July Blogging Challenge - First Day

I can't tell you how many times I have restarted this post because everything I was writing just made me sound like a grumpy old woman.  I even asked on twitter and text for ideas on what to post.  This daily blogging thing is one of the hardest things I've ever done.  I don't want to post just for the sake of posting... I want it to be something that I can look back on next year and think "Oh yeah!  That was a great idea!"

First Days of School
For several years, I have done the Kristen Gilbert story on the first day of school.  I first read about it in the book 'The Numbers about Numb3rs'.  Hedge posted about it on the TMC13 Wiki as well.  The kids really enjoyed the story and looking at the evidence, but I needed a change.  With 4 sections of AP Stat this year, I wanted to do something different in order to set the tone for the new year. 

During the APSI last week, I had an opportunity to browse the 5th edition of The Practice of Statistics and one of the first activities in that book is a simulation on hiring discrimination.  Since a similar issue was on this year's operational exam, I think that this simulation might be a great way to introduce the course to the students.  I don't have it completely fleshed out yet, but I did create a set of Male/Female cards to use:

I'm really excited to try this activity! Maybe I'll get the rest of it fleshed out tomorrow...

What are your favorite first day activities?

July Challenge
I am on a personal challenge to blog every day in July, just to see if I can do it. I would love to have you join me! If you are worried that you've missed a few days, please don't stress.. just jump on in! Maybe a month is too much, that's okay, try it for a week, or every other day, or once a week.. whatever works for you!

Don't forget to visit the other July bloggers and show them some love!
The bloggers (so far)
Robin at Flip! Learn! Share
Bridget at Reflections in the Plane
Teresa at GeometryWiz
Sherrie at Middle School Math Rules!
Brooke at Sined, Sealed, Calculated
John at Functions are Fun
Jedidiah at Math Butler
Pam at the radical rational
Roxy at Rockstar Math Teacher
Paul at TeacherPaulP
Tina at Palmer's Ponderings
Cindy at School Stuff
Robyn at Making Math Visible
Shelley at Making Math Visual

Add your blog in the comments if you would like to join in! :)
#July2014Challenge