New Year...New Beginning

The new school year is already in full swing. To be honest, I hate the first few weeks of school. I have to be patient and slow down the pace to make sure that students know how to navigate the classroom, assignments, and supplies. I know that in the long run, this will save time, but I love my classes so much that I just want to get into the "groove of things."

 This year, I began working on the programs : Which One Doesn't Belong and 3 Act Math. I begin my math classes on Thursday with 3 Act Math. We watch the prompt, work with "elbow partners," work on a solution to the problem/task given. This year, I added a write up in the student's math notebook. We discuss what we did, then I have the students write about how they solved the problems with the strategy used for the assignment. On Fridays, the classes begin with the prompt from Which One Doesn't Belong. Students think about their answer, move to the location that corresponds with their answer. Discuss with a partner/group about our justification for our answer. We "share out" our reasoning/justifications for our answer. Then we go back and we write about it in our notebook. We label the activity, draw a picture of the prompt. Then give our answer with the justification. My goal is to help students become proficient with explaining or justifying their answer. I have found this to be a slow process, taking up time. At the same time, I have found it to be beneficial. Students that seem to just "go with the flow" now have to do the assignment. I have found the students use of academic language to increase. Students' understanding of terms like estimation and justification has improved just in the few short weeks that I have started.  Good beginning! Just need to be patient!!!

I hope that as you are reading this, you are thinking to yourself how you can begin to improve on activities or assignments that you have given in the past. I always remind myself to not reinvent the wheel, but improve on things that I already have in place. Be willing to take a risk with current assignments. Never settle!!! Keep being a life long learner!

Here is to a great beginning!

#takerisks

#takerisks

My last blog, I was exhausted and was worried that the end of the year would drag on. Would I have long days everyday for the remainder of the year? I did not want to end on a low note!

I was encouraged by a colleague to take a risk, do something new, don't give up. Now is the time to try new things. I thought about this last night and decided that I would not give up. I might have had a long day, but I wasn't defeated!

I came into my classroom this morning, determined to have a great day. I put the biggest smile on and walked into my classroom. Students were excited. It is Wednesday, the day that we work on 3 Act Math. My students love this program. Several students were predicting on what the activity would be about....Big Gulps, cars, cookies, chocolate.

We had a great start to a day. We reviewed graphing and I gave them the assignment in class. I wanted to try something new...Desmos, but wasn't sure what to expect. I was nervous! Would I be able to help students be successful? Would the Wi-fi work? Would the kids enjoy the activity?

I stopped the class and told them about an activity that I wanted to try. I needed their help. This would be the first time to do this program. I couldn't do the assignment without them. Several students had heard about the assignment. They knew that the Gate Math class had gone to the computer lab with a someone from the District. They were concerned, because our class was not the Gate class. Could they do it? There was a discussion..

. "We're not Gate! 

"You think we can do this?"

Me:"Yes, I know you can do this!"

"Is this something you learned at your Math camp?"

me:Yes...okay!

After a few minutes...

"You are right, we are just as smart as the Gate class."

Growth mindset...just because I was willing to try! At the end of class, I had to remind students that the bell had rung and they needed to go to their next period. 

It was nice to have the need "to kick students out of my class." It was nice to see students persevere. 

These are the days that I need to remember...not every day is going to be a great day, but each day I need to try to find something that was great! Glad I took a risk #takrisks

I can do it!

I can do it!
This is what I tell myself the last month of school. It seems that there are more things to do and less time to do it. I am tired, my students are tired, and we all can't wait for summer!

I love my classes, but there is a change in the air, and it makes it difficult to concentrate! For example, today we were going over an assignment that students were going to complete. I was doing the first example with the class. I asked a question...silence! I waited and asked the question again...silence! Hello...anyone there? Hello? I waited. I wanted the students to know that I wasn't going to give them the answer. Finally, someone answered! Yay!

I think everyone is excited for summer! A break...well deserved by all. There are so many awards, activities at the end of the year, that it makes everyone very busy and tired.

Textbooks are being collected, but my time with my students is not over. I decided to move the activities that I normally would do at the beginning of the chapter and move them after I have collected the textbooks. It is working,

Can you tell...I am tired, but not defeated!
I can do this! Really...

Smiling from ear to ear!

As I am writing this blog, I am smiling from ear to ear! I look back at this past year and think...am I the same person? Is that me?

I have always been a goal oriented person. I set goals each year, two goals, and work hard to accomplish them. These goals are not grade level, but personal...professional!

