**This post was written about 2 weeks ago. Whoops.
Is it Fall Break yet? No? Four more weeks? You've GOTTA be kidding me!! No? You're not? Ok.
Things have been up and moving in 8th grade! I am utterly enjoying teaching Compacted Algebra. There was a moment when I was a bit overwhelmed by how fast we were flying through information. It seems like we've gone through (I mean learned) so much material in a matter of only 5 weeks. The only way we're all getting through it is by our use of bellwork. Y'all, I'm really loving this bellwork. I'll have to post a sample of it on here (mental note).
Right now, our main topic is functions and function notation. They're really into because it looks like real math, something difficult, something that makes them look smart (I wish I could put an emoji here). :) I'm using a lot of stuff from Math=Love (Sarah Hagan is pretty much the best, I'm a silent fan). I also get some stuff from...Hmmm.. I'm not sure where, but she's really good as well! The students are LOVING the interactive notebooks. They enjoy taking notes, and Algebra has taken a ton. I'm almost wondering if they'll run out of pages in their composition notebooks. I sure hope not.
I'm also revamping how I do homework. I try to make homework something fun, easy to do at home, or but requires some level of higher level thinking. I'll have to share some of those as well. I hate grading homework. Hate it. Absolutely. The main reason I assign it is because some students want homework because they have something to practice at home. For this, I am thinking about doing a modified flipped classroom. These videos won't be mandatory, only because I don't want to hear the excuse of not having internet access at home. I want these videos to be a topic of conversation in class. I got this idea from a fellow teacher at PMS. She's pretty much AWESOME!! She has become a voice of reason and a constant uplifter. Ok. I'll get back to a flipped classroom now. But she really is pretty great.
I'm not sure exactly what videos to assign that aren't necessarily required, but will enrich the lesson. I'll continue to think on it. If you have any ideas, please share!
One thing I've changed since last school year is how much I contact parents. I have called parents more this year than I did all of last year. No, not bragging. That's horrible. I call about positive behavior. Concerns. Homework. Updates. Everything. I also LOVE Remind (formerly known as Remind101) with my parents and students. It's lovely. I don't have all students or parents signed up yet, but I hope to get most of them. Of about 60 students, I have 63 subscribers; these are parents and students. I'm also planning on sending out monthly reminders via email. A lot of my parents check their email, but of course some don't. Boo.
Ummm... What else can I talk about?
I think that's about it.
Until next time,
Ms. C. Watson
