Meet Bridges Author Barb Blanke

So what do TVs, golden retrievers, and good wine have to do with being a contributing author to the Bridges in Mathematics series? Let's start with the TV. I was in 6th grade and all I wanted was my own TV. I had two brothers and a baby sister and we had to agree on what to watch during our "TV hour" each day. My parents worked hard to provide for four children and TVs were not in their budget. So for my birthday I received a "Heathkit" TV that I had to actually build. Building that TV instilled in me the love of learning-by-doing that has guided my life and career choices. So where do golden retrievers fit into this picture? It was my first golden retriever, Reba, who began my quest to know how learning occurs. Working with Reba to earn several obedience titles helped mold my professional teaching style.

Golden retrievers connected me to The Math Learning Center (MLC) too. In the late 1980's I was one of 450 tenured teachers "pink slipped" by our school district. At that point I had taught grades 4-12. That summer, a principal called me to announce that I would be his new FIRST grade teacher. I was thrilled, yet hung up and cried. What would I do with 6-year-olds? I had attended Mathematics: A Way of Thinking and Math Their Way workshops to better help my 4th and 5th graders to make sense of math. After hearing about Box It and Bag It mathematics, and observing it being used in a classroom, I knew I had to attend a "Box It" workshop. I noticed that one of the authors, Donna Burk, was teaching a class in San Jose. My husband, Dan, and I loaded up our golden retrievers and drove to the Bay Area where I spent 5 days immersed in the subject of helping K-2 students make sense of mathematics. On the last day of the workshop, many teachers wanted to take photos of the wall charts and quilts that Donna had shared, so Dan and our dogs came and helped by holding up the quilts for the photography session. When Donna saw our two golden retrievers happily wagging their tails, she told us she had a golden retriever too. Our budding friendship immediately grew stronger!

Donna asked us if we would join her for a glass of good wine. Well, that was a "no brainer!" While sipping wine together, Donna asked if I might ever consider being an instructor for "Box It." I said, "I don't teach anyone taller than myself! But let me try the entire program for a year." The next year, I set up a class for my district and Thom Antang was asked to facilitate it. It filled so quickly that MLC asked me to teach a second section during the same week. It was an honor to work with Thom and I learned much from him. I was hooked and started teaching "Box It" classes everywhere. Then Donna asked me to pilot Grade 1 Bridges in my 1/2 blended class. Yippee! I taught K, 1, and 2 Bridges for 8 years, most of the time in a blended classroom. My students' love of math soared. So...when 3rd grade Number Corner writing began, I fell in love with the creation of calendar patterns and always wanted at least 3 patterns in each set. It was addicting. If not for Donna Burk, Trudy Mitchell, and Mike Wong, I would still be teaching elementary school. I have been consulting for MLC for over 20 years and every time I work with teachers I learn something new.

In 2009, I completed my Ph.D. at Oregon State University (GO BEAVS!) continuing on the path of being a lifelong learner. Through my research and writing of journal articles I hope that the voice of my experience as a classroom teacher will influence future teachers when it comes to understanding what they can do to help students make sense of mathematics. Coaching, teaching, and supporting in-service and pre-service teachers have become my passion. Helping teachers to think about teaching mathematics in a way that is different than how they were taught continues to be my goal.

Occasionally, I actually spend time at home. I have played the violin in the San Luis Obispo Symphony for 29 years and I love to kayak, cook, hike, train dogs, and can frequently be found at Cal Poly sporting events. Spending time with my Dan and our golden retrievers make my life complete.