Happy Black History Month! Black history is American history. It is a rich story carried by many voices, preserved in a diverse and shifting body of literature by black authors. By reading these stories, we can recall those powerful voices and celebrate the rich history that forms such an important piece of our shared American story. To that end, Mary and Sherria have worked hard to put together an amazing list of black stories for all age groups. Each recommendation is made thoughtfully and with love, and it comes with a link to a black-owned bookstore where you can buy a copy of the book. Please use these suggestions to learn from and support black stories, businesses, and history this month and every day of the year! Thank you for checking out these books, and reach out with any other suggestions so we can add them to our list! Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram to find the complete list there. Younger Readers
Middle Readers
Older Readers
Our favorite mathematician, teacher, and pi enthusiast shares his creative practice when it comes to memorizing digits of pi! Check him out on the latest episode of the Emerging Form podcast, Episode 105: Paul Hearding on Using Storytelling to Enhance Memory. Description below!
"How can you build a palace in your mind? We speak with Paul Hearding, the North American Champion for Reciting Pi, about how he used storytelling to memorize 16,106 digits in February 2020. He shares how his process evolved (obey the emerging form!) so that now, as he continues to memorize more, he’s included rhyme. It’s fun episode exploring passion projects and practical applications for story. After receiving his master's in Mathematics from the University of Delaware and teaching at the college level, Paul Hearding packed up his things and followed a lifelong dream of moving out west. That journey brought him to Telluride, Colorado, where he taught high-school math and science. Paul now runs his own tutoring business, nurturing an appreciation for the art of mathematics in his students while pursuing his own mathematical passions, including the practice of reciting digits of pi from memory. In 2020, Paul recited 16,106 digits of pi, setting the US record.He is actively doing original research in the area of finite fields and is currently researching permutation polynomials, a phenomenon in abstract algebra with applications to the information sciences, particularly cryptology. He plans to submit his dissertation this year and earn his Ph.D. from the University of Delaware." (Español abajo) The SAT has undergone a radical change. Beginning in 2024, all SAT tests are delivered in electronic format. This brings its pros and its cons. Below, our test-prep tutor Garrett outlines these changes and weighs in on the advantages and disadvantages of the new test—as well as how best to approach it. Pros: Shorter test The new, digital version of the test is shorter, clocking in at 2 hours and 14 minutes with only 98 questions. The old SAT sat at 3 hours and 154 questions. Big difference. Minimal Wait for SAT Scores The digital test is expected to have a reduced waiting period for digital scores! The change to a digital format should be beneficial in reducing types of delays that have, historically, prevented students from viewing their SAT scores on the first day of score releases for that testing administration—these included, among other factors, random security checks and shipping delays of paper materials. According to the CollegeBoard, digital SAT scores are planned to release as few as 13 days after a test is administered. Technology Is Here! There are two major changes to the new SAT that come with the territory of digitization:
y=x2-3x+4 is the equation that passes through all 3 of those points, found just like that! The more you practice with Desmos and learn all the little advantages it can confer, the more “little time saves” you’ll have at your disposal on test day—and those add up. Cons: Limited Score Report Details As a tutor, one of the most frustrating changes to the digital SAT is the updated score report that comes with completing an official test. Before the digitization of the SAT, score reports were far more detailed and would include valuable bits of information such as raw number of correct answers per section and more detailed percentile information. The paper-administered version also gave the option to buy the Question-and-Answer Service (QAS) on top of this free score report. The QAS included loads of valuable information such as the specific questions seen on test day, the student-produced answers recorded from test day, and brief explanations for each question. Score reports now look like the one below and cannot be “enhanced” via the additional purchase of any service at the time of writing. The point: SAT scoring is now mysterious, and this makes it harder for students to assess their areas of most need when preparing for the next round. From playing around with the official BlueBook tests, here are general trends to know about “how the test is roughly scored”:
Technology Is Here! Hold on, wasn’t that something I already listed as a positive for the digital SAT? Yes! The fact is that the adaptive quality of the test has major drawbacks, especially when taken together with the mystery surrounding the scoring methods. Since not all questions are worth the same amount of points, getting pigeonholed into the easy adaptive module means that there are fewer points available than there would be on the harder module. So while the test-taking experience might feel better in the easy module, the reality is that the ceiling is lower. The availability of Desmos is also a double-edged sword. As powerful as Desmos is, some students I’ve worked with feel that Desmos has made the test feel “cheaper” or more “game-able.” Certain math skills that were necessary to exercise by hand on the paper SAT are now obsolete on the digital SAT. Leveling the playing field of math ability is a valuable thing, but it is limiting to some. Students whose mathematical ability is their strongest claim to college candidacy