Posting Teacher Goals

I was reading this blog post, I can't seem to find it now. It had 21 things teachers should try in 2017, number 19 was "Post Your Goals in Your Classroom."

I thought this would be an excellent way for students to see what I am working on in the classroom and maybe they can hold me more accountable.

There are lots of different things I want to do in 2017, I will post a list of what I want to do at the bottom.

Here are the three goals I posted in my classroom:

1. More Activities, Less Homework

I have been disappointed lately with our school's emphasis on homework and worksheets. I feel that some of our students are being pushed down and out with this emphasis. I want students to experiment with math and I want more formative assessments to understand my students knowledge.

Since we are 1-1 with iPads I see students trying Google the worksheet before attempting any of the problems. They know in other classrooms that they get their worksheets online and don't need to do the work and its easier.

Getting students using Desmos, WODB, and Estimation180 to challenge their thinking and their understanding of mathematics.

2. Students In Charge of their Own Learning

My students heavily rely on the teacher for their information. If they don't know an answer right away their hands go up. I want my students to be challenged, but also know that I am there to guide not to tell them the answer.

I want students to be able to go out and find the answer. If they don't know how to do something I want them to be able to go out and search for it, find a YouTube video.

3. Build Students Up with Growth Mindset

This last one is very similar to the second one. My last goal is for students to have a growth mindset, to start the year I normally have a BreakoutEDU box for students to do. I want students not to think of math as thing that "smart people" do.

Things I have Planned or Want to Do in 2017

• Different types of seating
• Caine's Arcade
• Incorporating more VR
• Walking Classroom
• Incorporate more reading.

Here is a seating chart that I currently use and really like, plus my goals are posted!!

Beginning of the Year

As we come down to the final week before school starts, I'm getting back in the swing of waking up (semi) early, but still going to bed late. Since I am teaching three new preps my focus will be less on Algebra 2, but it is still my favorite class.

Sequence of Topics

We use Pearson Algebra 2 books, I try to follow the sequencing, but sometimes it doesn't make sense.

Chapter 1- Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities
Chapter 2- Functions, Equations, Graphs
Chapter 3- Linear Systems
Chapter 4- Quadratic Functions
Chapter 5- Polynomials
Chapter 6- Radicals
Chapter 7- Probability and Statisitics
Chapter 8- Trigonometry
Chapter 9- Sequences
Chapter 10- Logarithms
Chapter 11- Rational Functions
Chapter 12- Conic Sections

First Week Activities

To start out with on the first day, not all of our students have iPads yet, so we do a Math About Me to get an easy A and start the year on a positive foot. Students need ten numbers that describe themselves and their picture in the middle or on a presentation, could be digital or paper copies. If students hand in a paper copy it goes on the wall to be my first student work of the year.

Second day I am going to start with a BreakOutEDU game, to show them that this year math will look and feel a little different, I like to focus on activities and projects!

Goals

Find better ways to use the iPad, for activities instead of presenting or worksheets.

Use time more effectively, get students use to bell to bell.

Remember that math isn't serious.

Icebreakers 

Mentioned above, but I do try to learn all my students names the first two days even though the shy ones might squeak through to the following week.

Class Set Up

I am playing around with different organization, but I think I've settled on groups of 4. 

Using Learning Goals Effectively

At my current school we are big on the Marzano.  One of the big Marzano standards we are evaluated on this year is:

Effective learning goals provide both student and teacher with a clear understanding of the target knowledge.

Target knowledge can be defined as the information and/or skill, strategy, or process that demonstrates attainment of the learning goal. To translate general statements like those often found in state and district documents and essential learner outcomes, a teacher must articulate the more specific declarative or procedural knowledge implied in the general statement.

One of the things that is difficult especially teaching Algebra 2 is that there are no clear straight forward standards that the course entails. But, there is an amazing website that shows some big ideas for Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2.

http://math.newvisions.org/

You can find each big idea on one of the top tabs. 

For next year, each one of those big ideas will be my learning goal.  It is student friendly, is specific, and the by the end of the lessons students should be able to articulate why that is the learning goal.

My Summer Goals

With the summer now in full swing, now would be a good time to jot down some summer plans to try to make sure some of these plans get done.  Since last summer I got married and bought a house it was difficult to get anything done during the summer.  Now I have no excuses!

• Find ways of incorporating Scratch (or regular programming) into my curriculum.
• In my end of the year survey students asked for more activities where they could talk, incorporating debates would be a great way to get students talking about math.
• Find more ways of including my Algebra 2 curriculum and financial literacy together.
• Read more books.  I am way behind my goal this year and the summer should be a good time to pick it up.  Actually, I just finished Uncommon Learning: Creating Schools that Work for Kids by Eric C. Sheninger which was good way to kick off the summer.
• Find 5 projects that students can do for a new PBL course and set up a timeline for each.
• Incorporate these items.
• Clash Royale
• Google Maps
• Holograms
• SnapChat
• Find a pre-employment test that includes mathematics.
• Create 2 more BreakOutEDU box games, see if I can create a digital one too!
• Implement new Bell-Ringer questions with ACT Prep Questions.
• Get A's in my 3 2 graduate classes.

Now that I am writing all of these out this seems like a more daunting task than I originally thought. I will keep blogging this summer about tools and resources I find.