2.21.13- making the rules work for you

Alg2- we learned about imaginary numbers today. It went pretty all right. Tomorrow we practice more and I hope that goes well too. Getting farther than I have before. Gotta keep this up.

Alg 1- factoring practice today. Good grief their minds completely reset overnight. We did a journal entry on two different methods of factoring, And then it became horrible. I know how to factor. I've explained it many times before and it's almost as though MY brain was wiped clean. I ended up tutoring hardcore after school and I forced kids into the factor box method. Not my finest moment but when your kids don't know how to do something, is it ok to make them do one certain way, provided you've shown them other ways?
Hope tomorrow is better.

The rest of the day. Eh. Turned into helping kids finish work. Lets call it "assessment on an individual basis" day. Yes.
Catching up on grades, had to do STAAR training and still need to finish updating my lesson planner. I'm good to go on Algebra 1, way behind in alg2, ahead in MMA and falling behind in Geo and today didnt help. Gah. Is there no balance to this mess?

I better jet. Lates.

2.20.13- keep your shirt on

Teenagers are a weird sort. Everyday it's like there's a game of "flash the teacher" with my male students. I do my best to not act shocked but holy cow. No thanks!!!

I haven't done many foldables lately. I suck at it. Need to get better though.

Alg2- working on quadratics and using graphing and factoring. They're doing all right but they are bored. Must find something new for them. Maybe we ought to start doing notes in the composition. Notebooks. Give me a reason to buy school stuff.

Alg1- doing factoring. They seem confused but I can tell they are on the verge. Starting to enjoy them a little more but then again, that's a daily thing. Need I make a foldable for them. Fun note, had a transfer student from a neighboring district come in for a week. We are actually ahead. Woot! Now I gotta make sure they can remember stuff from the beginning of the year...

TAKS class- working on Obj 6. Odd start but they'll get better.

MmA- moving back into probability as the start of hardcore review. Strange to be this far in the class.

Geo- moved on to perimeter, circumference and area. Have two that have been gone so waiting for them to come back to catch up on the test. Using the review sheet as a quiz during this unit. Word. Watched Vi Hart for a bit. They liked the doodles.

And that's today. Tomorrow will be a whole new story. Will try to post more often but lately, I've only felt like whining. Better to say nothing than waste your time with complaints. Lates.

2.7.13 - impromptu

Ever have those days when you think you have everything ready and then you didn't do one step like you thought you did? That was me today. Never fear, my kiddos had their journals at the ready and we did notes in our journals instead. It was a bit of writing for them but it ended up creating the most discussion we've had about math in a while. Seems like we were all on our game today.
In geometry we needed to do circle vocabulary so i used the provided worksheet and turned it into a foldable. It is going pretty well and I'm glad we went this route. (See pics).
In math models we were talking about symmetry and have been working on our symmetry names. One kid said he was done but when I had him look at his picture again, we saw what ended up being an awesome alien. Good times.
That's all for now. Laters.

2.6.13 the drive

Foggy morning. Thick like pea soup. Makes for a nervous drive (never know who might be passing or super slow).

2.6.13 tired

I'm sure that will not be the last time I use "tired" as a title.

My students amaze and surprise me every day. Sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes it's not. Today was a mix of both.
Alg 2. - they are slow. We are working quadratic characteristics and solving.
Alg 1- quiz and writing lines. Gah.
Math models. - did transformations and such. Since it is an art unit, we will be doing a symmetric activity when we have a free moment.
Geo. - polygon stuff. Circles start tomorrow!

And i can barely keep my eyes open so laters.

2.4.13 - today's 3

Found another blog I want to follow.

http://approximatelynormalstats.blogspot.com/?m=1

Three things:
1) Exponents went well. Those who are sticks in the mud, continue to stick in the mud while my kids who enjoy math continue to shine and impress me with their willingness to take a chance.
2) Alg 2 is going well. Slow but well. Quiz tomorrow then on to quadratics. We should be ok for TAKS review after that, even though we have a separate period for TAkS review. I don't want to go there tonight. Yep. Avoid the discussion.
3) polygon discussion went over well, at least for a couple kids. Eventually all joined in but it's tough to get them started.

The weekend- my friend and I did a presentation on math journals. Well, she presented. I provided moral support. She did an amazing job and despite her experience, has already amassed a wealth of ability in teaching/journaling. She truly amazes me. I hope to be at her level soon. It overwhelming to see what she does and then see what I do. She's on a whole other level. Um. Saw some other stuff but the presentation was the important part. Gew. I feel inferior right now. Best to just focus on finishing this year and working towards more journaling next year. Ok. Time to work on chores. Laundry never ends. Laters.