Teaching Multiplication

I taught my students how to do standard multiplication today instead of the lattice system they love. It is a trick method that doesn't teach or help students with place value. I told them that if they needed to use it, not to put it onto the paper that they hand in for their work.

My class with the most IEP students were my last two periods of the day and they were not going to focus or work very hard. Why is handing back papers so time consuming? anyone with any suggestions? I am insistant that only a teacher hand back tests and quizzes to protect the students from others knowing the grades.

I had a boy complain that it was wrong that I had scored his paper an "F." I had asked him to round 3 numbers (no decimals) and he didn't do any of them even closely correct. He also didn't write anything in the area to describe how to round numbers. Some of this was because he had wasted classtime and note completed the task because he didn't know it was going to be graded as a quiz. Failure is Failure in my room. If there is understanding and focus in class, it's hard to fail.

I also learned that if a students grades are padded too high, then the school won't consider testing them for learning disabilities. I need to do my job of being fair. I really don't like students failing at items that they should have some understanding by now in their middle school career.

Struggling so far this week

I did not have internet in my classroom for 4 class days. It was like working without my left hand. I could do it, but it wasn't easy. I got the internet back this afternoon, so tomorrow I have some lessons to work on tomorrow.

I have a parent information night tomorrow. I look forward to meeting parents and sharing our goals for the year with them. I have a bulletin board that I still need to finish before tomorrow evening. Hmmm.... I guess I'll do that tomorrow afternoon when the students leave because they have a half day. Christian stayed after school to help me clean the bulletin board off today. I miss having Christian as my student.

I am tired from the small struggles of the few days. Bed sounds good now.

OHHHH!!! One of the students decided to "steal" a folder from me. I would have been happy to give her one had she asked me for one. However, she chose to just take the folder from my room and admitted to it. She'll be serving an In School Suspension tomorrow. Disappointed in her I am.

Pictures from this week.

We traveled to Staten Island on the Ferry and enjoyed a day next to the water. The students simply enjoyed a day without structure.

I'm so tired

The first week of classes done. Actually, I gave a couple of diagnostic exams and assigned a little bit of homework. Next week we really begin. This weekend I finish up my papers to hand to the kids for classroom policies and such. I also write a couple of lesson plans and do the reading for my own graduate classes. I did take a couple of pictures of my kids using the Macs to take an exam. Unfortunatly I didn't check the camera too well before I snapped the pics. Next week, I'll add more pictures of the kids.

Scott said the floor in the bathroom and laundry room looks amazing. I can't wait to see it.

I am so going to sleep hard all night tonight and not set me alarm for 5am. I found one of my students gets up at 4am and then goes to his grandmothers before school. Holy crap!

I so love the kids I can't get over how well they respond to my style. It truly makes me feel amazing that they learn and laugh and then take things seriously as well. We talked just a smidge about imaginary numbers today. I told them I couldn't talk about them that they were reserved for high school or for after school with me.

LOVE TEACHING....

Beginning Year #2

So tomorrow we start school again. I have a new homeroom partner, new students, a new neighbor in the science room and lots of new supplies. First of all.... Thank you to my parents and all of the other people who bought supplied for my students this last summer. I have so many notebooks, folders, packages of loose leaf paper, and pencils. I am so excited to have the basic supplies so that I can give them to my students.

Scott was here this last weekend and we went to the US Open tennis tournament. What a great time we had. We met really wonderful people and we watched great tennis.

Jeff is on to his second year at RIT. He had a great summer working for Hitachi in Boston. He lived with Andrea and her fiance in Waltham. They did really well together. I went out for a weekend and we all had a nice time.

Tomorrow starts a year of teaching math to 6th and 7th grade students. I am part of a couple of committees, and I've offered to keep track of the money our school collects in various fundraisers over the year.

So, here we go. Oh... two courses at Pace taken over the summer and another two start this week. I graduate in May with a Master's degree. It's a lot of work, but I'll be fine.

Zip me an email and keep me up to date on what you are doing!
D