Final Blog Post

Wow! 18.5 days left and I am ready for summer just as much as my kids are! The past month has been very emotional for me since I have had an ill grandmother who just passed away this past week. It was hard to balance my personal life and wanting to be with my family versus needing to be at school with my kids. I am looking forward to getting back to 'normal' this week after being gone since last Tuesday. Overall, I have learned so much this year and I am relieved that it is about to end since I have many things I want to change and start over for next year. I am excited to start in the fall with a fresh group of students now that I know a little more about what I am doing. Next year will be very different though since our school will have a new principal and vice-principal in the fall. I am excited to be almost finished with my comps paper: I only have the 'data analysis' section left to do before May 14th. Overall, I wish I could have done more with technology but I really didn't have much to work with at all. At the beginning of the year in my instructional technology plan, I talked about our team website and getting students involved with it at home and at school. Students have gotten on the website all through the year to post comments, check homework, search math links, print off pdf files for math games or just make up work in general. I also had a business math class where the students were in charge of picking a stock to check bi-weekly. They accessed this via internet by looking on websites and local newspapers. They were in charge of recording the stock and any increases or decreases in stock prices. They also researched their specific stocks. My business math class also researched chosen careers during our career unit.

The main way I implemented technology into my classroom on a daily basis was by using graphing calculators. I have a set so that each of my students can have one at their own desk. In our algebra unit we took information from graphs and tables and entered the data into the calculators to form equations displaying the data. This was done earlier in the year but was very successful. Learning was active since they were constantly changing one variable of the equation to see how it would change the graph in the calculator. They were able to see how slight changes would make a big difference and also look for patterns in the numbers. The goals for students were to reflect on these changes and patterns and see what new equations they could create for themselves. Since multiple lines could be graphed in the calculator, they could directly compare the process and learning was intentional since they were so curious to see how a number could change the graph. Students could each 'research' their own equations when they were finished with the initial lesson and goal so therefore, students had more freedom when finding answers and setting their personal goals. At the end students had to tell me what the learned and how they learned what they found. I always have students reflect at the end of an investigation and I do believe this helps them tie together what they have just learned. On page 238 and 239 of the text, I believe my students were mostly in the middle-high category. I lead them to do many of these things, but they were doing them well (ex: reflecting, mental models and making meaning, setting own goals, tool use, etc.) Overall, the activity went very well and students learned how to put the numbers and data into the calculator and then check to see what they graphs looked like and how they would change.

counting down . . . .

So these last 3 weeks have been nothing but MAP prep . . . I am getting ready to MAP test my kids the next 3 days. It was so hard to keep them SILENT last week since classes were testing across the hall and there are NO DOORS! They were so restless after silence for 5 days straight---some days they were in one class for almost 2 hours straight! It is really hard on them to be that quiet and I understand but it just wears me out as well. I am thankful that the math parts of the test are not as long as the Comm. Arts sections. I am definitely ready to get back to a normal schedule and hear the bells ring again----no bells in our school for 3 weeks----since the kids are really starting to take advantage of the tardy policy! These next few weeks of school will be much more hands on activities since we are starting the 'Filling and Wrapping' book where we learn about volume and surface area and create 3D images. . . . more at the end of April!

MAP . . . it's all you hear about!

So I thought I had plenty of time to practice MAP after spring break and suddenly MAP is here. This week is review for me and next week they are starting with Comm. Arts so I can still review in math and then its on for me in 2 weeks from now. I feel unprepared while hoping they will magically do well. Next year I will be much better at pacing and planning---no hoping---I WILL! Right now MAP is all we hear about since 6th and 8th grade started this week (each grade picked their own schedule and testing weeks). It is constantly reminding students to get enough sleep, eat breakfast, bring a pencil, an extra book to read and a calculator if they have one . . . oh and be quiet in the halls and remember teachers: there are no bells:) What fun: my first experience as a real teacher proctoring the MAP tests in a school where there are NO DOORS so keep the kids SILENT for 90 minutes at a time. Other than MAP I am wishing I had more technology available and thinking about what I can do next year to improve with this. I am hoping to write an eMINTS grant or another grant to get at least SOME--or ANY technology that I can use.

