Out of the Rut!

Last week I had a meeting with my high school math department.  I like each of the people in our department and am sure they are good teachers, but I left the meeting feeling like I am not on the same page as any of them when it comes to teaching.  Who am I kidding, I'm not even in the same book! 

Then, I second guessed myself all week.  Is my teaching style preparing my students for the teachers they'll get in high school?  Probably not.  Is my teaching style compatible with most of my students way of learning?  I think so.  They're doing fine anyway.  Maybe I'm too "out there."  Maybe I should talk more instead of letting the students discover the information they need to use as a class or in small groups.  (This doesn't even sound like something I would ever say)  Are they learning the skills they are going to need to be successful in their future endeavors?  Yes if we're not talking about sitting in a classroom and expecting to be spoon fed.  I just felt like I was in a funk and started to doubt myself.

Thursday night and Friday we had Parent-Teacher conferences, except I did student-lead conferences so the students were doing all of the talking.  Who knows their education better than they do?  Again, I was breaking the mold in my school.  However, by the time conferences were over on Friday, I had my mo-jo back.  Students and parents both appreciate that my class isn't a "traditional" classroom.  They like sitting at tables instead of desks because it's more comfortable and allows for a better "working" environment.  I even had one student tell me that she's learned more this year than any other year she can remember.  She said, "I'm learning so much more than math when I'm in here.  Mom, I'm learning how to work with people and talk to them when I don't agree with them.  I've learned how to use an iPad, Edmodo, and Todays Meet and I can't wait to use these really sweet calculators Mrs. Litchfield has!"  Of course we had to show her mom everything she was talking about and how we're using them for education.

I have to remind myself that I don't teach "outside the box" to make other teachers in my school happy.  I teach how I believe the students learn the best.  I do what I think is best for them (not what's easiest for me).  They're involved. They're "doing." They're discussing.  They're analyzing.  They're creating.  They're engaged.  They're excited to be in my class and I am excited to be their teacher!   

Best day yet!

What an amazing day! 

Our school recenlty acquired a mobile lab of 30 iPad 2's and today I tested them in my classroom.  It went so well that it was almost unbelievable!  Our technology director did an amazing job getting the iPads ready for the roll-out.  He and I are giving a professional development to the rest of the district's teachers, so he stayed in my classroom all morning watching the students interact with the iPads and talking to them about some of the possibilities of what's to come.

The students' excitement over realizing they were going to be able to use iPads in their classes was incredible.  At first, they thought the iPads were just for my classsroom and they were going to use them every day.  When I told them that it was a mobile lab that any teacher would be able to check out for the hour/day, you could see the wheels turning and they couldn't contain their curiosity.  They had a million questions and just can't wait.  The news spread to the other students in the building (I have the luxury of working in a rural 5-12 building) and I had students of all ages telling me all day that they wished they were in my math class.  I assured them that their teacher would be able to check out the mobile lab and that they would be using the iPads in no time.  The entire building seemed to be in a buzz about the iPads (and the first snowfall of the season). 

I can't wait to get the iPads into the rest of the classrooms.  Our students DESERVE this and they deserve to be excited about their education and the possibilities that their future offers.  Our teachers deserve it too!  I hope everyone's first day using the iPads in their classrooms goes as well as mine did!

First (successful) Flip

This summer I had big dreams of flipping my classroom.  I stood infront of a room full of other educators and told them all I was going to flip my classroom.  Well, one semester into it and I've only tried it twice.  The first time didn't go as well as I hoped, but this time was awesome!  There were a few things I did differently that I think helped make it easier for the students to watch the videos.  I posted the video a few days before they had to watch it, let them know it was up there, and had designated times that the videos would be playing in my classroom.

While most students had watched the videos before they got to class, I'm not sure if they would do it every night.  I am going to try flipping once a week for a few weeks, and then bump it up to twice a week.  I think flipping is a great idea and works well with my philosphy, so I'm willing to give it all I've got to see where this can take our classroom.  I think the possibilities are endless!

Can I get a THANK YOU?!?

