Goal: Within each week's math lessons, I would like to differentiate instruction into at least three levels.
Activities
1. Use class website to differentiate instructional assessment materials based on MAP scores.
2. Utilize Part 3 of Everyday Math Lessons.
3. Provide additional after school enrichment and in class small group remediation.
Assessment
1. MAP Data
2. Computer quiz results
3. Unit Tests
4. Reflections (after each unit)
5. Student self-assessments
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Halloween
Tonight I finished hanging tombstones from the ceiling of my classroom. Each students wrote a description of a haunted house on one side, and the other side of the tombstone contains a silly, rhyming epitaph. They are pretty funny! All the kids (including my own two daughters) are talking about their Halloween costumes and trick-or-treating. We have been reading spooky stories in class, and now we're finally starting mysteries. The Fall Festival is a wild and exciting event at school, and I'm getting excited about a trip to Chicago after Teachers' Convention for a little adult Halloween fun!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Hey, Mateys!
I am so happy that we were able to have a fantastic Pirate Day last week. It was so much fun to integrate a celebration into our language arts, social studies and read aloud lessons. The students were SOOOO into it! The costumes and food were amazing, and one of my students made handmade treasure maps for each class member and a treasure box filled with pirate-related trinkets and toys. Another student brought in a huge wooden "treasure" chest filled with pirate items including some things signed by that famous fictional pirate Jack Sparrow (aka Johnny Depp). Oh! How I have missed students who take a theme and run with it to create something new and wonderful!
My standards-based research from last year has improved my lessons and assessment in math classes. I haven't done too much with my green, yellow and red light lesson ideas, but I have differentiated a lot within lessons. We completed the first math unit, and I am happy to report that my students love math and were very successful. The students focused on mindset, attendance and practice.
Right now, I feel excited like I did two years ago with my 3rd/4th grade class. Part of it is just going back to basics: I've tried for so long to be a team player, spend less time at school and up those test scores that I have strayed from what (I think) made me a good teacher. This year, I am really putting my time into making exciting lessons and activities, helping every student find success and fun in the classroom, and remembering that in the end I need to have my final self-assessment outweigh the feedback I get from my peers and bosses.
My standards-based research from last year has improved my lessons and assessment in math classes. I haven't done too much with my green, yellow and red light lesson ideas, but I have differentiated a lot within lessons. We completed the first math unit, and I am happy to report that my students love math and were very successful. The students focused on mindset, attendance and practice.
Right now, I feel excited like I did two years ago with my 3rd/4th grade class. Part of it is just going back to basics: I've tried for so long to be a team player, spend less time at school and up those test scores that I have strayed from what (I think) made me a good teacher. This year, I am really putting my time into making exciting lessons and activities, helping every student find success and fun in the classroom, and remembering that in the end I need to have my final self-assessment outweigh the feedback I get from my peers and bosses.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Reading, Working and Going Slow
I am reading a lot of books, slowly organizing my teaching world and trying to remember to go slow! Tomorrow we might even find some time to play Silent Ball in class which is an awesome game for both teachers and students. Last week I felt much more upbeat about teaching. As a result I was inspired to put in some extra hours throwing away things I will (probably) never use, and filing away all the rest.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Making a Difference
Yesterday, I received an email from one of my former students who I taught during the 1987-1988 school year. I could remember him exactly as he was in 8th grade, and now he has sons of his own, one of whom is in middle school!
We as teachers do not always realize the impact we have on our students. This year, for the second time, I was beginning to wonder if all the extra time and money I spend trying to make a difference was worth it. Along with some kind words I have recently received from former parents and students, the email made me feel better than I have in a long time.
We as teachers do not always realize the impact we have on our students. This year, for the second time, I was beginning to wonder if all the extra time and money I spend trying to make a difference was worth it. Along with some kind words I have recently received from former parents and students, the email made me feel better than I have in a long time.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
My Pocrastination Meeting Has Been Postponed...
For the last eighty minutes.... I have just "wasted all of my time".....
My classroom is a complete disaster, and Open House is three days away! So, why am I not working on it???? Instead, I am writing on this blog... after I checked out the latest high school football rankings for Portage and a bunch of other schools... after I read the Portage Daily Register...after I wrote some emails... after I basically did anything but the things I should be doing.
Maybe what I really want to know is how come every time I spend precious minutes and sweat (a lot of, I mean way too much of, actually dripping-into-my-eyes-type sweat) cleaning, my classroom just looks messier and messier? This is ridiculous! I cleaned out 26 boxes from our basement at home and brought 18 boxes to school. Now I have unpacked all the boxes of books and nothing looks better (whaa, whaa, boo hoo, do you feel sorry for me, too?).
Actually, I'm just ranting. It will get done, but I have a feeling it will be done about 3 minutes, 35 seconds before Open House.
P.S. I scored the first BINGO at 8:19 yesterday during our opening inservice. By the end of the morning the only word keeping me from blacking out my entire card was "flexibility." I was the "big" winner so Phil and everyone else (you know who you are) need to pay up!
