Teaching Common Core

 “When you get to the end of your rope. Tie a knot and hang on.” 

― Franklin D. Roosevelt

Recently, at a district meeting I heard a union candidate actual say, "While middle and high school teachers may be exhausted from having to find and copy material to support common core standards, elementary teachers have had to do so for 4 subject areas.  So we are more tired than you." I found myself shocked that we were actually listening to an argument about who is more tired.  Needles to say, Common Core has been exhausting and here is why.  I am fully accepting of the change associated with Common Core Standards and the Mathematical Practices.  However, there have been numerous challenges.

• Lack of Materials
  
• The time spent at the copy machine
• Heavy workload of grading projects and (for math people unaccustomed to) writings.
• Students who are not prepared or used to being made to preserver 
• Parents who do not understand why a math teacher should be commenting/grading on writing.
• Parents who are not prepared to let their student struggle a little to learn perseverance.
• The different mindset of teachers across a campus:  those moving forward and those holding on to how it was done before.

While I probably seem negative, this is just a reality on campuses everywhere.  I think my time spent searching for materials, copying materials, and grading has depleted my conference period as well as most of my time at home with my family.  It is like being on a hamster wheel for 10 months.  In addition, the phone calls are endless as well as prep talks for students struggling.  Some teachers are rethinking their choice of employment or certain that it must be different elsewhere.  However, I have not seen a mass exodus.  So, since I assume that I will be beginning this journey again after a much appreciated summer vacation, I want to set the wheels in motion for a more manageable year.  These are some of my plans for the new year.

First, I plan to utilize the curriculum developed through our teachers over the past year.  This, along with the other resources our district is providing will eliminate significant amounts of the "searching" for materials.  Given that I am a perfectionist, I usually continue looking for something better when what I found was probably sufficient.

Second, I believe I will have devices for all my students.  That means that I will be able to scan or utilize materials online and deliver the material to my students on their devices thus cutting down on the amount of time spent at the copy machine.  Our district has also supported our use of TenMarks which is a curriculum for math available online.  Given that I am a strong believer in having students do their homework in class where they have support, this will support my students who do not have access to the internet at home.

Third, my parent information night and parent newsletters will prepare parents for the writing

 

expectations in my math class.  I will also help them understand the struggle students will face due to me teaching them to preserver.  I plan on providing parents with some guidelines for supporting their students.  

Fourth, I will follow the guidelines suggested by Melissa the author of Common Core Mathematics: How to Teach Perseverance in Solving Word Problems (http://www.aaeteachers.org/index.php/blog/1186-common-core-mathematics-how-to-teach-perseverance-in-solving-word-problems):

1. Work in partners or small groups who can help when they get stuck.
2. Start students with problems they can easily solve. Once they feel success, progress to harder problems.
3. Model different strategies that can be used to solve problems, either by thinking aloud while doing a problem at the board, or by having students talk through the ways that they would solve a problem.
4. Design a classroom with a variety of tools that students can use in their problem solving.  This can include manipulatives that they can use during class or posters that provide hints and strategies.
5. Create a safe way for students to examine the problems they got wrong and explore how they might avoid those mistakes next time by using a math journal or comparing mistakes in pairs. 

Tweet for 10!

For those of us who value Twitter, you will understand the possibility of this scenario.  Every morning, and I use that term loosely because it is actually so early it is still dark, my dogs wake me up to go outside.  I complain in my head all the way downstairs and while I wait impatiently for Smokey and Reggie to bark indicating that they are ready to beat me upstairs and return to their slumber.  It had been so unfair that the rest of my family goes undisturbed and while they initiated adopting both dogs with empty promises, I am the one to get up with Woman's Best Friends! However, I have to thank my canine friends for many wonderful benefits including helping me become a better educator.

A few weeks ago during a visit downstairs, something changed my 5-10 minutes of dreaded wait time.  I had recently purchased this amazing little case and keyboard for my ipad mini and I could not wait to use the device.  So, while I began waiting impatiently...I was suddenly bummed when they began barking to come back inside.  I had stumbled upon Twitter in the wee hours and was able to find so many professional development articles and tools that I could not possibly look up anymore for the rest of the day and still be productive.  For example, this morning I stumbled upon a new Google Extension Timer that I will use with my students and my son, Jackson.  I was reminded of the app SpellCity.com, which will certainly help me and my son get through spelling word practice with a few less quarrels and maybe become something enjoyable for vocabulary practice with my students.  I also, familiarized myself with the latest accomplishments of Remind 101 and made notes one my calendar of dates I needed to remind my students' parents of as well as made some notes in my Google Docs for ways Remind 101 will further benefit my teaching.  Finally, I was able to browse 2 of my favorite blogs by Richard Byrne and Two Guys and Some Ipads and I stumbled upon GoNoodle.com for short "brain breaks" for students.  I was so excited about this site, the fact that it is free, and the ability to choose to either wake my students up or calm those kids down with some breathing exercises...that I had to try out the calming techniques to return to sleep.  I even made 2 notes to update my blog (this little post) and my class website!

