Getting ready for an exam

Summer is coming to an end.
Google innovator academy is coming to Canada. I just have to try.
Presently studying for Level 2 certified educator exam. And I, like so many of my students, am very anxious about this exam. Putting myself in this position has been a very good reminder of the nature of examinations, and high stakes goals. I love learning, but I do have test phobia.

Creating videos

Rate of Change: http://youtu.be/AofE10CXXVU

Exploring Options...

Hard to believe more than a month has passed since #ISTE14.

I had such a great experience in Atlanta and I learned so much.  I cannot wait to share with my colleagues when I return to school.

Things I would like to share:
1) Nearpod
2) Kahoot
3) Peardeck
4) Class Dojo

Other things on my mind:
google classroom and GAFE
adaptemy



While in Atlanta, I made some great connections at ISTE as well.  In fact today, I spoke with Lee Lindsey from https://www.adaptemy.com/ about a possible pilot of their exciting adaptive math program for young teens.  I look forward to previewing this material next week.

Later today, I look forward to a Google Hangout with a Nearpod representative. http://nearpod.com/  we hope to share ideas about how best to use Nearpod in math class.

A week ago, I had the opportunity to re-share my ISTE presentation with some tech leaders at UNC-Charlotte.  This was super learning for me as we met in a google hangout.  What a great way to communicate and demonstrate tools and activities!

Awesome!

This is a happy reminder of all that we do! 

Teaching is a very rewarding profession!

Celebrate your awesomeness!

Spoon fed?

IThis is something I feel strongly about and I do my best every day to "let them hold the spoon". 

So why am I struggling?

The cycle already exists through former teacher-student relationships and so students expect it to continue with me. This is especially true of the math students who already lack any confidence in their skills and problem solving. I cannot tell you how many times a student receives a math problem and before I have even turned around - I hear 

" I don't know how to do this". 

I try not to rush in and rescue. I try to encourage. 

Often I get "you didn't teach me this". And

What they mean is you didn't teach this to me by showing me a bunch of examples that are pretty much the same. 

I recently asked a gr 9 class to compare the amount of popcorn that would be needed to fill our school vs the local coliseum. We had been working with volume. 

I was disappointed that I found that they could not really start. 

It does not help that in my building I am surrounded by adults who strongly believe that the 'sage on the stage' instructional strategy is necessary in math. 

if students are so accustomed to the spoon fed approach, how do I have them believe in themselves, take risks, fail and try again? 

I will continue to strive to instill risk taking, mathematical independence and Math enthusiasm in students.