Connecticut Trip Recap

This week, I was able to attend Get Your Teach On in Connecticut.  So get ready, this blog post is going to be LONG!

Friday:

Our school district's fall break started the Friday we left.  That day, we had district wide professional development.  That means that I had to come to work Friday morning with my suit case.  Whew!  Y'all, that was a feat all by itself!  Anywho, our flight was scheduled to leave at 6:05, so we needed to leave our town no later than 3:30.  We got to the airport on time, but our plane was about 30 minutes late.  We had a layover in Charlotte that was supposed to be about 40 minutes, but because our plane was late, the layover was only about 15 minutes.  That meant that we had to run through the Charlotte airport.  This was NOT fun!  If I never have to go back to Charlotte, I will be completely ok.  I mean, I was going through that airport saying "is this even worth it?"  I was coming to terms with what it would mean if we missed our flight.

Anywho, we made our flight and were completely out of breath.  We landed in Hartford around midnight, and headed to get a rental car.  We got a fully loaded Dodge Durango and it was niiiiiice!!  We were ready to be on our way to Westerly, RI to the Sandcastle Inn.  We got there around 2:30 a.m.  It was absolutely breathtaking.  This inn is right on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean.  As we got out of the car, we could hear the waves crashing against the shore because it was quite windy that night.  This particular inn doesn't take guests after 7:00 p.m.  Remember me saying we got there at 2:30 a.m.?  Well, the lady who worked the front desk put the key in the mailbox of the inn so that we could get into our room.  We find ourselves ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the Atlantic Ocean.  Y'all, it really was beautiful!

We finally get to our door, pull out the keychain, and there is no key attached.  Y'all!  No key at 2:45 in the morning!  We search all over the property to make sure it hadn't fallen out of the envelope.  Finally, we went to the room of the on-call staff member.  Four ladies.  In 30 degree weather.  Ferocious winds.  Knocking on the door of some man we don't know.  In a town we've never been in.  Sounds like the perfect horror movie, right?  We knock on the door a second time.  We're trying to be quiet because the lady (who was supposed to leave us the key) said they don't tolerate noise.  Lockdown on our giggles.  

The man SWINGS the blinds of his door open, scaring us all!  We told him what happened, and he said "follow me."  He assured us that he was already awake.  I sure hope he was because he still had on dress shorts, shirt, and a jacket.  We followed him downstairs and he gave us the key.  

We FINALLY get into our room, get situated, fall asleep around 3:30.

Saturday:

I wake up at 8:00 and EVERYONE is awake.  What?!  We just went to sleep.  What is going on here?  The beach does that to people.  The view was breathtaking.  I've never seen anything quite like it.  

We walk to a small restaurant across the street from our inn.  I could tell that I'm a Southern girl through and through because I almost asked the waitress "Do y'all have grits?"  She informed us of a bonfire and concert featuring different bands going on right beside our inn that night.  We said we'd check it out (remember this).

We drive about 45 minutes to Newport, RI.  It is the most beautiful, quaint town.  There are shops, eateries, and even a festival going on.  The best way I can explain is it if Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls) was a real town.  It was very touristy, but also authentic!

We eat at a local restaurant; I can't remember the name.  The waitress recommended that we order "chisque."  It is half clam chowder and half lobster bisque.  It was delicious!  My entree (along with 2 of the other ladies) ordered fish and chips.  The cod was super fresh and was lightly breaded.  It was delicious!

We're super tired and we head back to Westerly.  It was time for the bonfire!  I'd already made up in my mind that I was simply going to sit on the patio, watch the waves, smell the fresh air, and read my book.  Well, that was RUDELY INTERRUPTED!  The concert really was right next door.  And all we could smell was smoke in the air from the fire pits.  No bonfire in sight.  We walk over to the concert.  Tickets were $20, but we just walked from our hotel, so it was free... right?  I stayed there for about 10 minutes just to seem social.  Ha!  But I was so ready to leave.  My night ended by me reading a few chapters in Insurgent (the second book of the Divergent series).  

