Halfway through my first year of teaching!!

Well, these 2 ice days last week really messed up the plans I had made before break. I wanted to complete our book and test on it, and now that is not going to happen. I am going to spend one day finishing up this week, 2 days on a study guide and then give the students a big quiz. I have been really busy lately trying to get my research plan lined up. I know I want to focus on student engagement. I think I want to further focus on the effects of goal setting, conferencing, and self reflection to see how that improves student engagement. I found a ton of good articles and some really good surveys and checklists for anecdotals to get me started. I have just noticed lately that I am finally becoming really relaxed in the classroom. I feel that after my formal observation was over, that was suddenly a huge weight off my shoulders. I havent used any other technology lately other than my projector and the calculators. It's been so busy, and I have just been trying to get through these lessons before we leave for Christmas break. I have been doing something interesting though lately: I have been taking down the names of students who do not turn in their homework and I have been keeping them for lunch detention. I am amazed at how the number of students has decreased!!!! On Monday I had over 10 students and I only had 3 on Friday. They have been doing so much better at turning in homework because of that punishment. After Christmas I am really going to start focusing on MAP practice more.

3 weeks until Christmas already!?!?!?!?!

Time is flying as we are mid-way through our "Comparing and Scaling" book. We are currently studying ratios, fractions, percents, and differences as ways to compare different forms of data. We are looking at news data and newspapers to discuss different ways of expressing statistics. We are also looking at the different ways that advertisers use to sell their product. Next week, I am taking my students into the computer lab. They will be looking at different statistics and tables. They will have to make a 'quiz' for a partner student by looking at the information on these tables. They will then trade papers and the students will have to look up the data. They will have to answer the questions based on the data they find. This gives the students a chance to look up things that interest them such as sales on a particular video game or CD. They can look up sports statistics on their favorite teams or the girls could look up information for their favorite store at the mall. The students will have to include the web url and give some background info about the site. I am really excited to see the students 'work backwards' from the assignments they normally complete.

We are now starting our third book of the year in the Connected Math Series. I am feeling behind since we have to get through 8 books this year! The other 7th grade math teacher is in the same place though so I guess it's alright. The book we are starting is "Comparing and Scaling". In this unit we discuss how numbers are used to get consumers to buy their product. For example, "9 out of 10 doctors recommend . . . ", The " . . . kills 99.9% of the germs", etc. The students really got into many different commercials when I introduced this unit, and they were excited to be doing something different than scale factors (the last book). The students have spent some time on the internet searching for different advertisements. Then they have to write down what they mean. THey have to decide if the information is valuable and really 'sells' the product.

I have spent the whole last week or so analyzing tests. I had some odd outcomes on the last tests. Instead of the normal bell curve test scores, I had many A's and many F's, but not much in between. After a lot of thought, I went through all the tests and tallied the question numbers that were missed. I found some significant trends. I went back to reteach those questions a little differently if possible. I then gave them another test. I did not change the original grade, but I gave them another chance to do well. I was really frustrated with what to do since I had obviously reached so many of the students. It was really hard for me to figure out what to do since many of the students were ready to go on. Most of the students grades did improve; however, there were still a few F's. I think I need more smaller quizzes in between to assess learning other than the 'big' test at the end.

Keepin' busy but going well . . .

Things have been running very smoothly lately! I changed my seating arrangement, and that has helped a few minor problems I was having. Also, a few problem students have been 'removed' from school for one reason or another. Time is flying by, and I am just amazed that we are already starting to talk about and plan for MAP tests--that seems like too far away!! We are focusing on our Smart goal and setting up how we will measure improvement and data. We are setting up a team wide rubric and giving MAP-like constructed response questions once a week. Then we are gathering the data to set reasonable goals for the MAP scores.

This next week, I am going to be bringing my students to the library computer lab for a unit on the compters. We will be using the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html). Currently, we are finishing up a geometry unit on similarity and relationships. I would like to explore a few concepts of geometry such as area and perimeter and how this changes when side lengths of polygons are changed. We will be using the Geoboard where the students can illustrate area, perimeter, and rational number concepts. There are random puzzles for students to try by changing the side lengths or adding side lengths to the given polygons. I am excited to see how they like this and to see how it goes.

1st Quarter over already!

I gave my students their last test for the quarter. I am super excited, because they did really well on it. It raised most of their grades. I also just experienced my first parent-teacher-student conferences. They went very well, and I learned a lot just by talking to parents.

My business math class is doing a project where they are collected numerical data from the rest of the 7th graders. Then we are going to the computer lab to use computers to organize and graph the data that they found. They are really enjoying this. They have to to display the information and then present it to the rest of the class. My students are also going on an online shopping spree in this unit. They have to calculate the price, discount, tax, shipping/handling, etc. for whatever they want to purchase.

