Patrick Vennebush
July 7, 2010
Presenter
When not solving problems, telling jokes, or playing ultimate Frisbee,
Patrick Vennebush manages online projects for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. He has primarily responsibility for the Illuminations and Calculation Nation websites. With almost two decades of experience in education, he has held positions as a middle school teacher in Mercer, PA, as curriculum coordinator for MATHCOUNTS, as associate director for PBS TeacherLine, and as a developer for the Professional Development Group at ETS. Patrick has written problems for the American Mathematics Competition, the Polya competition, the
Mathematics Teacher "Calendar," the
Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School "Menu of Problems," and he is currently a member of the MATHCOUNTS Question Writing Committee. From 2003-05, he served as the editor of the "Media Clips" column in the
Mathematics Teacher.
Patrick is also a recently published author. In
Math Jokes 4 Mathy Folks, he dispels the myth of the humorless mathematician. His quick wit comes through in this incredible compilation of jokes and stories. Intended for all math types,
Math Jokes 4 Mathy Folks provides a comprehensive collection of math humor, containing over 400 jokes. It's a book that all teachers from elementary school through college should have in their library. But the humor isn't just for the classroom -- it also appeals to engineers, statisticians, and other math professionals searching for some good, clean, numerical fun. From basic facts ("Why is 6 afraid of 7?") to trigonometry ("Mathematical puns are the first sine of dementia") and algebra ("Graphing rational functions is a pain in the asymptote"), no topic is safe. As former NCTM Executive Director Jim Rubillo notes, "
Math Jokes 4 Math Folks is an absolute gem for anyone dedicated to seeing mathematical ideas through puns, double meanings, and blatant 'bad' jokes. Such perspectives help to see concepts and ideas in different and creative ways."
Patrick is also a recently published author. In
Math Jokes 4 Mathy Folks, he dispels the myth of the humorless mathematician. His quick wit comes through in this incredible compilation of jokes and stories. Intended for all math types,
Math Jokes 4 Mathy Folks provides a comprehensive collection of math humor, containing over 400 jokes. It's a book that all teachers from elementary school through college should have in their library. But the humor isn't just for the classroom -- it also appeals to engineers, statisticians, and other math professionals searching for some good, clean, numerical fun. From basic facts ("Why is 6 afraid of 7?") to trigonometry ("Mathematical puns are the first sine of dementia") and algebra ("Graphing rational functions is a pain in the asymptote"), no topic is safe. As former NCTM Executive Director Jim Rubillo notes, "
Math Jokes 4 Math Folks is an absolute gem for anyone dedicated to seeing mathematical ideas through puns, double meanings, and blatant 'bad' jokes. Such perspectives help to see concepts and ideas in different and creative ways."
About the project
Calculation Nation uses the power of the Web to let students challenge opponents from anywhere in the world. At the same time, students are able to challenge themselves by investigating significant mathematical content and practicing fundamental skills. The element of competition adds an extra layer of excitement. "The games on Calculation Nation provide an entertaining environment where students can explore rich mathematics,” said Jim Rubillo, Executive Director of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). “Through these games, students are exposed to the same mathematical topics that they see in class as well as those that are recommended in
Curriculum Focal Points.” Calculation Nation is part of the NCTM
Illuminations project, which offers Standards-based resources that improve the teaching and learning of mathematics for all students. Its materials illuminate the vision for school mathematics set forth in NCTM’s
Principles and Standards for School Mathematics and
Curriculum Focal Points. Illuminations is also part of
Thinkfinity.org, a comprehensive educational website funded by the Verizon Foundation to provide free educational resources to parents, teachers, and students.
Thinkfinity.org is the cornerstone of Verizon Foundation’s literacy, education and technology initiatives. The goal of
Thinkfinity.org is to improve student achievement in traditional classroom settings and beyond by providing high-quality content and extensive professional development training. The
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is a public voice of mathematics education, providing vision, leadership and professional development to support teachers in ensuring equitable mathematics learning of the highest quality for all students.
