Well, unfortunately, it has been a few weeks since I last posted. Time this summer just has not been consistent. Running my kids to their camps and lessons, my own PD, my internship project to complete my principal certification classes, and life in general has just made this summer fly by!
Last week I attended an AP Summer Institute at UT-Austin for pre-AP Math with a focus on Algebra 1 and Geometry. I finally was able to have some hands on time with CBR's and LOVE them! Now I'm much less scared to use them in my classes! We did a lot of activities and problems to introduce more rigor and Calculus concepts earlier in the math curriculum. All I can say, is I'm glad it wasn't an AP Calculus or Stats institute! The limited calculus we were completing was stretching my memory much farther back than I care to admit!
Now though, with just a few weeks before school begins, I'm at a point where I wanted to have some lesson plans completed and ready to go, but I still find myself looking for information and sorting through what I really want my priorities to be this year. So, to help me fine tune that and figure out my goals, I'm going to list out the ideas to maybe help make some sense of what I should focus on for the benefit of my students.
1. Flipped lessons - I want to have a blended plan, not all flipped, but shoot for about 50% or more of the notes in a flipped setting. Great ideas from Todd Nesloney at 3 Tech Ninjas!
2. Interactive Notebooks - I've been afraid of incorporating these because my students cannot show up with a pencil, let alone a notebook, but I'm wanting to do this and figure out a way to make it work.
3. Technology! - This is on several levels. I want to use our graphing calculators more wisely. I'm tired of the cell phone/iPod fight, so I want to figure out how to teach responsible use of devices. I want to incorporate Twitter, QR codes, Google docs, etc.
4. Mathematical Habits of Mind - I like the idea of this concept I heard at CAMT2013 from Cathy Seeley and want to incorporate the idea into my lessons for my students.
5. Growth mindset - I want to focus on this concept so that my students will be in the right frame of mind to begin not only to understand high school mathematics, but to enjoy it!
6. Teach like a Pirate - Passion, Immersion, Rapport, Ask & Analyze, Transformation, and Enthusiasm! All thanks to Dave Burgess!
7. Perplexity - "The times they are a changing!" Thanks to Dan Meyer! - Can use some of the pre-AP training ideas here to add to challenge and student centered learning.
8. iPad - I splurged and bought myself an iPad yesterday, so now I have to learn to use it and use it effectively!
Hmmm, now that I have compiled a list, even though it does seem I'm missing a few things, it doesn't seem quite as overwhelming as it did before starting this post. Seeing the benefits of posting and reflecting and the school year is still a few weeks away!
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Thursday, July 11, 2013
CAMT 2013 ~ Day 2
Today was a whirlwind of information! I have learned so much, considered so many ideas, and hope I can recall it all when it comes time to use it in the classroom with students! I was asked some questions today that really surprised me how much I had to think about them when I felt they really should be easy answers.
What are the goals of teaching geometry?
What is the definition of a problem?
What skills does problem solving require?
Can you make Angry Birds like a math classroom?
How can I use this problem to teach mathematic concepts or skills?
Why cover concepts without giving time for understanding?
These are questions I have formed answers to, but still feel like I need to let them soak in and revisit before moving on. These will be the topics of future blog posts!
What are the goals of teaching geometry?
What is the definition of a problem?
What skills does problem solving require?
Can you make Angry Birds like a math classroom?
How can I use this problem to teach mathematic concepts or skills?
Why cover concepts without giving time for understanding?
These are questions I have formed answers to, but still feel like I need to let them soak in and revisit before moving on. These will be the topics of future blog posts!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
CAMT 2013 ~ Day 1
Today was the first day of CAMT 2013 and the first CAMT conference I have attended. It was amazing to see all the math teachers there and everyone so excited and anxious to learn something new that could be applied to their classrooms and/or goals as educators.
"The times they are a changing!" according to Dan Meyer whose blog I have followed at http://blog.mrmeyer.com and finally got to hear speak in person, it was a great experience, and by far was my favorite session of the day!
His session gave me a lot to think about, a new craze is the flipped classroom, well I have to try to flip around my perspective and think about the hook, or in Dan's terms "perplexity" as it leads to standards instead of the standards that need to be taught before the challenging and interesting problem that will get students involved in the lesson and want to learn.
Another take away from the session is the simple rephrasing of the statement "Today we are going to learn about..." to "Today we are going to ask about..." What a seemingly innocent change in words makes such an impact on the thought process that it creates!
Many other great experiences today with information on RtI, problem-solving flexibility, and other tools to use for student achievement. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
"The times they are a changing!" according to Dan Meyer whose blog I have followed at http://blog.mrmeyer.com and finally got to hear speak in person, it was a great experience, and by far was my favorite session of the day!
His session gave me a lot to think about, a new craze is the flipped classroom, well I have to try to flip around my perspective and think about the hook, or in Dan's terms "perplexity" as it leads to standards instead of the standards that need to be taught before the challenging and interesting problem that will get students involved in the lesson and want to learn.
Another take away from the session is the simple rephrasing of the statement "Today we are going to learn about..." to "Today we are going to ask about..." What a seemingly innocent change in words makes such an impact on the thought process that it creates!