Finally, I have to say that my spouse was thrilled that I was not Tweeting or checking for the latest and greatest tweets all evening and was a little more focused on family time...this felt good to me as well.  So, don't think that you have to spend all day researching professional development because it can happen in just 5-10 minutes on Twitter because as all Tweeting teachers know, Twitter is the best professional development tool available.  I will tweet this when Smokey and Reggie wake me up:)

Unit a Rates via Learn Zillion

A Techie Year

This year has been intense! I feel like time has flown by like a bunch of papers in the wind and I have tried to grasp what I can.  This is my first year as an AVID coordinator and my first year teaching 6th grade math and science.  But, that is nothing compared to implementing Common Core and becoming a BYOD district.  Luckily for me, I have 39 tablets in my room for student use.  That just sounds exciting and challenging. Doesn't it?  Well, going through this means that I can share my experience so others will know what to expect.  This is in no way a guide but maybe some things to consider.

Something I prepared my students for in advance was frustration and disappointment.  I told them that we would go slow and have to be flexible because technology is not glitch free.  I hardly realized the value of that speech.  Several times, my students have reminded each other and me about this speech.  For instance, when the tablets were not properly charged...or only for half the day.  This means I have to be flexible even between classes and always have a backup plan.  Lately, I have had all but four students working seamlessly.  Unfortunately, those four students who are not working have been kicked off the wi-fi.  So, that is when I utilize the buddy system to ensure everyone has access.

Another obstacle I had to overcome with having tablets integrated in my classroom was the rush of students seeking help when every little thing went wrong.  I literally had a nightmare about an endless line of students coming up to me with technology problems.  Reality was not that different the first day with 6th graders.  However, I went back to my classroom routines and procedures and reminded students of the communication norms we established for getting help.  This at least kept students in their seats and allowed me to help them at their seats or help the group through some quick fix demonstration.  I also did not realize how vast the experience levels would be amongst my students.  I assumed that all students would have played with a tablet -but I was wrong.

So, my take home message thus far is to prepare yourself and your students for the potential frustrations.  Begin small and increase the use of technology in the classroom.  Realize that the students are so excited and they want this to work, so they will be accommodating.  Finally, and most importantly, do not give up! There have been a couple days I was so frustrated and tired that I thought "Oh, it is just too much work!" But, I forced myself to try again and things improved each time.  Remember you are human and treading in new territory.  So, allow yourself to make mistakes and ask others for help and advice.  And, try to have fun!

Equivalent Fraction

Great job using a cartoon to introduce equivalent fractions!

2nd Grader Loves Math-yeah!

Teach your child fun math tricks and let them discover patterns in the multiplication table. It beats rote learning and my son looks forward to our time together learning math! He thinks we are cheating or magicians! I don't know but it works:)

Do all teachers feel like this?

After a restful vacation of two weeks and spending time with family and friends, I felt like I should be ready to return to teaching. However, when I woke up Friday, a negative cloud hung over my head and I could not understand why it was there. I love my students and I love teaching. I have spoke of them and I know that I missed them dearly! So why would I feel this dread? I even came down with an out of nowhere cold that makes me want to stay in bed! This is not at all like me as I stated before.
However, after considering all last semester I feel as if the routine is my problem and I don't mean that it was too routine.  With common core, I felt like I was without a routine. I felt stranded in a boat without a paddle. I don't like change much and common core is a huge uncomfortable change. Things don't mesh right now and I feel unsupported without a textbook.  That is crazy but so true.  I have talked to peers and the tendency right now is to grab onto the safety raft and coast down the river-meaning use the old text book. I am a math person so forgive my writing expressions!  But, we are still exhausted from the first semester and doubting ourselves. Going back to what we know feels safe-it ensures the kids are competent in something. Abandoning the notion of trying to teach kids to preserver when I cannot always spell the word and they detest the notion of figuring anything out on their own, would make life so much easier. But, is it the right thing to do?
I don't believe anyone goes into education because it is an easy job! Maybe a few but they must have never been around children or picked up the paper or watched the news where teachers are basically on trial for all that is wrong with America. So, going back to what is easy and safe is not the right thing to do.  I will dig in and teach like my life depends upon the test scores of these students no matter what their mental state is on the given benchmark dates.  But I can't say that it is without anxiety.  Kids need structure. I have heard that so many times-they like structure. Well, so do I! However, I have also heard that in times of change, greatness often peaks it's head. Let's hope I stumble upon something.
Finally, I will try to remember that not once has a student come back and thanked me for teaching them to factor polynomials...they have thanked me for being good to them and loving them! That is why I became a teacher after all!  Ok, I am ready for work and getting rid of the cloud!!!