Bobson Wong

podomatic.comEpisode 12: Teaching, Community, and Change with Bobson WongWhat does it mean to build authentic, sustaining communities as a math educator—and why is it so hard to find those spaces? In this episode, we talk with Bobson Wong, a high school math teacher, local...

17 Apr 2025

In the latest @todos-math.bsky.social podcast, I talked with @professorteds.bsky.social and Shari Kaku on how community has played a central role in my growth as an Asian American math educator. #MTBoS #ITeachMath www.podomatic.com/podcasts/tod...

@nctm.org Thu. 10/29 sessions: - Using Language-Learning Strategies with Desmos to Build Mathematical Understanding (8 AM, #14) - Building Community & Creating Change by Elevating Student & Teacher Experiences (11 AM, #109) - Engaging Secondary Students in Notice & Wonder (4:30 PM, #255) #NCTMDEN26

nytimes.com30 Ideas for Fixing U.S. Schools, Ranked by Experts (Gift Article)Math and reading scores are in a decade-long slump. We asked three dozen experts: What could turn things around?

@NYTimes.com: There are so many issues with this article. How do you ask 37 experts how to improve schools and NOT ask a single classroom teacher? No wonder their list of ideas is so jarring to anyone who spends time in a classroom. #MTBos #edusky www.nytimes.com/2026/09/28/u...

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At the same time, the NYT dismisses smaller class sizes b/c of potential trade-offs in teacher quality. As a teacher whose classes are now 25 or less for the first time ever, it is SUCH a game-changer. Everyone gets more attention and I can really monitor everyone more closely. #MTBos #Edusky

Of course, the NYT edu-experts praise "science of reading," "high-quality curriculum," "school accountability," and "fire teachers for underperformance." Are these measures inaccurate or demoralizing? Who knows? These are great-sounding buzzwords! #MTBoS #Edusky

nytimes.com30 Ideas for Fixing U.S. Schools, Ranked by Experts (Gift Article)Math and reading scores are in a decade-long slump. We asked three dozen experts: What could turn things around?

The experts' best idea for improving schools is "small group tutoring" but this NYT article acknowledges that finding quality tutors is challenging. Um...where would these magical tutors come from? If only there were a group of people trained to teach children... #MTBos #edusky

11 Sept

And the first day of my 21st year teaching came to an end! I was too busy to take a selfie today, but here is a screenshot of my "What is a sandwich?" opening day activity. Special shout-out to @sneffleupagus.bsky.social, who introduced me to this activity at @nctm.org.😊 #MTBoS #ITeachMath #MfAProud

8 Sept

Dr. Francis Su's online course on the math of large language models, available to @mathforamerica.bsky.social NY teachers, filled up within 30 seconds of online registration. Fortunately, I was one of the 24 lucky ones who got in! ☺️ #MTBoS #ITeachMath

11 Aug

My colleague Larisa Bukalov and I wrote this Edweek article on how we teach math as a language. #MTBoS #ITeachMath

Larry Ferlazzo@larryferlazzo.bsky.social

Listening to Learn: How to Teach English Learners This Overlooked Skill with @bobsonwong.com and others is new @edweek.org post www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

17 July

One reason why I hate having the AP math exams go all digital is that students can no longer draw graphs. I ask my students to draw labeled diagrams in normal distribution questions. Now they won't have to do that. 😠 #MTBoS #ITeachMath

9 July

#edusky #MTBoS

Jess Piper@piperformissouri.bsky.social

Some people think they can teach until they try to teach, and then they realize how difficult it really is…

28 May

I just saw the email from College Board that the AP Stat exam will be completely digital next year, and I have to say I’m not happy about that. Forcing students to type math symbols is going to be a real pain and fundamentally changes how students process math. #MTBoS #ITeachMath

28 May

Research shows students use much more of their brains when they write by hand compared to typing. Now I have to spend more time training kids how to type math symbols, which will slow down their thinking. 😡 #MTBoS #ITeachMath

28 May

I was talking to some other teachers just now who said the College Board is making all exams digital so they can use AI to grade free-response questions and this makes me so angry because that would be so like the College Board to do. 😡😡😡 #MTBoS #ITeachMath

27 May

As an actual teacher in Queens, I totally agree with the mayor.