My classroom is a complete disaster, and Open House is three days away! So, why am I not working on it???? Instead, I am writing on this blog... after I checked out the latest high school football rankings for Portage and a bunch of other schools... after I read the Portage Daily Register...after I wrote some emails... after I basically did anything but the things I should be doing.
Maybe what I really want to know is how come every time I spend precious minutes and sweat (a lot of, I mean way too much of, actually dripping-into-my-eyes-type sweat) cleaning, my classroom just looks messier and messier? This is ridiculous! I cleaned out 26 boxes from our basement at home and brought 18 boxes to school. Now I have unpacked all the boxes of books and nothing looks better (whaa, whaa, boo hoo, do you feel sorry for me, too?).
Actually, I'm just ranting. It will get done, but I have a feeling it will be done about 3 minutes, 35 seconds before Open House.
P.S. I scored the first BINGO at 8:19 yesterday during our opening inservice. By the end of the morning the only word keeping me from blacking out my entire card was "flexibility." I was the "big" winner so Phil and everyone else (you know who you are) need to pay up!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
New School Year!
Today is the first day of "real" school. No more just doin' a little of this and a little of that whenever...or never. This summer was awesome! It was just what I needed to recharge my optimism and enthusiasm for learning and teaching. Tomorrow we'll start planning fourth grade stuff, and hopefully I'll get an opportunity to actually introduce myself to the new teacher I will (be trying to) mentor this year.
I went back and forth about mentoring this year, but in the end, I think I could help someone else get adjusted to Portage. I still remember all the things no one told me when I started here, and all the things I didn't know when I started at a different school last year. Most teachers graduating from college know just as much or more about new teaching methods as I do, and they sure know a lot more about technology than I do! But adjusting to Portage is the one thing I could help someone learn.
Sooooo, I'm going to try and keep a list of the things "no one told me, but I should have known."
1. Get your substitutes set for all the days you will miss for grade level classes BEFORE the start of the year.*
2. Good parking places that aren't off limits.
3. Pick out one or two personal days on the first inservice day. Bring a calendar and addresses to the first inservice.*
4. Look at other people's websites to get good links (Everyday Math, Smartboard Sites, CoolMath, etc.).
5. Sign out the computer lab way, way, way ahead of time.
6. Sign up early for MAP Testing the first time. Sign up late for the next two times.
7. Watch the questions your students are getting on the MAP test. Adjust curriculum accordingly.
8. The first 10 questions of the MAP test are much more important than the next 40 questions.
9. Try to get (or switch with me or other teachers) an early date for lounge, fitness Friday, etc.
10. The importance of volunteers*
11. A good safety patrol fundraiser, community service, points, and the importance of staying eligble
12. The shirts, face painting, posters, Spirit Week, and parade for Homecoming
13. The sixth graders helping out at Halloween
14. School supplies such as glue, paper, colored/subject folders, and dry erase markers*
15. Donations for end-of-the-year field trip and picnic
16. Tips for writing reflections on lesson plans*
17. Snacks, milk, lunch, Book It Pizzas, testing food, soda, refrigerators
18. Xerox printing and paper: Things you should know
19. County fair projects and money
20. Differences at Rusch compared to other Portage Schools
22. Schedule and Agenda Lists*
23. Student of the Week Ideas
*First items
I went back and forth about mentoring this year, but in the end, I think I could help someone else get adjusted to Portage. I still remember all the things no one told me when I started here, and all the things I didn't know when I started at a different school last year. Most teachers graduating from college know just as much or more about new teaching methods as I do, and they sure know a lot more about technology than I do! But adjusting to Portage is the one thing I could help someone learn.
Sooooo, I'm going to try and keep a list of the things "no one told me, but I should have known."
1. Get your substitutes set for all the days you will miss for grade level classes BEFORE the start of the year.*
2. Good parking places that aren't off limits.
3. Pick out one or two personal days on the first inservice day. Bring a calendar and addresses to the first inservice.*
4. Look at other people's websites to get good links (Everyday Math, Smartboard Sites, CoolMath, etc.).
5. Sign out the computer lab way, way, way ahead of time.
6. Sign up early for MAP Testing the first time. Sign up late for the next two times.
7. Watch the questions your students are getting on the MAP test. Adjust curriculum accordingly.
8. The first 10 questions of the MAP test are much more important than the next 40 questions.
9. Try to get (or switch with me or other teachers) an early date for lounge, fitness Friday, etc.
10. The importance of volunteers*
11. A good safety patrol fundraiser, community service, points, and the importance of staying eligble
12. The shirts, face painting, posters, Spirit Week, and parade for Homecoming
13. The sixth graders helping out at Halloween
14. School supplies such as glue, paper, colored/subject folders, and dry erase markers*
15. Donations for end-of-the-year field trip and picnic
16. Tips for writing reflections on lesson plans*
17. Snacks, milk, lunch, Book It Pizzas, testing food, soda, refrigerators
18. Xerox printing and paper: Things you should know
19. County fair projects and money
20. Differences at Rusch compared to other Portage Schools
- curriculum
- grading
- parent club
- funds
- technology
- after school
- lunch
- recess
22. Schedule and Agenda Lists*
23. Student of the Week Ideas
*First items
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