definitely time for a "to do" list

Hello to my blogging friends! I apologize for my absence. I've hit the stretch of my summer with consecutive plans...one week at the beach...one week at the Arkansas Department of Education...two weeks at UofA.

The beach was wonderful! I quickly converted to a complete and total beach bum. Reading. Sleeping. And eating lots of hot boiled shrimp! :)



My week at the ADE was valuable professional development. I'm so thankful for the invite! Nearly 1000 algebra items were reviewed and sent to the edit stage.

Currently...I'm in my first week of STEM professional development at its finest. UAEMP. University of Arkansas Engineering and Math Partnership. The engineering professors are leading us through the changes to our curriculum that are forthcoming with the implementation of Common Core. Today's focus was changing how we teach. We're building projects that align to Understanding by Design.


Meanwhile...I have been investigating Evernote via Nicholas Provenzano @thenerdyteacher in some recent blog posts about his Epic Evernote Experiment and an IPEVO document camera. I plan to help my students organize their algebra notes and sample work in a stack of notebooks in Evernote. And I will be able to model key elements through a shared notebook in my premium Evernote account. My next investigation is Weebly for Education to create a private set of websites/blogs for my classes. Any suggestions? I would love to hear your review on Weebly websites.

I refuse to look at my calendar, but I feel my final summer days passing quickly. And that can only mean one thing...time for a serious "to do" list. So...do tell...what's at the top of your school list?!?

Have a great week...make it count!

middle school math classroom tour

As a middle school math teacher and an avid scrapbooker, I've had a blast setting up my classroom with a festive decor. I'm not sure my classroom has a theme...unless color counts! I focused on our school colors...red, black, and white...plus a splash of green. And I probably should mention that I simply adore polka dots! ;)

Having an organized and attractive classroom is yet another way to be proactive with classroom management. I recently completed a series of blog posts on my classroom setup. Take a quick photo tour via the slideshow below...

And if you would like more details see my previous blog posts outlined below...

farewell to paper journals

papers, papers, and more papers

classroom attention signal

students coaching students in the classroom

classroom bulletin board ideas

organization of classroom supplies

displaying student work

teams for cooperative learning

differentiation via small groups



I'm linking up with Mrs. Parker over at Learning with Mrs. Parker. Hop on over and tour some fabulous classrooms from fellow bloggers!

Happy Friday to YOU!
Make it count...

classroom management (part 1)

Are you a new or veteran middle school teacher? Are you brainstorming ways to improve your classroom? Middle school can be tricky...stuck in the middle between elementary and high school. You want to train your students to be responsible learners, yet you know they have no clue where to begin on their own.

So often the structure middle school students need falls to the teacher--the classroom manager. Classroom management encompasses many areas including expectations and consequences, procedures, and routines. Join me over the next few posts as I address each area in my math classroom.

But let's start with my top 3 preventative measures. It's true. You must have a plan in place to address concerns and misbehavior. But I believe it's equally important to be proactive!

Tip #1: Greet your students at the door. Welcome them with a smile and call them by name. When possible, I make a personal comment (ex: Great hustle in the basketball game last night!).

Tip #2: Greet your class once everyone has arrived or the tardy bell has sounded. I always say, "Ladies and gentlemen, Good morning to you!" (And then I give them a 1-minute overview of what we have on deck for the class period.)

Tip #3: Set a classroom environment based on mutual respect. I expect my students to use their manners. I require my students to say "Yes, ma'am" and "No, ma'am" when responding to me or another adult in our room. However, I usually only correct a "yeah" or "huh" or "what" response. I know. I'm a Southern girly. But it's amazing the tone this sets in our classroom.

I'm linking up with Stephanie over at Teaching in Room 6. Be sure to hop over and follow the great posts on classroom management!

Stay tuned for more posts on classroom management!
Have a great weekend...make it count!

farewell to paper journals

Journal writing is one of four tasks included in our MATHercise routine. My students respond to two prompts each week. I wholeheartedly believe writing is the first step toward communicating mathematically. And preparing prompts that align with our algebra curriculum is definitely on my summer "to do" list.