Sunday:

It was check-out day!  After checking out, we head to Watchhill.  This is the location of one of Taylor Swift's homes.  The front of the house is completely closed off.  There are multiple signs telling guests not to enter.  You can't even see the house from the road because of the gate.  Apparently, she had issues with a stalker.  In order to see her house, we have to go down a scenic walkway.  The houses we pass are GORGEOUS, but you can tell these are simply vacation houses.  It didn't look like people were in most of them.  We finally reach an open area close to a private lighthouse.  We turn to our left, see a giant hill, and there's Taylor's mansion.  It was breathtaking!  The waves were crashing against the rocks on the shore and the wind was blowing like crazy!  

After leaving Watchhill, we went to Mystic, CT to eat lunch at Sift.  The owner of this bakery won "Food Network's Best Baker in America" contest and he was definitely worthy of it.  The croissants, pumpkin donuts, pecan sticky buns, chicken salad sandwiches, ratatouille sandwiches, key lime cheesecake, cookies... I could keep going on and going.  Y'all know I was in heaven!  We walked around Mystic and wandered through all of it's small town shops.  During our trip, a boat had to travel under the bridge.  They stopped all traffic on the bridge so that it could lift open.   I was in awe!  The bridge opened up and multiple boats came through.  I mean, what engineer first designed for a bridge to be able to open like that?

Mystic had a children's toy shop.  I decided to go in just to see what all they had.  The math nerd in me came out of hiding.  They had uniquely shaped dice, and I needed one of each kind.  They also had a keychain ruler, amongst other things.  

After this excursion, we head to the Mohegan Sun Resort in Uncasville, CT where the conference took place.  By this time, we could tell that we had been spoiled.  The sites we were seeing now were just "Meh."  They weren't anything compared to the Atlantic Ocean!  The casino didn't offer many views.  We ate at a sports grill in the casino.  We were all tired at this point.  Nothing spectacular happened.

Monday:

The first day of Get Your Teach On!  I should probably do a separate blog for the teach-y things I learned.  Yea, let's do that.

Fast forward to Monday night.  One of the ladies I came with overheard some other ladies talking about a waterfall in Uncasville (the city we were in).  Of course, it was beautiful.  I have a small fear of heights, so I didn't explore it as much as some of the other ladies.

We ate dinner at a local pizzeria, similar to a Pyro's Pizza Kitchen.

Tuesday:

I guess I should mention that we did little to no planning for this trip.  We only knew where we were going to stay each night.  We figured out where to go each day because we asked the locals.  Tuesday night, I asked a guy who works at the hotel where to go.  He said we'd visited most of the best sites except for Niantic, CT.  So, where did we go?  You guessed it.  New London!  Ha!  New London didn't really have much to offer, so we headed on to Niantic.  It has a long boardwalk along the ocean.  We stayed here for bit, but we couldn't stay long because we had to leave by sundown.  

Our last night in Connecticut.  How should we celebrate?  We decided to go back to Mystic, CT to eat at Mystic Pizza which was highlighted in a 1988 Julia Roberts film - Mystic Pizza.  The pizza was pretty good.  Ooh!  We ate lunch that day at Michael Jordan's steakhouse which was in our hotel.  

That about sums up the trip to Connecticut.  I'll make another post that focuses on the conference itself.

Until next time,

Ms. C.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T!!!

As most of you know, I was a middle school math teacher for 6 years.  I LOVE middle school.  I love the way their brains work.  I love that they're still kids who want to gain more responsibility.  I love their weird sense of humor.  I have learned how the middle school brain works in all of it's craziness.  I know that when introducing new mathematical concepts, they aren't ready for teachers to just tell them "here's the formula/steps, here's an example, now you try it."  They may think they're ready for that, but THEY ARE NOT!!  They are not too old for discovery activities, math manipulatives, and hands-on activities.  They NEED it.  They are too young for "boring" math classes.

Ok, rant over.

I have a newfound respect for elementary math teachers.  I was in a 4th grade math department meeting and the teachers were discussing line of symmetry.  They learn about how to discover line of symmetry, how to know if a shape has a line of symmetry, how many lines of symmetry does a shape have.  They do it all.  Their question to me was if this concept was completely new to 4th graders and when it is seen again.  This is completely new to 4th graders.  And at the end of the school year on their state test, 4th graders (9 and 10 year olds) have to look at a picture on a computer screen and determine information about lines of symmetry.  That can be quite cumbersome for some children because they have to actually have the shape in their hands and maneuver it to be able to determine that information.  This similar issue is seen in other grades as well.

