A Lament for Veteran Teachers

I haven’t even returned to school, and I already feel the void. One of my co-workers, a veteran teacher with over 30 years of service, decided to retire at the end of last year. Truth be told, she was more than just a co-worker. She was a friend, a mentor, a force of nature when it came to educating and motivating students. I don’t know what I’ll do without her. I’ve been teaching for 8 years, and I only recently did I begin to feel like I have a foundation on which to effectively educate my students. When I first began teaching, I thought I had all the answers. This veteran teacher humbled my young mind. She made me realize that despite my ambition and body of knowledge, I still had a lot to learn. She listened attentively as a fretted over lesson plans that failed, students that hated my class, and parents that couldn’t understand my teaching methods. She helped me celebrate my successes; she was one of the first people I told about my teacher of the year nomination and grant funding opportunities. She still kept me grounded and forced me to want to learn more and become an even better educator. I can admit, without equivocation, that much of my success stems from her leadership as my mentor.

I shiver at the thought that the next generation of teachers won’t have veteran teachers to look up to. So many of the teachers I started with have moved out of the teaching profession. So many veteran teachers are retiring. I cannot deny the sadness I feel because I know the power these teachers command. And I know even after 8 years, I cannot even begin to match that power.

When I talk to teachers, I often tell them the story of Ms. McGowan. She was not my teacher; she was my father’s math teacher. I met her after a long trip to the middle of nowhere (my father grew up in deep South). At the time, my father had taught math for about thirty years. After all that time, he still felt his high school math teacher was important enough to his life that he took his daughter to see her. I still remember watching my father transform into a respectful young man in her presence. The pride he held in his eyes. All because of a veteran teacher.

Even though Ms. McGowan has passed on and my friend and fellow teacher retired, I can still look to them for inspiration. They are the promise of what education can mean to teachers and students. They are the hope that we can continue to persevere despite the challenges. One day, I want to be a veteran teacher - just like them.

Is Reading Comprehension the Real Problem with Math?

Like many educators, I have become very familiar with all things data. As a math teacher, I am highly concerned with the number of students that have issues with math concepts. Although my experience is based on middle school students, I’ve discussed this concern with elementary and high school teachers, as well as college professors and administrators in math-related fields. I’ve even talked to kids about their issues with math and why some of them hate the very thought of the subject. Several revelations came from these conversations. First, there seems to be a disconnect between understanding a concept (why) and applying the concept (do). Far too many students are entering middle school without knowing how to multiply and divide, and they are entering college without knowing how to find a solution to an algebra problem. Another issue arose that I can best describe with an example:

For every 4 girls in a school, there are 3 boys. What is the ratio of boys to girls?

On an assessment, the percentage of students providing an answer of 4 to 3 is greater than expected. The students that provide this answer have an understanding of ratios. They know it is a comparison of two related quantities. They even know how to represent ratios in different forms. If the question asked for a model, the majority of students would be able to generate one with no problem. The issue is not with the understanding of ratios; the issue is the question itself. Unless students comprehend that the wording of the question asks them to order boys before girls, they will get the question wrong. I can understand how that can lead to frustration. Are the students who get this question wrong being judged on their knowledge of ratios or on their ability to comprehend what they are reading?

I reviewed data from some of the assessments I gave last year, and the reading comprehension problem became more evident. It is particularly problematic with multiple choice problems, when the one shaded circle was the only chance for students to demonstrate their knowledge. When students were given an opportunity to explain their thinking through writing and justification, there was a measured increase in their grades; however, I still found that some students reverted back to the reading errors when given multiple choice problems. This error pattern was most evident with the following math concepts: ratios, rates, measurement conversion, solving for area and perimeter, circumference (including finding radius and diameter), and probability.

Of course, with the increased rigor of test questions, students’ ability to comprehend what they are reading is more important than ever. I don’t know if giving students problem after problem with the same type of question will help them understand (insert math concept here) better if the issue is with how to read problems. That will only lead to resentment and more apprehension towards math class. I realize that I will need to collaborate with my fellow ELA teachers for some methods they use to increase reading comprehension. One challenge will be getting students to make the connection between math and reading. When I introduced journaling in my math classes several years ago, I heard this question from students and parents: “Why are we writing? This is math class.” I’m sure a similar question will arise if I introduce reading comprehension techniques in my math classes.

Despite the upcoming challenges, I know I have to make it happen. When it comes to my students and knowing that they can be successful, it really isn’t an option. It is, however, an opportunity.

Mission Organization - More Organization Containers

When it comes to the digital life, I'm big on organization. I love things neat and orderly in separate folders designated by a combination of words and digits. Organization in my classroom has been a challenge. My classes are lively; many times we work in groups and there is movement everywhere. As the year passes, my room gets more unorganized. This school year, I'm determined to put an organization system in place that lasts the entire year. For my students, that means at least 70% of their work will find a home in their interactive math notebooks. For me, that means making a place for everything we use on a consistent basis. It also means creating a great and inviting classroom atmosphere full of color.

My theme for the year is flower-based. I don't have a title yet, but I have a color scheme. Last week, I displayed my mid-sized containers. This week, I want to share my smaller containers. I found them at my favorite dollar store.

You won't find these storage container treasures in the school supply aisle. They are actually snack and sandwich containers. What I like about them is that both sides snap open. I already have erasers, push pins, and paper clips in them.

The snack containers are 2 for $1.00 and the sandwich containers at $1.00 a piece. It's a pretty good deal for a useful storage piece.

Happy organizing!

Yeah! Organization Containers for Math Class

I've been working a lot this summer - taking professional development and planning for the upcoming school year. I'll have over 150 students this year, so organization is very important. After reflecting on last year, I believe I spent too much time organizing with technology and not enough time organizing the kiddos' physical space. Since my classes do a lot of project-based learning, there were many times my classes were a mess! So, my mission is to create an inviting, colorful classroom with highly visible organization tools my students can use during math class. Of course, one of my first stops on this journey was my favorite dollar store. I don't know what I'd do without it! I found this wonderful small storage containers. I'm going to use them for task cards and for some of my math centers.

I consider 8 bucks for these containers a great deal! Now, I'm venturing to Pinterest to find more organization ideas. It won't be long before I have to put my plan into action.