The way I am teaching today, is very different then the way I was teaching at the beginning of the year. I have far exceeded my goals of:

Using technology at least once a week: I am using technology daily!
Making my math lessons more engaging: My students are cheering when I put up 3 act math, or Which One Doesn't Belong (WODB).

In fact, a class that I only have for the subject of Science is asking for me to use these programs/lessons with them. They even justified the activities by telling me that these lessons would help them find patterns and increase their ability to reason. Scientists need to be able to reason and find patterns in their findings. I agreed. It made me smile. They didn't want to be left out. They hear the cheers and laughter coming from my room and they want to be apart of it.

I love it! I caught the passion for math from John C. Baxter. He is a Teacher on Special Assignment for Math (TOSA). He loves math and you only need to be around him a few moments to see that. I now have that passion!  I am smiling more. Kids entering my room are smiling! Math, do I dare say it, is fun...not easy, but worth while. Kids are willing to persevere!

A few nights ago, I had the opportunity to share how I give assignments using the computer component of the series adopted from the district. I brought ten students to demonstrate to the School Board and district personnel. The excitement was in the air! It didn't matter that we waited two hours to share, the kids were excited. I was nervous! I didn't want my nerves to mess up or take away from the presentation. I wanted the School Board to see the love of math that my students and I had!

You should have seen it, the kids were confident!! I had to be too. When I stood up there with my team (students), my fear went away. I was sharing something that we had found to be successful. Was the presentation perfect? No, but the School Board and other participants were left with a feeling of passion and excitement from the presentation! My students entrusted me to take them on a journey, not knowing if we would find success or anything worth while. We did! In fact, we found confidence in our ability to use the technology, vocabulary to express ourselves, and higher test scores even while the material was increasingly difficult.

I am grateful for this year! It is not over!!! In this year, I found my passion, love of learning, and confidence to do something completely different and out of my comfort zone. I have found that it is okay to make mistakes. There are people around me to guide me on my journey. I am grateful for my students. They have helped me create an environment where it is okay to make mistakes...we learn from them. Their is a respect and trust between us! I never want that to end! I am sad that the school year is ending and I want see them as much! I know that I am a memory. I know that when they think of me...it will be about the journey, Board Presentation, and love of Diet Coke and chocolate!

Now...if only I could become perfect at Twitter, especially the #s. I think Cori O shoud present a class, just on hashtags..

.I love this journey!

It is okay to make mistakes!

It is okay to make mistakes! I have to remind myself that this is true and acceptable! Perfection is desired, but not needed.Talking is acceptable!

This week, I stepped out of my comfort zone. I tried new things. I braced myself for the feeling of uneasiness. I started with the program Which One Doesn't Belong (I hear the song from Sesame Street playing when I do this activity). I asked them to choose the shape that doesn't belong and be ready to justify their answer. At first, it was silent! I must admit, I enjoyed the moment of silence. Then I had students pair up, the in a pod (group of 4). There was discussion and disagreements. I loved it. We then discussed as a group. I chose a leader to help with the discussion. I was allowed to observe and facilitate! I was in awe!!!

I also started with an activity from 3 Acts. The activity was about Girl Scout Cookies. I had students in pods. I had the groups choose a spokesperson. The discussions, the estimations, the different thinking that was going on was amazing. My room was not silent, but students were on task.

I must admit that there was still feeling of uneasiness, but a smile did appear after each activity! Guess what, I am okay. I wasn't perfect with demonstrating the programs, but this is okay!

Feeling successful and excited for week 2!

#3 Acts Math and #WODB

NCTM BLOG

This week was a blur. I ask myself what I know, what I learned, and what I want to change....I learned that I am a nerd that loves Diet Coke and chocolate. I am  a Wollowitz in a room full of Sheldons.

I moved to middle school this year. I moved from a school that was closed to only teaching math and science. That change alone is huge! Now add, changing your teaching style. Who has the time? Where do I begin?

I begin thinking about this year.  Do I remember the first day? What did I do. More importantly, how did I feel?  I remember being anxious and nervous. I was not a new teacher, but this was my first year transitioning from Elementary to Middle School. I felt out of my element! I chose to be a middle school teacher. Did I make a mistake? Could I find my way and find my rhythm?

While at the NCTM conference, I attended a Shadow con. This was the meeting with all of the "rock stars" of math. There was a call to action. What am I going to do? After attending this 90 minute meeting. I felt inspired. I knew that I was a toddler  among athletes. Math athletes, yes I said it. I felt small, but not defeated. 

This blog will be about my changes after going to the math conference.

The programs that I want to implement are: 3 Act Math, Which One Doesn't Belong, and "deleting the textbook." I will share my successes and my failures. Let the journey begin...stay tuned!