Biographical Page
for
Elizabeth Gieseking
Welcome to my website. Below you will find all you want to know about me and probably more.
Education
Georgia Tech: I entered Georgia Tech as a Math major, but because of my interest in Chemistry, I was persuaded to change my major to Chemical Engineering. I ended up earning two degrees from Georgia Tech in Chemical Engineering - a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and a Master of Science. I completed my graduate research with Dr. Ajit Yoganathan in the Cardiovascular Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. My thesis was “Control Mechanism for the Papillary Muscles of the Mitral Valve: An In-Vitro Study.”
University of Georgia: I am currently enrolled in the graduate MAT program in Mathematics Education at the University of Georgia.
Completed Classes:
MATH 3000 Introduction to Linear Algebra
MATH 3200 Introduction to Higher Mathematics
Current Classes:
EMAT 6360 Teaching and Learning Secondary School Mathematics
EMAT 6680 Technology and Secondary School Mathematics
EMAT 7360 Secondary School Mathematics Field Experience
MATH 6000 Modern Algebra and Geometry I
Math 7200 Foundations of Geometry ITeaching Experience
My first teaching experience was teaching a class of three-year-olds in Vacation Bible School at North Avenue Presbyterian Church. I then went on to teach the two-year old class for several years, direct Vacation Bible School, and coordinate, teach, and develop curriculum for a midweek preschool program. In recent years I have taught Sunday School in the Elementary department, a few years each of second and fourth grades.
When my oldest daughter was four years old, I began homeschooling her. In addition to her individual instruction, I taught several science related courses through homeschool co-ops. When my daughter was in high school, she joined the Sculley Academy Math Club, a competitive math club for homeschooled students. After she graduated, my son joined the club. When he was in fourth grade, the instructor moved away. Because he enjoyed the math club so much, I decided to carry it on.
I have been running the Sculley Academy Math Club since 2008. There are separate clubs for upper elementary students, middle school students, and high school students. Each club meets for two hours biweekly. Our teams have enjoyed great success, especially at the middle school level. We twice placed in the top seven at the state MATHCOUNTS tournament, won the Rockdale Mathematics Competition, and had two second place finishes at the GCTM State Middle School Tournament.
When my children were older I also began teaching high school level math and science courses for homeschoolers. I have taught Chemistry twice, Physics, Algebra II, Precalculus, and Calculus.
Sculley Academy Middle School Math Team - Third Place at MATHCOUNTS Chapter Competition 2014
Sculley Academy Middle School Math Team - Second Place at GCTM State Tournament
Hobbies
My favorite hobby is recreational mathematics. I love brain puzzlers of all sorts. I have two daily puzzle calendars and also enjoy KenKen and Hidato. I enjoy doing competitive math problems along with my teams. I also enjoy reading, and now that I have a long commute, I have discovered audio books. I enjoy nonfiction books in the areas of learning and brain function, theology, and history and a wide variety of fiction. Another unusual thing I do is mill my own flour to make bread, muffins, and pancakes. My more active pursuits include hiking, swimming, group fitness classes, and walking our two dogs.Family
Snow Fun - Winter 2014
Christina's High School Graduation and Senior Art Show
All four of my children accompanied me on a mission trip to Honduras in 2012. Behind us is a painting designed by Christina and completed by children and adults from North Avenue Presbyterian Church, Las Moritas, and El Reventon.
Steve: Steve and I met while studying at Georgia Tech and have enjoyed 28 years of marriage. Steve is an electrical engineer and has done both hardware and software development in the areas of machine vision and industrial robotics. Steve went back to school in 2007 through an Executive MBA program at GA Tech. The conclusion of the trip was a trip to China and I was able to accompany him, visiting Shanghai and Beijing. Steve is currently working as an engineering consultant and has a home office full of computers and electrical test equipment.
Pictures from our trip to China
Rebecca: Rebecca is our oldest daughter. She was homeschooled through high school, graduating at the age of 15. She then attended Furman University where, because of a lot of AP credit, she was able to double major in Chemistry and Art and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Because of this combination of skills, Rebecca worked two summers at the Smithsonian doing art conservation. After getting a Master’s Degree in Chemistry at Furman, Rebecca began work on a Ph.D. in Chemistry at Georgia Tech. As a part of her graduate program, she has had the opportunity to live in Belgium, present a paper in France, and visit Saudi Arabia. This year she is also teaching a class at Agnes Scott College. Rebecca’s art interests have turned to origami over the past few years. You can see her work here. Rebecca was recently featured in an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Christina: Christina was also homeschooled through high school. Her education was supplemented through joint enrollment classes at Georgia Gwinnett College and the Artios Conservatory where she majored in art. Christina also used her art ability to coordinate the crafts for a mission trip to Honduras. She participated in the math teams and robotics teams that I coached. She is currently an Industrial Design major at Auburn University.
Christina's Senior Art Show
Timothy: Timothy is the true mathematician of the family. He was homeschooled through eighth grade and is currently a junior at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (GSMST). Timothy has been involved in competitive math since second grade and has frequently been a top finisher in both local and national mathematics competitions. Because of his top finish in the Math Kangaroo contest, he was awarded a trip to a math camp in Zakopane, Poland. He is a member of the GSMST Math Team which won the state tournament in 2014 and he finished third individually. He was also a USAJMO qualifier, finishing in the top third.
Timothy and his GSMST teammates after winning the GCTM State Mathematics Tournament
Nathaniel: Nathaniel is my youngest child and, like his brother, was homeschooled through eighth grade as is now a freshman at GSMST. Nathaniel is a future engineer, enjoying robotics and learning about computers. He was also a part of many math team victories.
