Grow...Grow...Grow!!!
Students getting a little bit better than the day before!
Who is Mrs. Smith, the math teacher?
During my days of college, I had a conversation with my Dad about the vision I had about my classroom. I told him that I did not want students to just come in and learn math. I wanted my students to get an experience that they would not soon forget. I wanted to teach math topics in a very innovative way so that students were excited to be in class and might even be excited to come back! I want to go back to this vision and remember what I really wanted to accomplish when I first set out as a brand new teacher. I also want others to be able to see this vision by providing a window into my classroom. I want to create a story through technology allowing others to comment, add ideas and use some of my ideas to better my classroom as well as their own. I am excited to get back to what I have always truly felt was important to have in my classroom. An exciting year is ahead as I see students grow...grow...grow!
Professional Goals
It will be really important to track my student's progress throughout the course of their learning. I want them to take ownership of this part. In order for me to track the progress of my class this year, I will be creating a digital portfolio where anyone can see into my classroom if they choose. The following are the professional goals that I have for the year.
Goal Setting
Goal setting will be an important part of my students success. Using an outline like this where students can brainstorm could be very helpful to them. The students will have their own Student Data Folders that will keep track of their goal setting and the progress they are making with those goals . I am hoping that I will be able to track my progress with my professional learning goal and can share how it is going as I make my own progress.
Scales and Rubrics
In order for students to keep improving I want students to break away from the mindset of being a number or letter grade and look more into the progress that they are making - the improvement. I also want them to take ownership of their own work and worry less about where others are at. I want to accomplish this with my MDC and also using red, yellow and green cards.
Clear Objectives
When students know exactly what I want them to accomplish during class they will be more successful. I want to be sure that my objectives are clearly written and that I reference them early and often in the class period so that students will know exactly what they should be doing.
Math class needs a makeover - Dan Meyer
HELP!
I am going to need TIME in order to put all this work together and to keep up with it. I also will need to meet with Jess so I can have help with online tools that are available that would help present the information I get from my students. I also would like to be able to meet with Josh to go over the progress of my students more frequently so that I can have specific times to have all my information put together. It will help me to be more self-accountable.