My friends' kids refer to me as the manner police.  What can I say, I expect that people use their manners!  When children (my friends' children or the students in my room) don't use their manners, I automatically correct them.  I just want them to grow up to be respectful young adults.  But, what happens when adults don't use their manners?  Nothing.  I do nothing because I don't want to be rude to them.  

My biggest manner related pet-peeve right now is centered around adults and technology.  I find it incredibly rude when people ask you via email to do something for them, or for your input, and then don't respond to your emails.  I have recently sent 3 emails (in response to something someone asked me to do) and heard nothing back from any of the receivers.  For all I know, they didn't even receive the emails; I worry about if they got it or if I should resend it.  And, if I resend it and they did get it the first time, are they going to think that's rude? 

All I'm asking is for a simple reply and thank you.  That's all.  15 seconds. Then, I'll know they received it and I might even think they appreciate that I took the time to do whatever they were asking me to do.  So, the next time that you ask someone a question, or for a favor, please be sure to send them a great big THANK YOU back through email!

The Common Core State Standards & My Classroom

Last week I attended a math pilot training for the Common Core State Standards.  I knew a little about these new standards before the training (and I know I still have a lot to learn), but I am so excited about them now.  I know that this will be great for our students once we get everything put into place and we all have time to get acclimated to the new standards.

I am looking forward to re-doing my curriculum and finding ways to incorporate technology into the new standards.  I had already vowed to do things differently in my classroom this year, but now I feel like I have been validated in my ideas.  I was pleasantly surprised to realize how much my ideal teaching style matches the mathematical practice aspect of the common core state standards. 

  I am not waiting around for the real training to happen before I start implementing these new standards; I am getting the change started in my own classroom as well as my school.  I am lucky to work for administrators that believe in me, trust my professional opinion, and support me in my endeavors.  We have already met about the training and have decided what our first action steps will be: get others on board with the practice standards immediately, get the curriculum lined up and ready to implement the common core state standards next year, and discover what gaps will need to be filled during the transition years.  At the pilot training, I met some great math teachers and school leaders that I have added to my professional learning network.  I will definitely use them and my administrators to make this adventure better for my students.

Learning by Leading a Training

Today I was the leader of an "Introduction to the iPad" professional development in a neighboring community. I believe it was a learning experience for all of us. I learned that I should ask more questions before I arrive. Some things I thought that other people would have taken care of before a training on iPads hadn't happened when I arrived. I am not blaming anyone, except myself; I should've reminded my connection at the school of the details that would make an "Introduction to iPads" training meaningful for the teachers. For example, it would have been more meaningful if everyone had an iPad and their iTunes account set up on it.

I think the teachers still learned a lot about the iPads and got some ideas of ways to use them in the classroom. I think the experience also reminded them what it's like to have to share a piece of technology with a small group of people. One participant told me after the training that she now remembers how students feel when we introduce totally new concepts. She was feeling overwhelmed and like she had so much to learn. I assured her that it's normal to feel that way, and that it's ok to go slow and take baby steps. I will remember to stress this point more in my next training!

Overall, the participants were great and I really enjoyed the experience. I will remember what I learned today as I prepare the final details for the next training that I lead....which is for a group of new teachers on Friday!

Support from Home

Our awesome technology director and I gave a Web 2.0 training at our school yesterday and it was GREAT!  The teachers that were there were from 2nd grade through 12th, but they were all supportive, intuitive, and glad to be there.  They asked great questions and wanted to know details about the sites.  They were brainstorming openly with the whole group, even though some of them barely know each other; remember that this is a very rural community that has three school buildings all in different towns.  When the trainings were over, they stayed in the room and discussed additional ways to use the sites, worked on making those ideas start to come to life, and collaborated with each other. I was glad to see that they must've gotten something out of the training because they didn't all run directly out of the room when it was over!

Next professional development....How to use an iPad in the Classroom! 
Right after that....SMART Notebook training for our district's new teachers!

I'd be tickled (as my Grandma Jean would say), if these sessions go half as well as yesterday went!  Thanks for all of the support, Camp Point!