My latest find for teaching!

I stumbled upon a site called Common Core Conversations and have spent some time combing through the sites to find adequate support for my math class.  The best resource thus far has been the site LearnZillion.  Not only does the site offer videos for students to view for support at home but teachers may download the power point slides for the classroom.  I find the series of videos adequate but somewhat fast making them difficult for students to comprehend.  However, the slides are fantastic. What is even more beneficial for me is the specific breakdown of each standard.  There is little room for confusion as to what needs to be taught after viewing the slides.  I appreciate this source because it ensures my teaching is covering the entire standard.  Like Khan Academy, teachers may assign videos for viewing via a code or sign up their entire class for instruction and track their progress.  This year has been by far the most demanding without having a text as a crutch but I believe more sources like LearnZillion are the future of "teaching resources."  I remember when it was frowned upon to use a resource other than district adopted materials. Ironic how things are changing and it is frowned upon to rely on a text.

Building Relationships

I have been teaching for some time and I have always been complimented for the rapport I develop with my students. One of the best compliments I have ever been paid was from my former boss. He stated that my classroom environment was like no other. It was nurturing, respectful, and safe. Students have always been able to be themselves and have never been embarrassed by answering incorrectly or harassed for being the "smart kid."  I can't really say that this was my intention-it just happened naturally.  At first I thought it was the kids but year after year I am able to connect with my students.

Like all teachers, however, I reflect over the summer and have regrets. I always make a list of things to change or work on. Each year, I regret the few students I was not able to connect with for whatever reason. You know how some students try to avoid communication and are happy to blend in with the walls.  These are the students who never cause trouble but are distant and quiet.  While the high maintenance students are getting most of my attention, the wallflowers are happy because I am not forcing them to engage.

This year, I have decided that this was the war I was waging! No, but seriously, I want to know all of them and have some kind of interaction daily aside from "answer number 15 please."

These are a few of the tactics I have tried to far to connect with those with less connectivity:
1.  Greet each student by name at the door and ask about their day.
2. Look for opportunities to sit at a surrounding desk and engage in a non-academic conversation.
3.  Try to engage with these students outside the classroom.
4. Look to include some of the students' interests into the learning activities.
5.  Find multiple ways to compliment the students for their efforts.
6. Give them a special task that is deemed desirable.
7. Make a positive phone call home.
8.  Invite them to lunch in my room with their friends.
This list is not exhaustive but I welcome any further suggestions.

This year, I have managed to make so many more connections and my students are responding to me positively. More importantly, they are starting to work not just for me but for themselves and I believe that is because they feel of value.  While the overall benefit is best for the students it is so rewarding for me.  I have so many special kids and while some of their stories are sad and explain their behaviors, I am learning that my relationship with them is all the more significant.  I feel like I have grown this year the most.

AudioBoo

http://audioboo.fm/boos/533099-new-application

My Classroom is a Hive!

Oh how we talk!  When I was in school, the classroom was quiet.  In fact, the first sign of good teaching was a silent classroom where only the teacher talked. If a question was asked, and you had the answer, raising your hand was the way to go. The only person anyone wanted to share anything with was the teacher.  But, oh have times changed!  Thankfully!

My classroom can be compared to a hive.  All that buzz is the sound of bees working hard.  My room has that productive buzz.  Are there side conversations? Yes, but the same or less than in traditional classrooms.

When students enter the room, they are greeting each other and me. We say the pledge of allegiance and discuss the announcements. The warm up is often similar to the math activity I have discussed frequently called Math Bowling. My teams are working hard together to come up with the equations in a little friendly competition.  Imagine- excitement about mathematics! We learn our new material while choral reading significant notes, discussing content with team members, reading sentence frames aloud while substituting vocabulary and other relevant information.  We think, pair share, and write until the information makes sense enough so we can verbally explain it as well as write it! We celebrate the use of tier 2 vocabulary by hitting the "Easy Button".  The information is shared amongst students and they are no longer looking to the teacher to demonstrate their understanding but rather each other.  Hands do not fly in the air because why tell the teacher the answer when everyone knows she already knows this stuff.  Instead, they are eager to share with their team.  When a student does not understand, they look to their teammates for clarification.  If I should try to intervene, I often hear something like "I will show him Mrs. Taylor."  Wow, my job is now about finding clever ways to present material and then just monitoring the buzz.  But, I am not the queen bee! The students are all the leaders of the hive.  We also talk about what we have learned each day and we talk on Edmodo about our learning and for further clarification.  Rarely, are the posts directed to me for help but for the class.  I love my kids actively learning...I love the buzz!

One step Equations

Many parents are uncomfortable with helping their child do middle school math but the Math Dude at  Math Dude make learning fun. My 6th graders are learning how to isolate the variable via one step equations and this video is very helpful!  There are many cool videos for a variety of Algebra Concepts.

Orders of Operations

This week I began each class with a warm up called Math Bowling and my students shouted "yes!" when they saw it on my promethium board. ( I acquired this game from the Avid summer institute math strand where I also learned a ton of other fun activities.)  this game is based on orders of operations but the kids just think it is a competitive game.  The object is to knock down all the pins...I used 1 through 6 but you could really do as many as you want.  I have large foam dice that we throw or roll to get our numbers.  For example, yesterday we rolled 0, 2, 4, & 5. My students are situated in teams of 4.  Each team then works together to use those four numbers and the operators they know as well as their knowledge of the order of operations to make the numbers add up to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6.  For example,  2+4+(5*0)=6.  The best part is they work so well together to try and be the first team to knock down all the pins.  I award the first 3 teams points but we all enjoy the game and it starts off math class on the right foot!

