Mr. Stadel ‘ s Angles & Stickies Task

My students claim I stalk Mr. Stadel.  In a sense, I do, stalk his blog.  This week, someone linked to this post here. 

I grabbed some markers, chart paper to create the diagrams, passed out the statements and stickies and students started working.

Though, this tends to be more of a middle school task, my students needed to grapple with the definitions and characteristics of various angle pairs. And this task provided the opportunity.  There were good conversations, students referring back to their INBs, a few disagreements and some reasoning when a new statement conflicted with a previous placement of an angle.

This is definitely a keeper task.

Triangles, Toothpicks and Patterns

This was our visual pattern in Algebra 1 today. 
They were upset because there were so many triangles. And so many toothpicks.  Which then means…there were so many patterns.

But the way they saw it was much different than how I saw it.  So I listened.

J: But where are you getting the triangles?  Here’s what I see…

And there was a discussion of the center “upside down” triangles (yep, they said it)…do we count them? They’re like bonus triangles, you really don’t build those, they just happen.  Hmm? Really.

Someone would make a suggestion for finding toothpicks and we would try it…if not, let’s look again.

Z: It’s easier if we don’t count them to find the pattern for number of toothpicks.  You add the new step # to last triangle # then each one takes 3 toothpicks.

Okay…so what about step 27? And step 43?

And it was fun watching them struggle a little.

K:  If you add the step # to the steps before, you get triangles you build.

And I see using triangular numbers and arithmetic series discussion in our future? 

Why? Because it’s next in our curriculum? No. Because they are engaged in this question.

They kept seeing patterns and describing them.  They were playing with their math.  And it made me smile.

Class Clipboards #made4math

Last Friday we had a teacher day…no students, but many things to get accomplished.  Contrary to what many think, it was a busy day.  No, we didn’t get “the day off.”

As I completed my self-reflection prior to writing my PGP, I realized 4B, maintaining accurate records was an area I wanted to improve. 

I have used a similar system for several years.  A spreadsheet to take attendance, record class notes/observations, quiz levels, etc.  But the downfall, it was on a weekly basis.  I kept a stapled copy of all of my classes on a clipboard.  If I needed to look back for a specific class to last Thursday, I had to rustle through all classes to find it.

I updated my form, landscape format.  There are 2 columns for each day.  One for attendance, one for behavior, etc.  I have more columns to the right to record target quiz results, notes for tutoring, etc.

This looks very similar to a post I read earlier in the year…thanks for sharing, I am sorry I can’t remember who to tag.  I had just enough clipboards in a tote and tied on a ribbon for each class.  This way I will keep multiple weeks for a single class on the clipboard, when I have a specific question or student, I can flip through to find exactly what I need.

Agree / Disagree Post-its

Students submitted an answer to an assigned question on a post-it note.

Post-its were placed around the room. Each person visited each answer comparing to their own.  If they agreed, there was a tally mark added to A, if not, to D.  A quick self-assessment, without me reading off every answer.

It eliminated having to discuss questions everyone got correct.  We could spend time on “issues” like #4.

Personal Reflection 3-2-1 #MTBoSchallenge

Our school district will begin using a new Certified Evaluation Plan this year.  The CEP has 2 major components: Professional Practice and Student Growth.  As part of the Professional Practices, each teacher is asked to consider various pieces of evidence and complete a self reflection which eventually leads to their individual Professional Growth Plan.

I will be completing my self reflection this upcoming week, which has had me wondering this weekend, what are my goals for this school year? 

3 things I want to learn, incorporate, practice:
I have read about Flipped Classrooms since before I began blogging.  Watched a couple webinars, read several blog posts, articles.  Its always been of interest, but I just didn’t have take the time.  I have recently begun my first Flipped Unit in my Algebra 2s.  It nothing major, I have linked to videos readily available on You Tube, but have quickly learned if students are accessing on their school accounts, YouTube is blocked.  So I am now looking for possible places to host my own videos (eventually, I want to use my own).   

My interpretation is either introduction or skills needed for problem solving which in turn allows students time in class for real application of math.  Following each video, I include 3-5 questions of the big ideas/takeaways for student self-assessment of the video.  When I begin creating my own, I intend to keep them around the 4 minute range, continue including self-assess questions.  For student who dont have access, they can come to my classroom prior to school/class and complete, but they are not allowed to participate in the days activities until they’ve completed the video or shown understanding to me.

Lesson Study – I have read some posts, been involved in a few informal twitter chats, even discussed the process with colleagues at TMC14.  I have located some resources through our PD360 I intend to utilize, but now, I have to find a friend and convince them its worthwhile to journey with me.

Talking Points -I want to ensure that every student feels like they can share their ideas and be heard.  Talking Points is the key for me developing this culture of learning.  I look forward to learning more, sharing with my students and implementing this as a classroom norm.  Here is a place to start.  Severval MtBoS have implemented them as the school year began.  I will share my experiences soon!

2 things I want to continue improving:
Literacy in Math Class- Whether reading, interpretting/deciphering informational text, writing, reflecting on their learning, verbally communicating or strategies to help studentsconnect vocabulary to prior knowledge…communication is a key skill they can use elsewhere.  Last spring, I participated in a webinar based on the book Vocabulary Their Way.  I sincerely feel providing students with similar tools will enhance their learning across all discilpines.  I plan to use some of the structures I’ve learned from Kagan resources and develop some of my own activities for student interaction with peers.

Standards Based Grading – about 5 years ago, I became very interested in aspects of Standards Based Grading.  It just made sense.  I had read, researched, even implemented some successful approaches.  I have heard through the grapevine, theres a possile push for our district to move this direction.  Even though it has not come from an official administrator, I’ve heard teacher conversations outside of vertical meetings that sounds like it may be on it’s way.  I am uber excited.  I have been looking for some good quality resources to share, should the time arise.  @mpershan shared a link this morning for a couple of good resources.  Scroll down to Garry Chu SBG.  Although, I think the Jeff Harding’s video following it gives a fun analogy to show how ridiculous some of our grading practices are-supporting Why we should consider SBG, then Mr. Chu shares some great ideas on How to implement.  I look forward to getting to move on this journey again (finally).

1 thing that’s Imperative in My Planning…
Standards of Mathematical Practices Yes, I am very familiar with them, yet I have not been so intentional in my planning and inclusion of them.  I had a major a-ha last year that I had missed the boat when first becoming familiar with CCSS.  The SMP should have been the anchoring foundation prior to transitioning to CCSS.  As I plan this year, I will be intentional and very explicit in providing students opportunities to use them.  But also in asking students to reflect on their uses of them.  I look forward to reading NCTM’s Principles to Actions, hoping it will guide me in this goal.  Another resource I plan to revisit is Making Thinking Visible.  I read it a couple of years ago, but feel it provides quality routines to enhance student learning that support the SMP.

Ten Frames – a Tool for My Students