While my students will complete weekly journal writings, we will not be using this paper filing system any longer.

Thanks to 1:1 technology in my classroom and Penzu, my students will record their responses online. Penzu is a free online journal that is secure on the web. The journal can be kept private or you can opt to share a specific page via a link. The journal allows you to import pictures; so my students will be able to copy and paste the prompt into their journal before responding.

Now I just need to find an easy way for students to create and organize notes online. Any ideas?

Have a fabulous weekend...make it count!

21st century classroom

It's official...my summer vacation is a reality! After the last day of school, I spent 2.5 weeks working with our new Common Core math standards. And most recently I spent one week in technology training. These two events have certainly stretched me beyond my wildest imagination. But definitely in a good way.

In the fall I will be teaching three sections of Accelerated Algebra 1...one section for 7th graders and two sections for 8th graders. And since this is a high school course, we will be in transition to the Common Core standards. That means we will be teaching three sets of standards: MATH-7, MATH-8, and Algebra 1. And fortunately our district has granted us double time...my students will have one block of Algebra every day. So that explains why I have been working day and night with a team of algebra teachers to create assessment documents to align with our new curriculum. :)

Meanwhile in April, I wrote a grant for our district's 21st Century Technology initiative...and I was accepted! My classroom will be filled with 30 new laptops and a wireless hot spot! So I spent last week reviewing ISTE standards and receiving a ton of cool tech information...and this week processing, recovering, and processing some more (while entering the final stages with our assessment project).

And as a result of my pending adventures, my blog will take on a new emphasis. I will continue to share my Common Core reflections and activities designed for my algebra students. But I will also share my efforts within my 1:1 classroom. I have no clue exactly what my classroom will look like in the fall, but it's taking shape as we speak.

So who else attended some professional development workshops already? Do share!

Have a great week...make it count!

lesson planning: enrichment vs. rigor

In my state, the department of education plans for grades 3-8 to implement the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in the fall. In response to this timeline, my district developed a transition plan to shift our curriculum. There have been a few glitches along the way...but isn't that to be expected with change of any magnitude? The bottom line as I see it is that states, districts, and even individual schools can create a plan...they can even mandate said plan...but the teachers are the ones who implement the plan to make the shift to new standards benefit our students. Together we're building better students!

Which brings me to my latest revelation...rigor. If you've been in any discussion regarding CCSS, then I'm certain you have heard the standards described as rigorous. These standards require our students to have a deep understanding of the content. And if you have studied your grade level standards, then you know that is a true statement. For example, no longer will Algebra 1 students mindlessly use the quadratic formula to solve a quadratic equation. Instead they will first derive the quadratic formula by completing the square...which will enable them to know why this crazy formula with three variables truly does find the solutions for the variable x located in a quadratic equation.

Perhaps the community of educators has a misconception that rigor is equivalent to enrichment. Why might we be confused? Simply because enrichment is something we already do...it is familiar. However, enrichment extends procedural understanding...can the student move further with the concept? While rigor calls the student to a deeper conceptual understanding...does the student know the depth of the concept? Enrichment adds to the end of your lesson plan and requires additional time. Rigor changes your entire approach to the lesson but does not require additional time. I spy that CCSS have tackled process vs. concept teaching. In an effort to meet the standards we must implement concept teaching that reveals the process. I'm game! How about you?

Have a great weekend...make it count!

papers, papers, and more papers

How do middle school teachers manage student work? Some days keeping up with student work feels like the neverending battle of picking up pool toys in the summertime!

I collect homework from the center of our team tables. This allows me to immediately address missing assignments. (Our school has a Stop Late and Incomplete Papers "SLIP" policy that encourages all work to be completed in a timely manner.) Also I can avoid the no name assignment trap!

Once papers are graded, I keep them in a folder to be returned during the next class. If a student is absent, then I place any returned assignments or quizzes in the trays shown above. This stack of trays is centrally located so students can check for papers after an absence.