Make them estimate logically!

One of the many "take homes" I picked up from my AVID summer institute conference was the need to really get kids thinking and making logical decisions. Each day, we participates in Estimation Station. I have incorporated this into my classroom and my kids ask about it everyday and look forward to Fridays because of Estimation Station. They even do this little chant! First, I find something the kids like for a treat to put inside a random, clean container. I have used skittles, m&m's, Oreos, Mike & Ike's, etc for treats. For containers, I have used disposable, cheap containers from the dollar store. Containers that are unusual get the kids intrigued and excited. For example, I used an unused picnic-ketchup container this past Friday.

 The treat and container are only the hook. I ask my students to estimate the number of items, the weight in ounces, the length if connected end to end, and the ratio of red skittles to the entire number of skittles within the container. These are just a few of the estimations I have used but so many more could be utilized. I realize that kids do not have the schema to make an accurate estimation for some stations. As a result, I provide samples to give them some background knowledge. We discuss the weight of a stapler, a baby, a shoe, a desk, etc. Conversion is also incorporated into this activity that students deem "just for fun."

 Students put their names and estimations on sticky notes and put them on my doors. Then, I require them to write about the process and their rationale. Frantically, they write about this exciting activity. They know that when they are finished we will be identifying our winner. The time comes and I try to play it up as much as possible. The kids all cheer for the winner and it is a great way to end the class on a Friday. Monday morning, we begin by scrutinizing our writings. Where they over or under in their estimation? How could they have been more accurate? These are just a few of my questions. However, students are eager to be perfect their estimating skills. Finally, students offer future Estimation Stations which is great because they continue to buy-in to the activity, feel a part of the process, and offer some pretty amazing suggestions.

 I learned so much at the AVID summer institute but this small little activity really fit into my classroom routine and made it not-so routine!

Writing in Math

I believe that using writing in mathematics not only strengthens a student's writing skills but reinforces their learning because it is sort of a reteaching method. I currently utilize writing in my classroom during warm-ups, quick writes, projects, exit tickets, and various forms of assessments. With the availability of tablets, I plan to have students begin class each day in the same manner with a prompt that includes a small writing component. Through Edmodo, students will see the prompt from me and will respond to the entire class. Just as we did today, students will from time to time be asked to examine another student's writing, highlight the academic vocabulary words in green and the tier 2 vocabulary words in yellow, and prepare a positive-only response. Obviously, I want to create a safe learning environment and encourage students to participate. Similarly, throughout the lesson we will be able to initiate quick writes whenever the opportunity arises and close the lesson with an exit ticket that is assigned and only viewable by myself. This will allow me to check for understanding and grade the formative assessment in a private manner. Students will be able to maintain all their writings, projects, and other assignments in their "backpack" which is like an endless flash drive and since Edmodo's grade book maintains copies of all their assignments, work will never be misplaced. As I prepare to become a paperless classroom, I catch myself stopping in the midst of activities and asking myself how I would change things given tablets in the hands of my students. I have post-its with ideas stuck around my classroom from ideas that are generated. I feel like I could write a book with all my post-its put in chronological order:)

Journey to Paperless

Well, when I found out last year that I was one of four teachers given the privilege of piloting a class set of tablets I was thrilled.  I did not anticipate however that I would have tablets and be without WIFI.  Trying to be positive and a role model for the glass is half full, I have focused on preparing my students for working with such technology.  Today, I found out that WIFI is back on track and will be ready in about a month.  That is ok because my kids will be ready in about a month.  I realize that this technology will bring about challenges but I embrace those due to the many opportunities.  My students are eager to use my school website to download notes, assignments, videos, and handouts.  They are also able to utilize Quizlet from my site so they may practice academic vocabulary.  We will begin utilizing Learning Upgrade this Friday to strengthen math skills on a personalized student path.  My students love this software but complain about the "nerdy" music.  Yet, I am plagued with hearing them hum those silly tones while they complete their work.  So, while we are in the emerging stages of paperless - we are working with what we have.  Here is a video I showed for order of operations...I regret ever hearing this tune!

Tech in my classroom

I am going to be documenting my journey towards becoming a paperless classroom. I have access to tablets for my students however, I am working on the procedures of my classroom and getting my students prepared for integrating tablets into our learning.  I want them to be aware of my expectations for their behavior and understand all procedures for use of the device before even touching the tablets.  With 6th graders, I am learning that this may take some time.  For now, we are only utilizing the following pieces of technology: promethium board with flip charts which are similar to power point presentations, online access to gradebook, Remind 101, class website for assignment information, and coming this week...responders.  The only new to me technology is the use of Remind101.  I am using this to update parents via messaging of important information. However, only half of my parents are able to use Remind 101 for one reason or another.  This means I still have to rely on email.  I have created a spreadsheet in Google Docs with students information.  So, emailing is much easier.

This week I will utilize the responders so students will be able to do exit tickets and quizzes. I will not be doing a lot of multiple choice this year so I don't know how often the responders will be utilized.  I will be blogging soon about my incremental use of additional technology.