Well, after 4th grade, the concept of symmetry isn't seen again until 6th grade.  Though not looking at lines of symmetry, students have to look at data and determine if it's symmetrical.  8th graders somewhat touch on symmetry when looking at data as well and with transformations of figures.  I mean, very lightly discussed.  Lines of symmetry aren't truly discussed again until algebra 1.  Y'all, from 4th grade to algebra 1!  Fourth grade really lays the foundation for lines of symmetry and students won't truly touch on it again until algebra 1.  From 9 years old to 15.  That's 6 years.  Ha!

Anywho.  I have learned SO much on this job.  I've been in a lot of elementary classes to see how teachers interact with itty bitty kids.  Y'all, they're so cute!  But I'm slowly starting to be able to answer questions on the fly because I'm learning their standards.  LOL!  I don't have to say "Let me get back with you" all of the time.  Sometimes, but not every time.  Ha!

I understand the importance of students learning all of this "new math by Common Core."  That darn Common Core.  Haaa!!  Please never say this to me because I will argue the importance of students learning concepts over algorithms ANY DAY because most adults have NO CLUE what they're doing when they borrow when subtracting or why the "normal" way to multiply even works.  Y'all, they don't know!  Trust me!  I've asked them.

Back to the point of this post.  If you know an elementary teacher, thank them!  They should be a middle school teacher's BEST FRIEND!  The way they teach concepts is mind-blowing!  It's beautiful.  I mean, I've gone in elementary schools and a lot of students will tell you that their favorite subject is math.  It's because math is fun!  They do hands-on activities.  They discover mathematical principles.  Go into a middle or high school.  The answers are a lot different.  Because students are sitting in rows and they never really truly interact with the mathematics they are learning.  Are they even learning it?  Or are they just regurgitating what they've been told.  Do they even understand it?  Whew!

Until next time,
-Ms. C.

Stop! Collaborate and Listen.

Nowadays, when I see a classroom where there is no group work amongst students, I am immediately shocked.  Students love to talk!  They can learn from each other.  They can verbalize their thoughts.  They can validate their thinking before speaking aloud.  They can strengthen their own skills in a certain topic.  Being able to converse with a partner/group could be the key to turning the atmosphere of a classroom around.

But what about teachers? 

I've gone into some schools where one teacher is the only one who teaches that grade level subject in the school.  He/she struggles to collaborate face-to-face with someone.  It's difficult to plan lessons, create assessments, and analyze data alone.

I've also gone into schools where there are 6 teachers who teach exactly the same thing.  How beautiful is that?!  You see different views on the same topic.  You hear how other people think about your approach.  They will tell you how varying students will interpret your instruction.  They can help you analyze your data.  Finding engaging activities won't take an hour anymore, and setup won't be so time-consuming.  You have help!  You're not alone.

Seeing the brainstorming that takes place in these larger groups is phenomenal.  As long as those individuals work well together, the teachers are unstoppable.

I am definitely not saying that great things can't happen if you teach alone at your school, but it is much more difficult.  For example, if a grade level group finds they didn't score well on a particular standard, they figure out how they can change their teaching from the previous year.   Figure out what worked and what didn't.  If I work alone, I only have my personal opinion and thoughts.  If I work with 5 other teachers, I have at least 5 other possibilities to choose from.  Power.  In.  Numbers.

Teachers are not meant to feel like they're teaching alone on an island.  

So, are you a teacher who feels alone?  Is there no one to talk about grade level content at your school?  Join other teachers!  There are so many things online.  Twitter is HUGE amongst math teachers across the US.  The Global Math Department hosts webinars online.  Read blogs about what other teachers are doing.  There is a lot out there!  Get to exploring!  

Until next time,

-Ms. C.

We're All Winners!

Hey y'all!  It's been a bit since I last posted, but at least it hasn't been 2 years...  Let's jump right in.

