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A mathematics major, Marianne began her career writing software and designing software systems for AT&T, the University of Florida and the FDA. Developing software documentation and system manuals led to technical writing; she has published more than 50 magazine articles in the field of architectural stone and continues to publish in that field. A love of word and number and a belief that children must learn to appreciate both fostered the interdisciplinary concept of presenting math in stories and poetry.
Marianne visits elementary schools (grades K-5) and libraries to read poetry and stories and, through literature, to introduce children to the seminal ideas of mathematics, e.g. symmetry, pattern, problem solving and number. She has endorsements from school districts, district math specialists and teachers. She also lectures to university writing classes and presents sessions at state and regional National Council of Teachers of Mathematics conferences. She presented sessions at the Associated Teachers of Mathematics in Connecticut (ATOMIC) conference in 2007, 2008 and 2009; the Ten County Conference in New York State in 2009 and 2010; the Florida state NCTM conference in 2009 (3 sessions); the Pennsylvania state conference in 2009. In addition to being invited to return to each of these conferences this year, she will present a session at the mid Atlantic NCTM regional conference in October and the New York State conference in November. She also critiques articles and books for NCTM journals.
Selected Works:
Sidney the Silly Who Only Eats 6
Awarded Best Children's Book 2007, by the Connecticut Press Club
Sidney the Silly and Friends Activity Book
Filthy Franny and the 4 Faery Fleas (a jolly journey through the digits)
ADDVerse (math poetry for young children)
Number Tree in a World of Stories the International Rotary Literacy Project
(Won the 2009 Connecticut Press Club Communications Award for poetry and placed second in the National Federation of Press Women poetry awards in 2009.)
Number Soup and Miss Molly Mop with the 7s on Top in Highlight's for Children: see
http://www.highlightskids.com/Magazine/Sept09/h10909_mollyMop.asp
New England, New York State, Pennsylvania, Arizona
Blurbs:
Dr. Edward Zigler, founder of the Zigler Institute of Child Development at Yale University and the ‘father’ of the Head Start program, says of her work, “Penn’s creative use of rhyme and number is a model of how to help the young child begin the demanding tasks of mastering literacy and numeracy.”
Maria Diamantis, Ph. D., Chairperson, Department of Education, Southern Connecticut State University and President of the Associated Teachers of Mathematics New England, praises Sidney: “The integration of story and mathematics is awesome, captivating; it invites the reader to explore problem solving and number sense!”
Program Info
Program Descriptions:
I read books and poetry that, though story based, include number sense and operations. We then explore math concepts that are determined by the age and ability of the students. Some examples are: symmetry, pattern, permutation, fractions, problem solving. My work is tied to the New York State Curriculum Standards because I find that document the most complete, but state standards are similar and ideas in mathematics are universal.
Program Pricing:
$500 plus expenses for 3 to 4 sessions of up to 40 children. Contact Pat Vita, patvita@Cox.Net, for specifics and contracts.
Special Features:
An interdisciplinary session featuring the joys of poetry and number and their interconnection, but also focusing on featured mathematic's concepts presented by an award winning author.
Audience Levels:
Lower Elementary
Contact Info
Contact Email:
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Contact Address:
M. W. Penn PO Box 6291, Hamden, CT 06517
Home City:
New Haven
Home State:
Connecticut
Contact Phone:
2032303231
Contact Fax:
2032888114
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