4th quarter is here already!

As I re-taped new rosters into my gradebook and cleared out Power School, I couldn't help but to think back and look back to first quarter before school had even started. We are now beginning to discuss new procedures for next year's 7th graders, and I cannot believe how time has flown by and there's only 8 weeks of school left for me! I cannot believe that my first year of teaching is almost over. I have learned so much this year and I am definitely looking forward to making many changes for next year now that I have an idea of what to expect from the students in general. This past week we had 2 'mock MAP' days where students followed the actual MAP testing schedule and we gave them practice MAP tests. Some students did great while others were . . . not so great. I now know what I have the next month to focus on. I had the advantage of having 2 math curriculum planning days last week. The whole MS math dept got together and went through all GLE's and noted where they were covered in our math curriculum. Then we went through and listed all of the 'holes' and went back through again to decide how we would supplement or close the gap between those 'goals'. This was a great experience for me since it gave me a better idea of what the 6th and 8th grade classes are covering. It was perfect timing since this was really the first point that I have a real good idea of what we're covering this year. I am really excited to start a year where I feel like I actually know what's going on! Right now the kids are so excited for spring break next week. When they come back we will spend much of the time preparing for the MAP test in April.

spring is around the corner . . .

On Friday our students were gone for the writer's conference at MU or the music day in Fayette. Therefore, I averaged about 7 students per class. We all enjoyed the day and it was a relaxing end to the week. It was impossible to do a lesson so we enjoyed math puzzles and brain teasers. I was amazed by how much the students got into these puzzles! I printed a ton of stuff off of various math websites since we could not get into the lab. Right now we are finishing up a unit and then preparing for MAP until MAP gets here. We are having 2 practice MAP days this week which will get us started with our MAP review. I am scared and at the same time anxious to see how my students will perform. I have already been talking to the other math teachers, and we have many new ideas for next year. THis was kind of our 'practice' year since the curriculum was new for both of us. Now we know what to expect and we can do more planning together. The kids are getting so restless because they can sense spring--and me too for that matter. We have had many more issues among students and more fights. We have spring break in 2 weeks so hopefully that will calm them down . . . yes, I know--wishful thinking;)

what is up with valentines day in a middle school!!!!

Thank goodness Valentine's Day is over. I have never seen so many flowers, balloons and bears sent mostly from parents and friends!!!!! My personal opinion: Feb.14=giant chaotic mess for school. The kids were absolutely crazy and it was so hard to accomplish anything. All teachers would walk into the halls between classes giving each other that 'annoyed valentine's day' look. THis is not even to mention all of the stuff that is brought into the classroom as a huge distraction ALL DAY! On a more positive note, I am relieved that my informal evaluation is now over . . . and I am less anxious and nervous because of that. It went well despite the fact that he came in during a 'bad' hour and I didn't feel that it was a very good 'snapshot' of me or my classroom. Students are getting so tired of school, and I can just feel spring around the corner. When it really starts warming up, I know these students are going to be crazy and it will really be hard to calm them down. I cannot believe we are just around the corner to March. Where has the year gone? My students have really been struggling with addition and subtraction of integers lately. I had really looked forward to this thinking that it would go well . . . however, after reviewing a TON and giving them a chart with rules, they did very well on their tests . . . with class averages of 83% and 85% so I was very pleased. We are now starting multiplication and division of integers and fractions which I think will be much easier since there are less rules to know and apply.

Oops . . .

Well despite the fact that I thought the first month or two after Christmas break would go really slow, it has obviously been flying by since I just realized I forgot to post by the end of the month. I have been busy implementing my strategies for my research paper. The weekly goal setting is going very well, and I am anxious to see how my students view it at the end. While some students were excited about it at the beginning, some thought it would be pointless and a waste of time. However, this week, over half of the student's grades had gone up and many low-achieving students are progressing toward their goal. Some students are really into it. I am starting conferencing on a weekly basis with my research students. The first one went very well and his grade has already gone from a 48% to a 64%. He is doing much better, and I am really excited! I am just working on collecting more data and triangulating all of my strategies/data collection. I am finding that the students are getting burnt out on schoolwork and I can tell we are all anxiously awaiting spring and warmer weather as well. We are having more problems among students and I am hoping that this does not skew some of my research data just because its to that point of the year where some students will struggle to pay attention more anway . . .