Many other great experiences today with information on RtI, problem-solving flexibility, and other tools to use for student achievement. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Algebra 1 Interactive Journal beginnings
It is taking shape! I updated information on the Algebra 1 Interactive Journal page. I decided to keep a running record of work and updates in one place to help reflect on the process and implementing it with my students. I have not used journals in class before so I am excited to start this and hope I can keep up with it and make it beneficial for my students!
I currently have everything in a 1/2 inch binder. I want to keep things as small as possible as my students will need to keep up with these and bring them to class everyday. I know I have some students that will not carry them around, so I will also have some crates that they can temporarily keep them in the room if they choose to on days they don't have homework or tests. I think I may want to move up to a 1 inch binder because I would like for them to keep their quizzes and tests in the last section for finals and that will take up some room.
I currently have everything in a 1/2 inch binder. I want to keep things as small as possible as my students will need to keep up with these and bring them to class everyday. I know I have some students that will not carry them around, so I will also have some crates that they can temporarily keep them in the room if they choose to on days they don't have homework or tests. I think I may want to move up to a 1 inch binder because I would like for them to keep their quizzes and tests in the last section for finals and that will take up some room.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Joining the mathtwitterblogosphere!
I have wanted to be more reflective on teaching practices and put my own creations out to share with others as those that I have learned from have shared, so here is my first venture into that world. To get started, I'm going to put out my summer to do list which will also keep me on track to finish most of it I hope!
This summer, I am reading the following books:
- Teach Like A Pirate by Dave Burgess
- Learning to Love Math by Judy Willis, M.D.
- Integrating Differentiated Instruction and Understanding by Design by Carol Ann Tomlinson and Jay McTighe
- Making Thinking Visible by Ron Ritchhart, Mark Church and Karin Morrison
- Styles and Strategies for Teaching High School Mathematics by Edward Thomas, John Brunsting, and Pam Warrick
I will be teaching Algebra 1 to students that have already taken it and not been successful as well as teaching sophomore Geometry. This puts several items on my list!
1. Update Algebra 1 lessons that I taught last year with fresh hands-on activities since the students will be repeating the course.
2. Create a plan for using an Algebra Interactive Notebook and have example as complete as possible to guide instruction this coming year.
3. Review Geometry TEKS and our district scope and sequence to create a flow of topics.
4. Begin lesson plans for Geometry.
5. Create a plan for using Interactive Notebooks for Geometry and complete as many pages as can to help guide instruction for the year.
6. I'd also like to create menus or tic-tac-toe boards for each unit as far as homework assignments to allow for more differentiation for my students, especially with the Algebra 1 classes, but I'd also like to try with Geometry.
7. I will be moving rooms, so I would like to come up with a fresh arrangement and some new posters, bulletin boards, and organization tricks to change up the setting. I will have some of the same students I had last year, so I'd like to change it all up a bit to freshen up!
8. I'd like to become regular with this blog, updating information, and helping out fellow teachers!
Wow, that is quite a to-do list! I'm sure there is more, but I'm beginning to get overwhelmed, so I'm going to stop there until I get a few of these completed! I'm sure I'll be adding after attending CAMT this week in San Antonio! Maybe I'll see a few of you there!
Thank you for stopping by to enjoy the journey and I hope this will help keep me accountable, reflective, and growing as an educator! Happy Summer!
This summer, I am reading the following books:
- Teach Like A Pirate by Dave Burgess
- Learning to Love Math by Judy Willis, M.D.
- Integrating Differentiated Instruction and Understanding by Design by Carol Ann Tomlinson and Jay McTighe
- Making Thinking Visible by Ron Ritchhart, Mark Church and Karin Morrison
- Styles and Strategies for Teaching High School Mathematics by Edward Thomas, John Brunsting, and Pam Warrick
I will be teaching Algebra 1 to students that have already taken it and not been successful as well as teaching sophomore Geometry. This puts several items on my list!
1. Update Algebra 1 lessons that I taught last year with fresh hands-on activities since the students will be repeating the course.
2. Create a plan for using an Algebra Interactive Notebook and have example as complete as possible to guide instruction this coming year.
3. Review Geometry TEKS and our district scope and sequence to create a flow of topics.
4. Begin lesson plans for Geometry.
5. Create a plan for using Interactive Notebooks for Geometry and complete as many pages as can to help guide instruction for the year.
6. I'd also like to create menus or tic-tac-toe boards for each unit as far as homework assignments to allow for more differentiation for my students, especially with the Algebra 1 classes, but I'd also like to try with Geometry.
7. I will be moving rooms, so I would like to come up with a fresh arrangement and some new posters, bulletin boards, and organization tricks to change up the setting. I will have some of the same students I had last year, so I'd like to change it all up a bit to freshen up!
8. I'd like to become regular with this blog, updating information, and helping out fellow teachers!
Wow, that is quite a to-do list! I'm sure there is more, but I'm beginning to get overwhelmed, so I'm going to stop there until I get a few of these completed! I'm sure I'll be adding after attending CAMT this week in San Antonio! Maybe I'll see a few of you there!
Thank you for stopping by to enjoy the journey and I hope this will help keep me accountable, reflective, and growing as an educator! Happy Summer!
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