Acyn@acyn.bsky.social

Collins: Bezos said that you could double his taxes and it's not going to help that teacher in Queens. Mamdani: I know a few teachers in Queens who would beg to differ.

washingtonpost.comSchool cellphone bans don’t affect test scores or attendance, study findsEducators favor cellphone bans, but research shows that while new rules have reduced phone usage in schools, there has been little academic change.

5 May

Equating “academic learning” with test scores is something no classroom teacher would do. #MTBoS #ITeachMath #EduSky

The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com

While cellphone bans have reduced unauthorized usage in schools, there has been little academic benefit, according to a study released by the National Bureau of Economic Research. The average effect on test scores is “consistently close to zero,” researchers said.

29 Apr

I'm pleasantly surprised to see the #NCTMDEN26 preliminary program posted so early! It makes planning (and justifying going to it) so much easier. Thanks @nctm.org! (But the link to the Friday sessions on the website doesn't work!) #MTBoS #ITeachMath

20 Apr

Talk about mission creep. The leviathan College Board is now trying to worm its way into MIDDLE SCHOOL by providing an Algebra I. Pretty soon you’ll see the College Board preparing elementary school material. Will the CB produce a pregnancy guidebook? Only time will tell. 🙄 #MTBoS #ITeachMath

open.substack.comWatching Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler, or Why Generation X is so MAGAThe importance of 1980s and 1990s popular culture in today's politics

18 Apr

Trickle-down in full display: let the ultra-rich get fat while everyone scrapes by on the crumbs falling off their table: “He believes everyone eventually benefits from the wealthy. ‘They pay taxes — a lot more than I do,’ he said. ‘The reason I’m working is that someone has a billion dollars.’”

NY Times Pitchbot@nytpitchbot.bsky.social

Crescendo? Sounds pretty pianissimo to me.

Bobson Wong reposted

Ben Piggot

@benpiggot.bsky.social

14 Apr

Replying to @amandalitman.bsky.social

Hmm, its an interesting topic: open.substack.com/pub/theworld...

6 Apr

I'm pleased to discover just now that both of our proposals for #NCTMDEN26 got accepted! Thanks to Dr. Kristopher J. Childs and the rest of the @nctm.org program committee for their hard work! Hope to see you in Denver in October. #MTBoS #ITeachMath

edutopia.orgHow to Turn Test Retakes Into a Classroom StapleAllowing retakes gives students another chance to learn and to demonstrate learning—the challenge is making redos work within the schedule.

2 Apr

Unfortunately, this article fails to address a major roadblock to test retakes: creating another test often takes a lot of time, especially for math, unless the problems are all routine (which they shouldn’t be). I can’t easily make up another authentic word problem from scratch. #MTBoS #ITeachMath

Edutopia@edutopia.org

“Road tests, welding certifications, the bar exam, and even airline pilot checkrides allow for retakes. If adults get multiple tries to pass important tests, why shouldn’t students? Why are classroom assessments treated differently?” write educators Maika Yeigh and Howard Yank. #EduSky

@samulmschneider.bsky.social

3 Apr

I offer infinite retakes on my quizzes, which are one-question quizzes focused on a specific skill. But creating another version of a 15-question math test? I can’t create and grade infinite versions of that. Teachers don’t get enough time to do that. #MTBoS #ITeachMath

Bobson Wong reposted

Sam Ulmschneider

2 Apr

there is no reward or recognition offered at the high school level for trying to stay engaged with your academic field at all. it's a damn shame. Lots of talented folks say "that's because teaching kids is the job, not being a subject matter expert." Hard at times to do one well without the other!

Bobson Wong reposted

NCTM

@nctm.org

2 Apr

Congratulations to our newly elected Board members! The newly elected Board members will begin their terms at the conclusion of the NCTM 2026 Annual Meeting & Exposition in October: nctm.link/elections

Bobson Wong reposted

Larry Ferlazzo

@larryferlazzo.bsky.social

16 Mar

Want to Retain Teachers? Ask the Right Questions Before Hiring Them www.edweek.org/leadership/o... is new @edweek.org post with @bobsonwong.com and others

edweek.orgWant to Retain Teachers? Ask the Right Questions Before Hiring Them (Opinion)Teachers will want to stay in schools that meet their needs as professionals and as humans.

Bobson Wong reposted

MathIsLife

@damianmolinari.bsky.social

14 Mar

Give me time and manageable class sizes, and my students will achieve the goals I and they have AND be deemed proficient on all the tests.

Bobson Wong@bobsonwong.com

That really summarizes why I hate scripted curricula so much. They are pushed by people who don’t trust teachers. We get overloaded with work by design, then they give us scripts so we don’t have to think and focus on our “real” work as caregivers.

13 Mar

Tonight I heard the amazing Dr. Sara Rezvi speak at Math for America. Loved hearing her talk about the contributions of Islamic mathematicians, with examples from al-Khwarizmi to Miryim Mirzhakani. We used Desmos to look at Omar Khayyam’s solutions to cubic equations. 😃 #MTBoS #IteachMath #MfAProud

Bobson Wong reposted

Rodger Sherman

@rodger.bsky.social

11 Mar

today at the World Metaphors Classic the leader of the USA didn't bother to find out the details of the situation his team was in and blindly assumed they would win a matchup they ended up losing, jeopardizing their long-term standing for no good reason

Talkin' Baseball@talkinbaseballbot.bsky.social

“I misspoke… Completely misread the calculations.” Manager Mark DeRosa confirms he did not know Team USA could still be eliminated during pool play

9 Mar

What do you notice? What do you wonder? (Look carefully.)

nytimes.comMoMath Brings Prime Numbers to a Prime New Location

8 Mar

I’m on the advisory council of MoMath. I’ve heard talk about this move for years. It’s nice to see it finally happen! #MTBoS #ITeachMath www.nytimes.com/2026/03/08/s...

rogerebert.comBlades of the Guardians review: Yuen Woo-ping delivers another wuxia wonderA boisterous, but unhurried action-adventure that never feels sloppy.

1 Mar

I saw this in NYC the day after Lunar New Year and it was awesome. Definitely worth seeing in a big screen!

Simon Abrams, King of the Witches@simonsaybrams.bsky.social

BLADES OF THE GUARDIANS! Martial arts choreographer/director Yuen Woo-ping kicks off Lunar New Year with a splashy action fantasy featuring a ton of stars like Wu Jing, Tony Leung Ka Fai, and even Jet Li (briefly). Any good? Oh yeah. More @ebertvoices.bsky.social: www.rogerebert.com/reviews/blad...

Bobson Wong reposted

Simon Abrams, King of the Witches

@simonsaybrams.bsky.social

17 Feb

rogerebert.comBlades of the Guardians review: Yuen Woo-ping delivers another wuxia wonderA boisterous, but unhurried action-adventure that never feels sloppy.

Bobson Wong reposted

Trevor Aleo

@mraleosays.bsky.social

One of the most insane things about ed-reform is that a very small collection of people are able to be wrong again and again and again with zero repercussions. In fact, every failure is a chance for them to come up with a new solution and write/sell a book about it.

bit.lyNYC students to spend about 20 fewer days in school than national peers. Learning likely suffers.It adds up: On top of the snow day and several professional development days keeping kids home from school, NYC’s shorter school day means kids in the five boroughs are in class less than national counterparts.

This article has several issues worth deconstructing. The first sentence (linking school spending to number of instructional days) sets the tone for the article - throwing out a laundry list of factors related to student learning without connecting anything. 1/

Chalkbeat@chalkbeat.org

It adds up: On top of the snow day and several professional development days keeping kids home from school, NYC’s shorter school day means kids in the five boroughs are in class less than national counterparts.

Making PD useful for teachers is a separate conversation. But don't blame the measly PD that we get for inequity. Blame the system that keeps teachers busy BY DESIGN so they can't improve themselves or the system that keeps us and our students oppressed. 5/

Finally, don't blame unions like UFT for being reluctant to add more days to the calendar. We know how this works. You give us a little more time (but not enough to do it well), then you give us more responsibility...because we now have the time! /End

Chalkbeat@chalkbeat.org

The number of school days isn't the issue. It's testing - not just the days spent administering the tests. It's all the time teachers spend preparing for tests that do a poor job of measuring student learning. I don't mind testing, but we should spend more time thinking about making better tests. 3/

I'm all for starting school in NYC before Labor Day if we could have Regents Exams in late May and finish by Memorial Day. But don't blame the 4 PD days NYC teachers have - which are inadequate and often abused by admins. You want to take away the little PD we get? How do teachers grow? 4/

Chalkbeat@chalkbeat.org

This article suggests the solution is to increase the number of school days but ignores how these days are used. It gives a brief mention to the elephant in the room - the number of days spent on test prep. 2/