My regular math classes are going very well. I am really noticing a problem with student engagment in my classroom. Therefore, I have decided to focus on this topic for my research. I am basically going to see what strategies I can use to get my students more engaged and on task. I want to see which activities will be more beneficial in my classroom. I am going to start out by conducting student interviews, student surveys, and research some strategies. I am going to study the learning styles of my students to see what effect this has. I am really excited to see where this will go this year. I am

There are some exciting new things happening around Mexico Middle School. Our library just got 20 new computers for the students to use!! So now more than one class can use the computer lab at a time!! Our students are also doing some creative things during their P.A.W.S or advisory time at the end of the day. Each Wednesday is character education day. Last month, the word was "respect" so one of the classes created a short movie clip about respect. They danced, had background music, and showed everyone was respect was through interviews and skits. This next month it is MY turn to do the video. The word is "responsibilty". My students are busy coming up with ideas so that we can record our short video for the whole school to see!! The kids are excited that they get to be on TV!! After everyone saw the first video, they wanted to know when they could make theirs!! Other than that, my business math students are busy going to the library to use computers for stocks, etc. We are exploring savings plans and types of savings accounts in my business math class through the use of Microsoft Spreadsheet.

Halfway through 1st Quarter ALREADY???!?!?!?

Wow! Time is flying by. I am amazed that mid-quarter is this week. We are busy calling parents about grades and missing work. This next week I am giving the first test, so that will be interesting to see how they do. We are finishing up our first book on "Variables and Patterns" which is our algebra section. The students are so sick and tired of tables and graphs, and they keep asking IF we will ever be finished with them. In the next book we start using more manipulatives as we start our similarity unit. I wish I had a magic solution for students to turn in their homework. I have so much late work, and begging for it constantly just wears me out!! I just cannot stand to see them with bad grades ONLY because they aren't turning in homework. My partner math teacher and the social studies teacher on my team just found out they received an E-mints grant. Therefore they will have Emints classrooms soon-one on each team. This is a huge deal for our school, and everyone is excited! Teaming is still a new concept, but I am loving the fact that our team has a planning period together where we can discuss student issues and plan together. It is working out great for everyone!! I also just got a new set of calculators for my room, so I have enough for everyone! Pretty exciting for a math teacher!! My business math class has been going online daily to check their stocks. However, this is a class that can barely handle the privilege of going to the computer lab, so I am not sure how much longer it will last. I am amazed by how many students to not have internet access at home. We have a team website where we post homework daily, and there are links to individual teachers websites on our team. The address is: http://nlcommunities.com/communities/mms7r/

The first 9 days of school . . .

So I have now had 9 official days of teaching experience. Each day is a different day, and I am so amazed by what I see each and every day in the classroom. I am so surprised how I am not even nervous at all and its only the second week. All the things I was scared of before the year began are the things I dont even think about now. I am really enjoying teaching, but I am so exhausted!!! I never imagined how tired I could be at the end of the day. I am anxious to see how this year goes and how it will change me as a person. I find myself already getting attached to these kids especially when I find out about their home-life, family history, situations, etc. This second week was so much easier because I know what to expect, and I am getting to know most of my kids names. I really feel like we have a classroom community, and I feel like I am in the right place. As far as technology goes, I do not have a lot of resources. I have a classroom set of calculators and I use my overhead projector daily. I do have access to the library computer lab but there are only 10 computers and they are almost always booked for another class. We do have a team website where I will be posting homeowrk and blogs for my students to respond to. I am really excited because I am learning so much each new day as a teacher. I am so glad that I am a part of this program and a part of the MMS staff!!

A little about me....

Hi! My name is Tonya Nichols. I just got married in December, and I am so glad that my married name will be easier for the students than my maiden name was! I am originally from Cole Camp, MO (a small town that probably hardly anyone has heard of) which is a little over an hour from Columbia. I went to Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO. I played volleyball for a year and then decided I wanted to complete my undergrad in 3 years.....and quit volleyball. My husband did the fellowship program 2 years ago and teaches P.E. at Lange Middle School here in Columbia. We met at CMU.

I am teaching 7th grade math at Mexico Middle School in Mexico next year. I am overwhelmed with emotions right now as I am sure we all are!! Mexico is moving to the new 'team' concept (from the junior high to a middle school concept). Therefore, students are already going to be a bit nervous and anxious to find out what that will be like. I will be teaching 4 classes of regular math (connected math series) and 1 business math class. I feel like I have a million things to be decided about next year's classes, but at this point I don't feel like I could ever be fully prepared for the first day (and the whole year). I keep trying to think of how I am going to incorporate ALL of these things into my classroom!!! I am so proud to be a part of this supportive fellowship program. I know that this will be a year I will always look back on with tons of stories and memories (good and bad). I guess that's all for now.