I would love for you to share the paper tracking system used in your classroom. I'm always looking for ways to be more organized. :)

Hope your week is off to a great start...make it count!

classroom attention signal

My math classroom is bustling with activity from day to day. My students work cooperatively in teams of four students. And this combination requires an attention signal that will bring my students back to me for announcements, helpful hints, etc.

I raise my hand and say, "Freeze, please. Stop. Look. And listen." This attention signal gives my students 5 seconds to freeze their conversations and listen closely for directions.

Some cues are visual; other attention getters are verbal. What do you use in your classroom?

Have a great week...make it count!

students coaching students in the classroom

Math is a subject that calls its participants to a need for accuracy. What are the options when students make mistakes while reasoning mathematically?

Well...if your students are working independently, then the teacher will have a steady journey around the classroom. A journey that involves reteaching and giving the same friendly reminders repeatedly. But there is another option...and one that I definitely prefer! Your students could be working cooperatively and the teacher makes a steady journey around the classroom to observe progress.

From the very first day of school, I train my students to coach either other. The coaching process begins when a math buddy has a question. Students are encouraged to provide one tip to the student...something that will help redirect the learning. If that tip doesn't resolve the issue, then the student is encouraged to provide an additional tip. If the second tip still doesn't resolve the issue, then the student can tell his/her math buddy where and why the mistake occurred and verbalize the accurate solution. However, the math buddy with a question is not "off the hook" because he/she is required to redo the problem.

Yes, there are still questions that I answer while wandering from team to team. But the quantity is significantly reduced. And the best part of the process is that I'm not the only one talking math!

What else do you train your students to do from the very beginning of school?!? I would love to hear your tips and tricks!

Happy Sunday to YOU...make it count!

my new best friend #CommonCore

My last day of school was Monday. It was bittersweet for me because my oldest daughter is leaving my building and starting high school in the fall. I have absolutely no idea how that happened so quickly! I know she will be wildly successful. And I also know I will miss her terribly!

Tuesday was filled long "to do" lists. Our department scrambled to get things organized for the fall. And our building work day ended with a luncheon. We said our farewells, enjoyed salads from Chili's, and finished evaluations.

And then my Algebra PLC buddy and I headed to her classroom. We joined another pair of teachers from the junior high across town. My new best friend?!? Common Core State Standards. Who else is with me? Are you spending time this summer working with CCSS? Math, literacy, or both?

We have worked 3.5 days and accomplished these details: Organized standards into units, created a sequence, outlined competencies per unit with aligned standards, and created a pacing guide for the year. Today we were able to dive into our first unit and determine the details for the questions we want on our assessment. And that's where we stopped this afternoon. We're hoping to pick up speed during the assessment writing process. Any helpful hints?!?

I'm super excited for a long holiday weekend!
Enjoy...make it count!

gearing up for summer training

One of the most intelligent teachers I know mentioned how his non-teacher friends comment about the vacation he gets to enjoy every summer as a teacher. His reply is so very true..."so I've heard, but I'm still waiting for one of those!"

I've never experienced a summer without multiple trainings. And I wouldn't wish for anything else! Instead of summertime as a "winding down" movement, my summer has more of a "gearing up" theme. I look forward to brainstorming and planning with my teammates...especially when we can do that poolside. :-)

I was able to spend Thursday at the state Capitol reviewing fourth year math course offerings. I always welcome work related to Common Core standards because it pushes me to deeper understanding. And tomorrow I will join my teammates at the UofA for our second session on partnering with the engineering college to improve our STEM instruction. I will also spend three weeks in July with these same groups.

I'm looking forward to all my "summer vacation" has to offer! What's on deck for your summer vacation?!? Do share!

Have a great weekend...make it count!

response to intervention

How do you provide Tier 1 intervention in your classroom? What is the basis for providing such intervention? And how does your school respond to intervention beyond the classroom? What do you find to be the #1 key to success?

