First Day Back

Tough day back today.  Interesting room situation, I had a science room on the 4th floor and a math room on the 7th floor.  I requested my math room switched to a vacant room across the hall on the 4th floor and that set into motion a big deal that ultimately nothing.  Things are going to be weird this year!

What were your first impressions about your first day(s) back?

What do your Facebook posts say about you - an aside

I have a theory.  If you want to know more about yourself look at your Facebook posts.  What would they tell you?

Are they jokes?  Maybe you're the person people look to for humor in their lives.
Are they complaints?  Maybe you're a bit of a crybaby.
Are they about your family?  Good or bad?
Are they about your job?  Do you do what you love or complain about it?

What do you talk about on your FB page and what does it say about you?

New School Year

As the school year starts, we all have to decide what you are going to do (your priorities) and the things you are not going to do (things you'll let others do).

What are your priorities and things you're going to let go?  I'll post mine later!

My Engaging Assessments

Okay, so I've been looking for ways to incorporate Social Justice into my curriculum and here is what I've got.

Pre-Algebra:

• We are going to look at Integration Aid - It is set to end in 2013 and will be debated for the next couple of years.  A discussion with the gang of 12 committee? Let's see!
• We will look at the composition of Saint Paul and compare wealth, health, and other distributions.  This will look like the books If the World Were a Village and culminate in posters for downtown.

Algebra:

• We are going to analyze crime trend data for the neighborhoods the students live in for linear patterns and write an article about what is going well, what isn't, and what problems are being stubborn.  We'll also look at what would happen if the trends continue and look at ways to slow them.  We might even be able to work in Supt. Silva's SSSC program!

What do you think?  Any ideas or willingness to help?

Curriculum Writing

Working on Curriculum Writing for OWL.  Have a few new classes to teach next year.  I have Pre-algebra and Algebra 1 and they are part of a blended middle school model.  Trying to think about how I want to do it.

Any ideas how I can incorporate The River (Mississippi) into pre-algebra and algebra in meaningful ways?

End of Year

End of the Year!

New building next year.  Half the staff.  New leadership.  Less technology.

It ought to be interesting?


Tom

Super Busy

I apologize to my follower (Marty) for not posting lately.  I've been super busy and I'll try to do better in the  future.  Look for a new literature study this week.  Any ideas you want The Math Prophet to look for articles about?

The Math Prophet