Back to school--here comes the rush!

Everything has been so much better since Christmas break. I had heard about how bad the students would be before break from veteran teachers and wow--were they ever correct! The break was too short and I was really dreading coming back--not because I didnt want to teach but I know this semester is going to be extremely busy and stressful. Once I have gotten back into the flow of things, it has been going really well! We are also starting a new book in our series, "Accenture the Negative" which is one of my favorites so I am excited to teach this part of math. I am really starting to get my data collection stuff going. I set up my goal setting activity today and I am going to start it on Friday. I am also working on some surveys to give and I have decided exactly which 2 classes I am going to use. I have started my introduction as well. At the same time, I am really trying to start more MAP preparation while also getting through the material. We are only starting the 4th book which we should have FINISHED before Christmas! However, the other 7th grade math teacher is the same place I am so I am not too worried. I am going to choose my individual research students who have either a D or an F and also who I beleive can truely work to raise that grade through reflections, goal setting, and conferencing (my research basis). I am actually excited to see how the kids respond (hopefully in a positive manner) and what the outcomes are. I have definitely come to one conclusion that sums up everything I have learned this year and it includes everything going on this year: THERE SHOULD BE MORE HOURS IN A DAY! There is not enough time to accomplish everything. I keep thinking about how next year should seem so easy because I won't have so much "extra" work beyond general teaching duties! I am really excited about one student who I am really focusing on in general this semester. He was a huge problem for me before Christmas and failed most of his classes. He's been in a ton of trouble. He has switched classes and from the beginning, I started by giving him 'pep talks' about his new behavior, improvements, etc. Minus the fact that he was written up when I had a sub for the release day, he currently has an 'A' in my class, daily comes prepared, asks and answers questions, and conducts himself better in class than he ever has before! I am really hoping this this will be my 'miracle student' this semester, but we'll see. As a whole 7th grade team, we have decided our students need more time in school to complete homework because it is not getting done at home. Therefore, we have set aside our core enrichment class on Thursdays as a strict and structured studyhall. If they bring work AND work efficiently, they get a ticket. They bring this ticket to advisory where they get to play games the last 25 minutes of the day IF they earn it. So far, it is going well so hopefully this was a great intervention! More next time!

Happy New Year!!

I am so disappointed to not have worked on anything school related over this break. I had planned on working ahead and really preparing, but that did not happen. I was hoping the break would slow down, but no such luck. I cannot believe we are already to the spring 2008 semester . . . this is the semester that I will write this LONG paper, build a presentation, finish my masters . . . then give my first MAP tests at school and finish up my first year of teaching! WOW! Just as I feel like I really know that is going on and I feel in the flow of things, then something hits me and I just get lost for a few days . . . and wonder what the heck happened. The snow days threw things off and then I spent the last week and a half trying to catch up. Then I thought I could get so much accomplished during the last week despite warnings from experienced teachers . . . wow was I ever wrong again. And now I dont even know where to start tomorrow . . . I cant even hardly remember what we were doing so how can I expect the kids to remember exactly what a rate, ratio, unit rate, etc. is immediately . . . so I guess I'll start out reviewing and see where it goes from there. It just seems like we've been off longer than a week and a half and its going to be harder to get back in the groove of things.

As far as technology goes, I am hoping to get my students more involved in our team website. The social studies teacher should have gotten his eMINTS classroom finished over break with laptops for almost all students . . .therefore he will be doing much more with the students . . . so I am hoping to start planning a few things to do with the students that connect to his class as well. He will be teaching basic computer skills to my students, so that will really help me out when planning computer activities.