Confession: I’ve never really been good at math
Here’s a confession of mine: I’ve never really thought of myself as ‘good at math.’ Yep, I’m a high school math teacher proclaiming my discontent with my mathematical abilities. Ironic? Sad? Make...
View ArticleThanks, Jenks
When you build up a future experience in your mind, it is not often BETTER than how you envisioned it. Twitter Math Camp was that experience for me. It was so much better than it looked on a hashtag....
View ArticleTorch Relays
Two 12-hr work days down, 5 days until school officially starts. (Cliche about how there’s never enough time). I’m optimistic about this year, but I can’t remember a school year that I didn’t have a...
View ArticleFacing Fear
It’s always fascinating to me to watch students step into a new classroom and immediately search for their social comfort zone. Students aren’t unique in this phenomenon; they are just the group of...
View ArticleTalky, Talky, Talky. No More Talky.
Because I’m hyper-interested in helping to create a space where kids feel comfortable sharing ideas and making mistakes, I began my classes today with the Talking Points activity that Elizabeth...
View ArticleThe Anti-Answer-Getter
I must start off today saying that I have never experienced such a fantastic start to the school year than I have this year. The energy within our department is almost palpable, and I know that the...
View ArticleDo You Let Yourself Fail?
I sat down this weekend to do some recreational mathematics with a friend. Maybe you know him; his name is Justin Aion. He writes a pretty cool blog over at Re-Learning to Teach. I made it a goal of...
View ArticleIf You Give Homework, I’m Talking to You
Maybe it’s because it’s Friday and this has been one action packed week, but I am FIRED UP. I’m fired up about the amount of out-of-school homework we give our students, especially in math class....
View ArticleWhat Questions Do They Have?
I’m always delighted by the extra wave of energy students put forth when they are asked to develop their own question to a scenario. I love my job, and this year has started amazingly. But today was...
View ArticleFemale Feelings and Brash Boys??
It’s Friday, it’s Halloween, and our football team is playing tonight in the section finals for the first time in about 30 years. To think that solidifying understanding of domain, range, increasing...
View ArticleMaking a Point
Our school uses a 5-period, trimester schedule which means that every 13 weeks, I have a new group of angels in my classroom. I decided to give Talking Points another try, with the goal of...
View ArticleMatchmaker, Matchmaker: The Algebra Way
I’m trying to make my blog less OMG-you’ve-got-to-try-this-amazing-activity-that-I-found-cuz-it’s-awesome and more analysis of my teaching and an examination of where improvements can be made. That...
View ArticleDear Students: No. I’m Not Sorry.
I read a very moving blog post in which a teacher apologizes to her students for the problems plaguing our education system and hold students back. While I agree with Lizanne Foster’s view on the way...
View ArticleThe Stupidity of Number Flexibility (#TMWYK)
I’d compare the struggle between teachers and learners at the end of the year to that of a parent trying to carry a limp child to their bed. Eventually they will both get there, but the parent is...
View ArticleSummer Acceptance and Finally Freedom
July 4th. Independence Day. Let freedom ring while we eat a variety of barbecued unmentionables and enjoy pyrotechnicians creating art in the sky. I hesitated in writing about this because I don’t...
View ArticleSafe Spaces at #TMC15
We talk a lot about creating safe spaces for students, but it’s important to acknowledge that teachers need those safe spaces as well. In many ways Twitter Math Camp IS that safe space where math...
View ArticleWatching Solitaire in Silence
Remember Windows Solitaire? I have fond memories playing this fantastic digital distracter with my high school beau on his brand new Gateway computer. We would take turns striving for success in this...
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