Members Present: Umbeck (BI), Young, Anderson-Nielson (GDS), Mahanes (H-A), Aleksiewicz, Long (Landon), Michalowicz, Ross, Floro (Langley), King (Maret), Harris (QA), Brown (SSFS), Reinthaler (SFS), Hansen (SSSAS), Touval (CESJDS).

Officers Present:
Clay Kaufman (Field) - President
Karen Casale (NCS) - Secretary
Betsy Bennett (St. Albans) - Treasurer

1. Introductions in Groups - We broke into small groups to discuss "From the Pensees," by Blaine Pascale. This led to a larger group discussion of reason, instinct, and feeling as it applies to both the teaching and learning of mathematics. As the left brain needs to communicate with the right, it is important to remember that although we cannot teach intuition, we can value it and encourage it as we work with our students. It was noted that the best mathematicians are those who begin with inutuitive feelings and further apply reason to those feelings. For many of our students, though, "the rule" is a life preserver as they are often reluctant to apply intuitive feelings.

2. Schedule of Meetings and Meets - Postcards were mailed in early September and the dates of Upper and Middle School Meets were listed. (Any Middle School coaches who would like past meet questions to prepare students ahead of time can obtain these questions from Karen or Penni at Langley School.) Enclosed in this mailing is an updated postcard containing the dates of ISMAW meetings as well.

3. Issues to Be Discussed at Scheduled ISMAW Meetings 1999-2000
Tues. Oct. 19th at Maret: Alternatives to Acceleration for Talented 7/8 Graders
Thurs. Dec. 2nd at NCS: John Mahoney will conduct a workshop with TI-89s
Tues. Feb. 22nd at GDS: Pressures of Acceleration Exerted by College Admissions Officers
Thurs. Apr. 27th at Langley: Textbooks, Elections of New Officers, Catered Dinner

4. Treasurer's Report - was distributed and is enclosed in this mailing for those of you who were not present at the meeting. Please send dues to: Betsy Bennett at St. Albans School, Mount St. Alban, Wash., DC 20016 - or bring your check to the next meeting. Please note that there has not been an increase in fees for this year.
5. Updated Membership Mailing List is also included in this mailing. Of course, if you were unable to attend the first meeting, we have not updated your information - you can do this at the next meeting or by calling me (202-537-5652); my e-mail is not yet up and running. If anyone has a new teacher at their school who would like to be on the e-mail listing, e-mail Clay at: clayk@fieldschool.com Do the same if any meet contact persons have changed.

6. Karen Dee Michalowicz gave a brief report on her History Modules for Secondary Classrooms (6) which are now available. Interested? - then e-mail Karen (see updated membership list for e-mail address). She reports that they are teacher user-friendly, can be used in bits and pieces, and are appropriate for most grade levels.

7. Newsworthy Note: Dave Matthews, a reporter from the Washington Post, will publish an article in October ranking the independent schools based on the number of AP exams taken by their seniors. We discussed this as pertaining to the pressures exerted by College Admissions officers (the topic to be addressed at our February meeting).

8. Quotable Quotes:
"Pure mathematics is the subject in which we do not know what we are talking about or whether what we are saying is true." Bertrand Russell
"Do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics. I assure you mine are still greater." Albert Einstein.
"The rest of the proof is intuitively obvious to the sophisticated mathematician." Birkoff and MacLane

9. Recommended Reading: Classic Math: History Topics for the Classroom, by Art Johnson, published by Dale Seymour Publications.

10. Note: The first Middle School Math Meet is at Newport School on Thursday, October 7th - call Steve Pearcy 301-942-4550 no later than Monday, October 4th to reserve space for your team. Please read the rules (enclosed for you if you were not present at the meeting).

The first Upper School Math Meet is at Madeira School on Monday, September 27th - If you plan to bring more than 20 students - call Nelby Bush 703-556-8217.

Respectfully submitted,
Karen Casale 9/26/99