PAEMST Application Nearly Done!

FEBRUARY-MARCH UPDATE 

Everything's done except for one letter of recommendation and my essay. I'll work on the essay in April! The application isn't due until May 1st. I'm taking my time to do it right. Besides, I've been really busy prepping for LIMACON (3/15/13 SUNY Old Westbury) and T^3 (11/1/13 Molloy College). 

Part of that prepping was the Grand Experiment in Math 4R preCalculus for Seniors. Said experiment involves using SAGE instead of TI-83s to teach Chapter 12: Sequences and Series! Next year I think I'll use SAGE from day one, no Graphing Calculators at all in preCalculus. Further, during the Great Common Core Curriculum ReWrite, I propose covering the preCalculus curriculum starting with Chapter 12 and moving our way backward. We can do this more quickly in Math 4H preCalculus for Juniors than in 4R. The idea is to start coding in SAGE/python with Lists, loops and List Comprehensions from the beginning of the year. When the 1st Semester is up, 4H can start on Calculus material. 4R can have a bit of Calculus in Quarter 4. The sequence of topics would be something like this: 

CH12: 

Series, Induction, Binomial Expansion

CH11: 

Linear Systems, Matrices, Linear Programming, nonLinear Systems

CH6+7+8: 

SOHCAHTOA + Trig Identities, Law of Sines, Law of Cosines

CH9: 

Polar Coordinates, CIS(theta), Vector Sums, Dot and Cross Products, Area, Volume

CH10: 

Standard Conics, Polar Conics

CH5: 

Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

CH4: 

Solving Polynomial Equations

CH3: 

Rational Functions (talking about horizontal, vertical and slant asymptotes as an introduction to Limits)

JANUARY UPDATE 

Dear Mr. Garcia,
The 2012-2013 application period for 7-12 grade mathematics and science, including computer science, teachers for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) program is currently open.
To begin the application process, please confirm your eligibility to compete for the award by logging in to your PAEMST account at https://www.paemst.org/account/login using these credentials:

   User Name: xxxxxxxx
   Password: xxxxxxxx

After verifying your eligibility, you will receive a confirmation email with additional information regarding the application process. We encourage you to review all details entered by the person who nominated you and to make any corrections necessary. Completed applications are due by May 1, 2013.

You may contact your State Coordinators with any questions you may have. Your State Coordinator contact information is as follows:

xxxxxxxx@mail.nysed.gov
518-xxx-xxxx

If you have any technical questions or concerns, please contact us at info@paemst.org. Please include the following Teacher ID in all e-mails: xxxxx.
Again, we encourage you to apply and look forward to receiving your application.

Sincerely yours,

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
Directorate for Education and Human Resources
National Science Foundation

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Here's the instructions for filing the application. Mind you, this 15 page document is not the application itself!

2012 2013 paemst application packet from A Jorge Garcia

Generally Speaking,