I was at my last school for 6 years.  I was there for 2 principals, 2 assistant principals, 3 counselors, 4 teaching partners, and countless students.  That was MY school, MY home.  I always wanted to see that school succeed.  I wanted that school on top.  That school needed to be recognized for all of the great things going on within those walls.  Those teachers needed to be praised.  That principal needed to be revered.  Those students needed to be loved.  That school was my heart.  Is my heart. 

But what about the other schools?  The other principals?  The other students?  I don't have just one school anymore.  I have 17 schools, and I want to see them all succeed.  I want all of their great things to be seen.  I want all of those students to be loved. 

And that has been my biggest battle.

Schools that everyone whispers about are doing great things.  Schools that are deemed the "ugly duckling" are actually hidden gems.   There are such great things going on in this district, and I am truly honored to see it firsthand.  We have awesome teachers spanning 5 towns who pour their all into their teaching.  I mean, y'all!  Just seeing them makes me question my own teaching in the classroom.  They're doing things I've never dreamed of doing!  And the relationships they've built with their students are beautiful!  There definitely is a beautiful balance of loving kids while also maintaining a high amount of rigor in the classroom. 

There are days when I ask myself "how in the world did I get this job?"  I know it was a God-thing because this is truly my dream job.  Not only am I able to support teachers in their craft, but I can also witness the greatness unfold.  I can see "ah-ha" moments from teachers AND students.  I can talk with principals and not feel like I've gotten in trouble.  haha!  Nah.  Forget that.  I don't think that feeling ever goes away.  I've learned that teachers not only need support, but they also need validation.  "Is this a good idea, how do you think that went, did I teach that well?"  On that note...

I'm the person teachers come to when they have to ask a question.  Y'all, me!  ME!  What do I know?  Ha!  But I do feel like I'm building a great relationship with these teachers.  I have enjoyed getting to know the teachers in my district; they truly are phenomenal.

Well, until next time.

-Ms. C.

Me? A math coach? ...You gotta be kiddin' me!

Hey y'all!

You read that correctly.  I'm now a district math coach.  Whaaaaatt??

I was in the classroom as an 8th grade math/Algebra 1 teacher for 6 years.  I had some CRAZY days when I would literally feel sick coming to work, and I had some of the best days of my life.  I mean, y'all!  8th graders are super funny!  During those 6 years, I also became a National Board Certified Teacher.  Becoming National Board Certified is equivalent to bungee jumping.  First, you're saying "YEA!!  This is going to be great!"  When you get right up to it, you're saying "Oh, no!  What have I gotten myself into?"  During the process, you just KNOW you're going to die.  Once it's over.... "ohhhh, it wasn't THAT bad."

...I just need y'all to know that I've never gone bungee jumping, so take that analogy with a grain of salt.

The job opening for my district's math curriculum coach opened, and I couldn't NOT apply for it.  I mean, y'all!  This is one of my dream jobs!  I've always wanted to help teachers in their craft.  One of my good friends helped me through the interview process and gave me practice questions.  I bought a new dress.  I even stressed about my hair because it was a HUGE, unmanageable fro (that's another conversation for another day)!

When I first got to the interview, I had to answer an in depth question about how to teach fractions.  Y'all, I have NEVER taught fractions in my life.  But I wrote nearly 2 pages about introducing fractions to 3rd graders.  I kinda wish I could go back and read it now.  Whew!

That same day, I got a call from my future boss.  ...And I missed it!  I freaked out before I even called her back.  Like, nearly screaming!  I called her back, and she didn't answer.  I was probably having heart palpitations.  She called back within 5 minutes and said "Cononiah, I just wanna know if you would like to come work with us in OAE (Office of Academic Education) as our math coach?"  In the highest pitched voice possible, I said "Oh my gosh, YESSS!"

...And it's been a rollercoaster ever since.  I'm in super learning mode with elementary standards, meeting all of our wonderful math teachers across the district, and constantly asking the question "So... what am I supposed to be doing?"

I work with some awesome people who don't belittle me because of my young age.  If you hadn't noticed, I'm a bit conscious about my age in this job, BUT I'm excited about broadening my view of math education!  I deeply miss my co-workers at my former school and my own personal classroom with MY students.

It's gonna be a wild ride.



Until next time,

-C. Watson