may find that the new test limits their platform for showcasing it: sharp mental math skills, clever problem-solving tricks, and complex calculation abilities just don’t have as much of a place in the newest version of the SAT. Less Practice Material As I write this article, the CollegeBoard has only released 4 official digital SAT practice tests on their official practice app called BlueBook (which you as a student can download on your personal computer and use to practice!). This is in comparison to the 8 practice tests publicly released for the paper-based SAT (which later increased to 10 practice tests). It is uncertain whether the CollegeBoard will add to the 4 official digital SAT practice tests on BlueBook. The CollegeBoard has partnered with Khan Academy to deliver high-quality SAT prep for the digital SAT. I love the structure Khan Academy provides, but there is certainly overlap between the questions you see on Khan Academy with the questions you see on BlueBook and the CollegeBoard’s Educator Question Bank. Hopefully, more practice material will be released soon. My advice:
There’s still a lot we don’t know about the new SAT. After years of prepping the same way for the same test, we’re now charging into something that remains largely unknown. We’re re-learning the question types, and we’re learning to work within a new, adaptive model. But the important thing to remember is that this is new for the College Board, too; the CB plans to do regular quality analyses to see how test-takers perform on average on the new test and compare it to the general performance on the old one. In other words, we can expect the CB to adapt, just as we’re adapting. Test-makers want the test to be a fair, accessible, accurate reflection of student aptitude, because the College Board wants the SAT to remain relevant. We can trust that they will be doing everything they can to iron out the kinks. En español: Todo sobre el nuevo SATEl SAT ha experimentado un cambio radical. A partir de 2024, todos los exámenes SAT se entregarán en formato electrónico. Esto trae sus pros y sus contras. A continuación, nuestro tutor de preparación para exámenes, Garrett, describe estos cambios y analiza las ventajas y desventajas del nuevo examen—y la mejor manera de prepararse. Ventajas: Examen más corto La nueva versión digital del examen es más corta y dura 2 horas y 14 minutos con solo 98 preguntas. El antiguo SAT tenía 3 horas y 154 preguntas. Gran diferencia. Espera mínima para los puntajes del SAT ¡Se espera que la prueba digital tenga un período de espera reducido para las calificaciones digitales! El cambio a un formato digital debería ser beneficioso para reducir los tipos de retrasos que, históricamente, han impedido que los estudiantes vean sus puntajes del SAT el primer día de publicación de puntajes para esa administración de exámenes; estos incluyeron, entre otros factores, controles de seguridad aleatorios y envío. retrasos en los materiales en papel. Según CollegeBoard, se planea que los puntajes digitales del SAT se publiquen tan solo 13 días después de que se administre el examen. ¡La tecnología ha llegado! Hay dos cambios importantes en el nuevo SAT que vienen con el territorio de la digitalización:
y=x2-3x+4 es la ecuación que pasa por los 3 puntos, ¡se encuentra así! Cuanto más practique con Desmos y aprenda todas las pequeñas ventajas que puede ofrecerle, más “pequeños ahorros de tiempo” tendrá a su disposición el día del examen, y eso se suma. Desventajas: Detalles de puntaje limitados Como tutor, uno de los cambios más frustrantes en el SAT digital es el informe de calificaciones actualizado que viene al completar un examen oficial. Antes de la digitalización del SAT, los informes de calificaciones eran mucho más detallados e incluían información valiosa, como el número bruto de respuestas correctas por sección e información percentil más detallada. La versión administrada en papel también ofrecía la opción de comprar el Servicio de preguntas y respuestas (QAS) además de este informe de puntuación gratuito. El QAS incluyó mucha información valiosa, como las preguntas específicas vistas el día del examen, las respuestas producidas por los estudiantes registradas el día del examen y breves explicaciones para cada pregunta. Los informes de puntuación ahora se parecen al siguiente y no se pueden "mejorar" mediante la compra adicional de ningún servicio al momento de escribir este artículo. El punto: la puntuación del SAT ahora es un misterio y esto hace que sea más difícil para los estudiantes evaluar sus áreas de mayor necesidad cuando se preparan para la siguiente ronda. Al jugar con las pruebas oficiales de BlueBook, estas son las tendencias generales que debe conocer acerca de "cómo se califica aproximadamente la prueba":
¡La tecnología ha llegado! Espera, ¿no era eso algo que ya mencioné como positivo para el SAT digital? ¡Sí! El hecho es que la calidad adaptativa de la prueba tiene importantes inconvenientes, especialmente si se la toma en conjunto con el misterio que rodea a los métodos de puntuación. Dado que no todas las preguntas valen la misma cantidad de puntos, quedar encasillado en el módulo adaptativo fácil significa que hay menos puntos disponibles que los que habría en el módulo más difícil. Entonces, si bien la experiencia de tomar exámenes puede ser mejor en el módulo fácil, la realidad es que el límite es más bajo. La disponibilidad de Desmos también es un arma de doble filo. A pesar de lo poderoso que es Desmos, algunos estudiantes con los que he trabajado sienten que Desmos ha hecho que la prueba parezca más "jugable," o sea, más facil de manipular y menos representante de sus verdaderas habilidades. Ciertas habilidades matemáticas que eran necesarias ejercitar a mano en el SAT en papel ahora están obsoletas en el SAT digital. Nivelar el campo de juego de la habilidad matemática es algo valioso, pero es limitante para algunos. Los estudiantes cuyas habilidades matemáticas son su mayor reclamo para ser candidatos a la universidad pueden encontrar que la nueva prueba limita su plataforma para exhibirlas: las habilidades matemáticas mentales agudas, los trucos inteligentes para la resolución de problemas y las habilidades de cálculo complejas simplemente no tienen tanto lugar en la versión más nueva del SAT. Menos materiales de práctica Mientras escribo este artículo, CollegeBoard solo ha publicado 4 exámenes de práctica SAT digitales oficiales en su aplicación de práctica oficial llamada BlueBook (que usted, como estudiante, puede descargar en su computadora personal y usar para practicar). Esto es en comparación con las 8 pruebas de práctica publicadas públicamente para el SAT en papel (que luego aumentó a 10 pruebas de práctica). No está claro si CollegeBoard agregará a los 4 exámenes de práctica digitales oficiales del SAT en BlueBook. CollegeBoard se ha asociado con Khan Academy para ofrecer preparación SAT de alta calidad para el SAT digital. Me encanta la estructura que ofrece Khan Academy, pero ciertamente hay una superposición entre las preguntas que ves en Khan Academy con las preguntas que ves en BlueBook y el Banco de preguntas para educadores de CollegeBoard. Con suerte, pronto se publicará más material de práctica. Mis consejos:
Todavía hay muchas cosas que no sabemos sobre el nuevo SAT. Después de años de prepararnos de la misma manera para la misma prueba, ahora nos adentramos en algo que sigue siendo en gran medida desconocido. Estamos reaprendiendo los tipos de preguntas y estamos aprendiendo a trabajar dentro de un modelo nuevo y adaptativo. Pero lo importante que hay que recordar es que esto también es nuevo para el College Board; el CB planea realizar análisis de calidad periódicos para ver cómo se desempeñan en promedio los examinados en la nueva prueba y compararlo con el desempeño general en la anterior. En otras palabras, podemos esperar que el BC se adapte, tal como nos estamos adaptando nosotros. Los responsables de los exámenes quieren que el examen sea un reflejo justo, accesible y preciso de la aptitud de los estudiantes, porque el College Board quiere que el SAT siga siendo relevante. Podemos confiar en que harán todo lo posible para solucionar los problemas. Standardized testing is not without its flaws. Standardized test scores do not reflect the whole child, and they are poor representations of students who manage learning disabilities, who speak English as a second language, or who simply do not test well. And it’s true that there is an art to taking the test—to “gaming” it, so to speak—that affords an edge only to those who can afford it. But for all their flaws, experts suggest that the SAT and ACT should not be dismissed entirely. And with Dartmouth’s plans to reinstate the SAT as a requisite for admissions decisions, it seems that elite colleges agree.
But for all their flaws, experts suggest that the SAT and ACT should not be dismissed entirely. After a pandemic-fueled course correction in which dozens of colleges and universities switched to being test-optional, the tides may be shifting back towards an admissions process that places serious consideration on test scores. In a recent article by the New York Times, experts tell us why. Standardization means—in theory—that any student can represent their aptitude beyond the grades awarded by their school. This can be extremely useful for helping competitive colleges distinguish strong candidates from a sea of grade-inflated transcripts. Last year, Opportunity Insights conducted a study to measure the effectiveness of various admissions policies in bringing diversity to college campuses. The researchers found that test scores serve as better predictors of college success than do high-school grades. Interestingly, the research also supported the theory that test scores—if used responsibly—can be a means for increasing diversity in higher education. In his article, David Leonhardt writes: “Researchers who have studied the issue say that test scores can be particularly helpful in identifying lower-income students and underrepresented minorities who will thrive. […] A solid score for a student from a less privileged background is often a sign of enormous potential.” The point: getting into college is just the first step. Finding success in college is another matter, and as a tide of grade inflation continues to skew the data, test scores remain an important tool for predicting which students will flourish in higher education. This is good news for students who do not come from privilege, as test scores help admissions officers identify those who have great academic potential despite a lack of resources. While these findings do not offer solutions to all of the SAT’s shortcomings, they do highlight the enduring nature of standardization and the importance of high-quality test prep. We know how much of a difference test scores can make, and we see the impacts of learning effective test-taking skills and shoring up fundamentals on those test scores. That’s why we continue to offer top-quality test-prep for our students, and we work hard to make sure these opportunities are shared among all students, regardless of background. To learn more about the Karma Tutors Impact Fund and how we ensure equitable access to academic opportunities, follow us on Instagram or check out KTIF’s website. This is all unfolding as the SAT undergoes a major makeover in order to remain a relevant tool, adopting an all-digital test that adapts to the test-taker’s ability level. This test will be significantly shorter and will emphasize specific skills over generalized critical thinking competencies. We’ll talk more in-depth about this dramatic transformation as more information becomes available, so stay tuned for our next post: demystifying the SAT. Our community is rich with diverse experiences, languages, cultures, and dreams. If you read or watch the news today, you know, too, that such richness is often lost among warring definitions of what is "this" and what is "that." What is dynamic becomes flat; what is nuanced becomes caricatured. So, hats off to Telluride Magazine for publishing this article that showcases four incredible members of Telluride's immigrant community, just as they ought to be seen: as themselves.
The Karma Tutors Impact Fund appeared in the Telluride Daily Planet last spring — check out this exciting article and help spread the word! To learn more about KTIF's mission and ongoing projects in the community, visit our website at www.karmatutors.org
We are caught in a slice of history in which two long-standing tensions are violently clashing: the progress we have made towards racial equality and the distance we still have to go. With the murder of George Floyd throwing a spotlight on the continued marginalization of minority groups, it’s time for all Americans to reflect on how we perceive progress. Is our contentment with the progress we've made towards equality inhibiting our ability to invite change?
If the image of a glass of water may serve here, we have, generally, two perspectives that remain at odds. Some voices claim that the glass is half full — that African Americans won their rights in the ‘60s and are more or less equal. Meanwhile, a chorus of dissenting voices that has watched police brutality run rampant for decades screams that the glass remains in a devastating state of half-emptiness. So, who is right? Perhaps the answer is subjective in the analogy of the glass of water, but that subjectivity ends when we examine the question in the context of racial equality. All we need to do is consider the points of reference by which the two schools of thought define themselves and who we find occupying those schools. Glass-half-fullers, in keeping with the analogy, look at the bottom of the glass for reference when judging their contentment with a situation. They tend to believe that even if the top of the glass has not been reached, one can comfort themselves in the knowledge that they are not at the bottom. In normal life situations, glass-half-fullers are admired for their optimism. But in the case of racial equality, simply taking pride in the fact that minorities are not at the bottom of the glass is rather regressive. It positions the worst possible outcome of racism — enslavement — as the metric by which we assess our progress as a society. At its most extreme, this ideology maintains that as long as we are not enslaving people, our society is doing okay. The glass-half-empty crowd, on the other hand, looks at the top of the glass when assessing progress. This belief system posits that until the top of the glass has been reached, one cannot be satisfied with his station. In the typical application of the metaphor, glass-half-emptiers are disdainfully perceived as pessimistic. But as it pertains to race relations, this group is actually more patently hopeful. Glass-half-emptiers reference the desired outcome — full freedom and equality — in their evaluation of social progress, refusing to rest until that dream has been realized. While subscribers to the glass-half-empty outlook may not be as easily placated, they strive actively for full equality while their counterparts too easily settle for “not as bad.” More often than not, glass-half-emptiers are the people who live every day with the reality of only being partway to the goal of racial equality. Meanwhile, glass-half-fullers usually benefit from the system and have never been oppressed by it. Seeing the glass as half full is much easier if you don’t spend every day looking up at what could be, living with the constant reminder that you are not equal. In other words, it is a privilege to be able to observe the course of American history and say, “Yes, look how far we’ve come!” It means you haven’t spent any time looking up at the top of the glass. The lesson here: if you purport that the glass is half full, if you believe that we're all basically equal, and if you are tired of hearing people demand more, ask yourself: Have I spent any time below the rim, looking up? Maybe you haven't. If that's so, remember that it's not a failure or a blemish on your character that you have the experience and perspective that you do. But realize that others' perspectives are valid, too. When our black and brown neighbors say that life day in and day out is harder, or more violent, or less amenable to social mobility, accept that reality as reality. Embrace the fact that you are not an authority on someone else's experience. It is not only bold, but dangerous when those of us who have no concept of fighting for equality claim to know the true status of the glass. When the powerful and privileged see the glass as half full, they see no need for positive change. Worse, when they tell others to see it the same way, they actively inhibit progress. |
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February 2024
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