ways of doing so
We hope you do enter
Stay safe -
-
so does it matter if it is about having a math phobia?... lmao
-
-
lol --- By all means ... Write about a Math phobia; That would be quite interesting to read !!
-
-
It is quite interesting to write.. I am throwing some fear of chemistry in there The-unforgiven-one is in my chemistry class.. he sits behind me and does nothing and gets straight A's (I know David you got an 88 on the last one lmao) I am doomed to a high B on all my tests... -_- it is frustrating.
-
-
-lol- This should be most interesting to read & watch
-
It appears to me that you will come up with a very interesting write for my contest. I'm working on trying to break the fear of mathematics. I'm looking forward to your entry and for taking interest in my idea to create a contest combing writing and mathematic. Hang in there, you'll get an "A"
I can tell because you CARE!
Bo -
-
I hope you like it, it is okay considering it is aobut math lol.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
I love the idea of this contest! Then again... I am an engineering student. Math and English were my two favourite subjects in high school so this sounds wicked and like an interesting challenge.
P.S. Love the pi background! -
-
I'm a linguistics student (after I gradyuate High school that is) I love LANGUAGE.. not math, though math is the only universal language.. eeppp
-
-
Darlin' I am a English & language student, gimme words anyday I am looking forward to your write for this as I would properly write one similar as I hate math
-
-
one moment it is almost done ^^.. one more line to spew out then I will submit it.. I love words, and I am good with them ^^ lol.
-
-
-
Engineering Student
I love that others have a passion for both mathematics and writing poetry as well. I wish you the best in your career---I love the math and keep writing to keep you from going insane
Bo
-
-
and to think I had an argument with my calc teacher earlier today about the purpose of equations like U-substitution (I'm still in high school here) by ending the argument of the stereotypical response of "I don't need this..." now I'm here defending math and we should learn it...
-
-
Neophyte
Well thank you so much. Your comments about this contests is why I wanted to create this contest. I love that you not only have a passion for writing but also "defending math and we should learn it"
Bo
-
-
One of my suprvisors when I was teaching UCEP at a College sent me a message over the fax to my campus. (I taught over satellite to three isolated communities and math was definately not my major.., but had to teach algebra to students who have no concepts of integars.) I did everything, drew int he air, danced, clapped rhythm to BEDMAS, turned msyelf upside down, if necessary to get the concept of negatives in a way for them to understand. The note said, "OMG, aerobic algebra...this is gymn in college."
-
-
Shewolfnative,
I can't help but to
at this comment. I have been there before and can so relate to your statements. Aerobic Algebra...lol. There is a sad and important point that you make. Everyday, i see students put into classes and they have not mastered the fundamentals prior to these classes. This puts so much stress on both the teacher and the students. Unfortunately, I believe, we must put more emphasis on the fundamentals, if not, we are only setting up a student (that may have great skills) for failure. For me this is very depressing.
-
-
It is more so, depressing, when you teach up way in the north where the curriculum is so watered down and there is a sense of merely giving lip service while driving the students through jsut to say they have... it was not only in math. Having integrity, I had much work to do to teach basic concepts in ways they woudl understand. How do you teach integars to a culture that does not understand borrowing, nor banking, nor negatives.....was a challenge, but found a way to imprint the new knowledge....
-
-
Yesterday, I glanced at your Author's page for the first time. Instantly, "WOW" came to mind. I am glad that we have crossed paths here at AP. We seem to share the same passion for learning.
I have mixed views, many negative, over the "No Child Left Behind Act." Its fine in theory and in black and white, yet the funding is not available to all schools and children to make it work properly. It created "specialized" fields of teaching. One is mathematics. However, I am seeing first hand a huge problem. The curriculum changed to include a dual degree in both Education and Mathematics. Basically, math teachers take every math course offered including engineering classes. This is fine for me because I love math.
However, I see a failure in this process. I have been tutoring math for about seven years. I realize the importance in teaching the material in such a way the students actually understand and can relate to the lessons. On the other hand, I watch fellow future math teachers try to help students at their new high level of learning. Typically, they do not bring themselves down to a level in which a student will understand.
In turn, this causes additional stress on the students and takes the "fun out of learning." We learn until we take our last breath. Like you, I will go to every extreme to simplify the concepts...this is a challenge, but when I see a student's face suddenly light up, I have received my greatest reward...I have help another person overcome his or her difficulties...
It is a pleasure to have met and spoken with you. Your passions for learning reminds me why I chose to become not only a teacher but also a good teacher that will have high expectations for all my students and will help them succeed.
Thank you
Bo
-
-
-
-
I absolutely love math! I keep trying to get on my school's MathCounts team, but there are many people who are better than I am, so I never do. *Sigh* Ah, well. I did get a 91.5 on the AMC 12, and I am 12 years old! (Unfortunately, the other person in my grade at my school who also took the contest got a 102. I know I should be happy for him, but...) I have tried many times to write about math, but I never seem to be able to do it justice. Good luck with your contest!
-
-
Thorin-Ganush,
First, let me commend you because I can tell that you care about learning. This is so important and trust me, this dedication will take you very far in any future endeavors. You are doing very well and rank very high in comparrison with many students around the world. Hang in there!
You have a great attitude and you will go far.
-
-
Cool contest, hooray for the winners!
Adding your comment:
