benjamin dickman
@benjamindickman.bsky.social
K-12 math educator 🪄♾️
Brookline to Nanjing to NYC
Amherst College BA
Fulbright Program x2 (🇨🇳+🇵🇭)
Teachers College, Columbia University PhD
past BU Wheelock (postdoc, Math Edu)
cocreated original word game: #FiddleBrix
http://tinyurl.com/bmdmaths
Brookline to Nanjing to NYC
Amherst College BA
Fulbright Program x2 (🇨🇳+🇵🇭)
Teachers College, Columbia University PhD
past BU Wheelock (postdoc, Math Edu)
cocreated original word game: #FiddleBrix
http://tinyurl.com/bmdmaths
find x such that |x|<1 is a solution to:
1/(1+x²) = 6sin(x)
screenshot of WolframAlpha approximation below...
notice it ends with 11 7 2025, which is TODAY'S DATE
coincidence?! #iTeachMath ♾️ #MathSky 🧮
—
PS: what equation could you use for tomorrow's date?
1/(1+x²) = 6sin(x)
screenshot of WolframAlpha approximation below...
notice it ends with 11 7 2025, which is TODAY'S DATE
coincidence?! #iTeachMath ♾️ #MathSky 🧮
—
PS: what equation could you use for tomorrow's date?
November 7, 2025 at 2:31 PM
find x such that |x|<1 is a solution to:
1/(1+x²) = 6sin(x)
screenshot of WolframAlpha approximation below...
notice it ends with 11 7 2025, which is TODAY'S DATE
coincidence?! #iTeachMath ♾️ #MathSky 🧮
—
PS: what equation could you use for tomorrow's date?
1/(1+x²) = 6sin(x)
screenshot of WolframAlpha approximation below...
notice it ends with 11 7 2025, which is TODAY'S DATE
coincidence?! #iTeachMath ♾️ #MathSky 🧮
—
PS: what equation could you use for tomorrow's date?
Have seen there is a book about "mathers" (well known anagram of Amherst, hamster). How long has this term been present / popular in math edu circles?
I checked my now-🔐 twittxr account and found myself using it in 2019 (and lots in 2021) but wouldn't be surprised if others coined it independently!
I checked my now-🔐 twittxr account and found myself using it in 2019 (and lots in 2021) but wouldn't be surprised if others coined it independently!
October 25, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Have seen there is a book about "mathers" (well known anagram of Amherst, hamster). How long has this term been present / popular in math edu circles?
I checked my now-🔐 twittxr account and found myself using it in 2019 (and lots in 2021) but wouldn't be surprised if others coined it independently!
I checked my now-🔐 twittxr account and found myself using it in 2019 (and lots in 2021) but wouldn't be surprised if others coined it independently!
in #MathsToday: precalc sample questions
idk that there's anything revolutionary but have a lil fun! steal as desired; lmk if you modify and improve something
alt text: screenshots of the four problems that can be found here:
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
#iTeachMath ♾️
idk that there's anything revolutionary but have a lil fun! steal as desired; lmk if you modify and improve something
alt text: screenshots of the four problems that can be found here:
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
#iTeachMath ♾️
October 23, 2025 at 6:50 PM
in #MathsToday: precalc sample questions
idk that there's anything revolutionary but have a lil fun! steal as desired; lmk if you modify and improve something
alt text: screenshots of the four problems that can be found here:
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
#iTeachMath ♾️
idk that there's anything revolutionary but have a lil fun! steal as desired; lmk if you modify and improve something
alt text: screenshots of the four problems that can be found here:
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
#iTeachMath ♾️
new @cshor.org pset 🏃💨
drive.google.com/file/d/1NaXQ...
screenshots of PDF pages 1, 2, 3, and 10 below
cc #iTeachMath ♾️
bcc #MathSky 🧮
drive.google.com/file/d/1NaXQ...
screenshots of PDF pages 1, 2, 3, and 10 below
cc #iTeachMath ♾️
bcc #MathSky 🧮
October 19, 2025 at 11:04 PM
new @cshor.org pset 🏃💨
drive.google.com/file/d/1NaXQ...
screenshots of PDF pages 1, 2, 3, and 10 below
cc #iTeachMath ♾️
bcc #MathSky 🧮
drive.google.com/file/d/1NaXQ...
screenshots of PDF pages 1, 2, 3, and 10 below
cc #iTeachMath ♾️
bcc #MathSky 🧮
new math edu paper dropped 💧
“Sometimes emotions are really beneficial and important”:
Theorizing Emotional Tools of Creative Insubordination
Authors:
Kari Kokka
Marrielle Myers
Rochelle Gutiérrez
worth the read! (and please 🙏🏻 read the original RG paper on creative insubordination!)
#iTeachMath
“Sometimes emotions are really beneficial and important”:
Theorizing Emotional Tools of Creative Insubordination
Authors:
Kari Kokka
Marrielle Myers
Rochelle Gutiérrez
worth the read! (and please 🙏🏻 read the original RG paper on creative insubordination!)
#iTeachMath
October 19, 2025 at 5:19 PM
new math edu paper dropped 💧
“Sometimes emotions are really beneficial and important”:
Theorizing Emotional Tools of Creative Insubordination
Authors:
Kari Kokka
Marrielle Myers
Rochelle Gutiérrez
worth the read! (and please 🙏🏻 read the original RG paper on creative insubordination!)
#iTeachMath
“Sometimes emotions are really beneficial and important”:
Theorizing Emotional Tools of Creative Insubordination
Authors:
Kari Kokka
Marrielle Myers
Rochelle Gutiérrez
worth the read! (and please 🙏🏻 read the original RG paper on creative insubordination!)
#iTeachMath
this is what is linked via Desmos thru twittxr, no alt text atm bc it's screenshots of text but these are four methods I believed (at some point) could work
October 13, 2025 at 12:09 AM
this is what is linked via Desmos thru twittxr, no alt text atm bc it's screenshots of text but these are four methods I believed (at some point) could work
two photos from the dead bird in the years of our Lorde 2019 & 2018
October 11, 2025 at 4:52 PM
two photos from the dead bird in the years of our Lorde 2019 & 2018
in #MathsToday: four different propositions, each proved by induction.
Fascinatingly, the first three (divisibility statements) were all proved using different but interchangeable methods.
The full statements from the image can be found below 👇🏻
Fascinatingly, the first three (divisibility statements) were all proved using different but interchangeable methods.
The full statements from the image can be found below 👇🏻
October 9, 2025 at 3:38 PM
in #MathsToday: four different propositions, each proved by induction.
Fascinatingly, the first three (divisibility statements) were all proved using different but interchangeable methods.
The full statements from the image can be found below 👇🏻
Fascinatingly, the first three (divisibility statements) were all proved using different but interchangeable methods.
The full statements from the image can be found below 👇🏻
LinkedOut games dropping a public leaderboard [for connections] is going to shift my playing style from wake up [first thing in the morning, still half asleep] to blitz [wait until later, play fully awake]. not sure if this is an improvement!
PS: play #FiddleBrix for true 🔡 joy!!
www.fiddlebrix.com
PS: play #FiddleBrix for true 🔡 joy!!
www.fiddlebrix.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:43 PM
LinkedOut games dropping a public leaderboard [for connections] is going to shift my playing style from wake up [first thing in the morning, still half asleep] to blitz [wait until later, play fully awake]. not sure if this is an improvement!
PS: play #FiddleBrix for true 🔡 joy!!
www.fiddlebrix.com
PS: play #FiddleBrix for true 🔡 joy!!
www.fiddlebrix.com
this got me to google Dwork's Theorem since my undergrad thesis was un/acceptably called: On a Theorem of Dwork
I found another person wrote a Master's thesis about the same theorem 8 years after me; how similar do the examples look in these screenshots? 🤔
I found another person wrote a Master's thesis about the same theorem 8 years after me; how similar do the examples look in these screenshots? 🤔
October 5, 2025 at 7:15 PM
this got me to google Dwork's Theorem since my undergrad thesis was un/acceptably called: On a Theorem of Dwork
I found another person wrote a Master's thesis about the same theorem 8 years after me; how similar do the examples look in these screenshots? 🤔
I found another person wrote a Master's thesis about the same theorem 8 years after me; how similar do the examples look in these screenshots? 🤔
or maybe it's today, Sep 25???
September 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
or maybe it's today, Sep 25???
Final output below! Not bad for a first month of school precalc project (polar graph grid in Desmos, trig coordinates, 3D print your own logo/trinket)
Check out the thread below for more info and photos from the journey 📐
#iTeachMath ♾️ #MathSky 🧮
@desmos.com ✨
Check out the thread below for more info and photos from the journey 📐
#iTeachMath ♾️ #MathSky 🧮
@desmos.com ✨
September 25, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Final output below! Not bad for a first month of school precalc project (polar graph grid in Desmos, trig coordinates, 3D print your own logo/trinket)
Check out the thread below for more info and photos from the journey 📐
#iTeachMath ♾️ #MathSky 🧮
@desmos.com ✨
Check out the thread below for more info and photos from the journey 📐
#iTeachMath ♾️ #MathSky 🧮
@desmos.com ✨
four more progress pics of trigonometric coordinates graphed and 3D printed thanks to Desmos! (and our school technologist)
September 25, 2025 at 6:05 PM
four more progress pics of trigonometric coordinates graphed and 3D printed thanks to Desmos! (and our school technologist)
back at it; photo progress from 3D printings below!
September 24, 2025 at 8:54 PM
back at it; photo progress from 3D printings below!
fret not, the process goes on!! Rosh Hashanah delaying the finished product just a smidge but can do the 🍎×🍯 in the meantime
September 22, 2025 at 7:44 PM
fret not, the process goes on!! Rosh Hashanah delaying the finished product just a smidge but can do the 🍎×🍯 in the meantime
ok here it is!! if the entire book were this good idek
September 22, 2025 at 7:07 PM
ok here it is!! if the entire book were this good idek
my favorite #sensemaking excerpt
from:
Kegan, Robert. The evolving self: Problem and process in human development. Harvard University Press, 1982.
preview in google books:
books.google.com/books?id=SP3...
not overtly about 'mathematics' per se but w/e
#iTeachMath ♾️ #MathSky 🧮
from:
Kegan, Robert. The evolving self: Problem and process in human development. Harvard University Press, 1982.
preview in google books:
books.google.com/books?id=SP3...
not overtly about 'mathematics' per se but w/e
#iTeachMath ♾️ #MathSky 🧮
September 21, 2025 at 5:23 PM
my favorite #sensemaking excerpt
from:
Kegan, Robert. The evolving self: Problem and process in human development. Harvard University Press, 1982.
preview in google books:
books.google.com/books?id=SP3...
not overtly about 'mathematics' per se but w/e
#iTeachMath ♾️ #MathSky 🧮
from:
Kegan, Robert. The evolving self: Problem and process in human development. Harvard University Press, 1982.
preview in google books:
books.google.com/books?id=SP3...
not overtly about 'mathematics' per se but w/e
#iTeachMath ♾️ #MathSky 🧮
and here's a screenshot of the converted version that will be ready to 3D print once we get going... more to come!
September 15, 2025 at 1:28 PM
and here's a screenshot of the converted version that will be ready to 3D print once we get going... more to come!
some updates:
i've decided to print out the Desmos polar coordinates grid even though students will graph in rectangular coordinates initially:
i've decided to print out the Desmos polar coordinates grid even though students will graph in rectangular coordinates initially:
September 15, 2025 at 1:28 PM
some updates:
i've decided to print out the Desmos polar coordinates grid even though students will graph in rectangular coordinates initially:
i've decided to print out the Desmos polar coordinates grid even though students will graph in rectangular coordinates initially:
we talk about preferences for problems, then go over various steps to take in broaching them + continuing. (summarized in text screenshots below.)
e.g. for #2, thinking: draw a picture (what makes it good?); label it (don't use a,b,c if it's isosceles and right!); etcetera
e.g. for #2, thinking: draw a picture (what makes it good?); label it (don't use a,b,c if it's isosceles and right!); etcetera
September 10, 2025 at 12:35 AM
we talk about preferences for problems, then go over various steps to take in broaching them + continuing. (summarized in text screenshots below.)
e.g. for #2, thinking: draw a picture (what makes it good?); label it (don't use a,b,c if it's isosceles and right!); etcetera
e.g. for #2, thinking: draw a picture (what makes it good?); label it (don't use a,b,c if it's isosceles and right!); etcetera
In #MathsToday: Setting up the foundation for our Problem Solving & Problem Posing course!
4 problems to get students brainstorming ways of getting started, and to discuss Resources, Beliefs, Metacognition RE: solving.
Then, some problems to practice writing more formal justifications. #iTeachMath
4 problems to get students brainstorming ways of getting started, and to discuss Resources, Beliefs, Metacognition RE: solving.
Then, some problems to practice writing more formal justifications. #iTeachMath
September 9, 2025 at 9:18 PM
In #MathsToday: Setting up the foundation for our Problem Solving & Problem Posing course!
4 problems to get students brainstorming ways of getting started, and to discuss Resources, Beliefs, Metacognition RE: solving.
Then, some problems to practice writing more formal justifications. #iTeachMath
4 problems to get students brainstorming ways of getting started, and to discuss Resources, Beliefs, Metacognition RE: solving.
Then, some problems to practice writing more formal justifications. #iTeachMath
MTLT Manuscript call!
*All Tasks Issue*
"Do you have a go-to math task that sparks deep thinking, lively discussion, or joyful “aha!” moments in your classroom? We’d love to hear about it!"
🔗: pubs.nctm.org/fileasset/CF...
Submissions due Halloween, 2025
cc #iTeachMath bcc #MathSky
*All Tasks Issue*
"Do you have a go-to math task that sparks deep thinking, lively discussion, or joyful “aha!” moments in your classroom? We’d love to hear about it!"
🔗: pubs.nctm.org/fileasset/CF...
Submissions due Halloween, 2025
cc #iTeachMath bcc #MathSky
September 6, 2025 at 8:27 PM
MTLT Manuscript call!
*All Tasks Issue*
"Do you have a go-to math task that sparks deep thinking, lively discussion, or joyful “aha!” moments in your classroom? We’d love to hear about it!"
🔗: pubs.nctm.org/fileasset/CF...
Submissions due Halloween, 2025
cc #iTeachMath bcc #MathSky
*All Tasks Issue*
"Do you have a go-to math task that sparks deep thinking, lively discussion, or joyful “aha!” moments in your classroom? We’d love to hear about it!"
🔗: pubs.nctm.org/fileasset/CF...
Submissions due Halloween, 2025
cc #iTeachMath bcc #MathSky
OTD 2018 (August 28)
Designed and built MATHEMATICS acrostic with first names of women mathematicians; later changed Alice to Autumn.
Maryam
Ada
Trachette
Hypatia
Emmy
Moon
Alice
Thyrsa
Ioana
Claire
Sofia
Never made a surname version but it'd be cool!
Lotta ppl can't name 1️⃣ woman mathematician 😫
Designed and built MATHEMATICS acrostic with first names of women mathematicians; later changed Alice to Autumn.
Maryam
Ada
Trachette
Hypatia
Emmy
Moon
Alice
Thyrsa
Ioana
Claire
Sofia
Never made a surname version but it'd be cool!
Lotta ppl can't name 1️⃣ woman mathematician 😫
August 28, 2025 at 12:20 PM
OTD 2018 (August 28)
Designed and built MATHEMATICS acrostic with first names of women mathematicians; later changed Alice to Autumn.
Maryam
Ada
Trachette
Hypatia
Emmy
Moon
Alice
Thyrsa
Ioana
Claire
Sofia
Never made a surname version but it'd be cool!
Lotta ppl can't name 1️⃣ woman mathematician 😫
Designed and built MATHEMATICS acrostic with first names of women mathematicians; later changed Alice to Autumn.
Maryam
Ada
Trachette
Hypatia
Emmy
Moon
Alice
Thyrsa
Ioana
Claire
Sofia
Never made a surname version but it'd be cool!
Lotta ppl can't name 1️⃣ woman mathematician 😫