Last week I was given a unique opportunity to observe an elementary building finalize their RTI recommendations for next year. One grade level at a time met with the administration and support specialists to discuss the students in their grade that were of greatest concern. To say my experience was eye-opening would be an understatement!

First of all, every single teacher was invested in the discussion. When one teacher discussed a need for her student, the other teachers were quick to offer suggestions and support. The entire team had one focus...success for all students.

My second realization was the difference between elementary and secondary in that the elementary building has access to specialists (ELL, reading, literacty, math, etc.) and my junior high building only has a part-time reading specialist. As a junior high math teacher, I have to be the specialist for every one of my students.

The first line of defense is within my classroom. And I wholeheartedly believe that the #1 key to success is differentiated lessons that dedicate time to respond to students who need additional support. Our elementary friends do a fabulous job of managing this task in their classrooms. It's time for us secondary teachers to follow in their footsteps.

And then what happens when the student needs to move to Tier 2? What do your schools do to offer additional support to students outside of the classroom? Add RTI to my summer brainstorm list...

Have a great week...make it count!

the heart and soul of a teacher

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to YOU!

Q: So what do you think melts a teacher's heart?

• a sweet compliment from a student, parent, or colleague
• a lunch that doesn't require standing in the microwave line in the lounge
• time provided for effective staff development that directly impacts student learning
• new tools for their classroom

A: ALL of the above! :)
My school celebrated this festive teacher holiday last week. We started with student notes organized by our Student Council. I treasure every tiny slip of purple paper with comments from my students. And I can't even begin to describe the amazing event our PTO showcased. Not one...but TWO catered lunches! A day of chocolate desserts...name a teacher who doesn't love chocolate?!? A "You're a Rock Star!" cupcake with a $5 Sonic gift card. Plus a gift bag of fun stuff for each and every teacher. Oh...and did I mention the random drawings for gift cards on the daily announcements? Drawings. Plural. As in 8 drawings each day! I know. They spoil us rotten!

In the midst of the fun, I was able to attend an excellent staff development from ExploreLearning. Karen Lyons came in from New Jersey to get us organized. I'm so thankful for her and the expertise she shared. I learned much as I realized I have not been using this tool to its fullest potential. The interactive simulations they offer will be the perfect complement to my LTF lessons! And by the gracious grant gift from my school district I will not be standing in line to reserve the computer lab to make this a reality. My students will be enrolled in my 1:1 technology classroom for the next school year.

The blessings abound and the fun continues in these final days of our school year. So it's official...this teacher's heart is melting!

I hope you have a fabulous week and feel appreciated for all the awesome work you do with students day after day. Make it count!

teacher appreciation jackpot

I am super excited to participate in the first Teacher Appreciation Jackpot! Sunday, May 6th is sure to be your lucky day! The Jackpot is an amazing "blog hop" event involving over 130 bloggers!

We wanted to show our appreciation for you in a BIG way, so we're all going to give away one of our TeachersPayTeachers products for free on that day! Each free gift will be valued between $3 and $8, so the total jackpot amount is estimated to be over $500! We'll post the actual amount on Saturday, May 5th.

Because so many bloggers are participating, this event will be divided into three grade level groups. Each of those smaller events is being coordinated by one blogger as shown below:

  

I have selected my customer favorite as a freebie for one day only. Be sure to click on the image below to download this lesson bundle for free.
{ETA: The Teacher Appreciation Jackpot has ended. Thanks so much to everyone who joined in on the fun! Be sure to continue shopping through Tuesday, May 8th for sale items.}

Scroll to the end of this blog post to spy the fabulous grades 7-12 participants.
Remember to hop over to my TeachersPayTeachers store and shop because TeachersPayTeachers is throwing a huge "TpT Loves You" Teacher Appreciation Week Sale for three days. TpT is offering ten percent off when you use the promo code TAD12 and all of my math games will be an additional fifteen percent off.

Thanks so much for all you do!
We appreciate your commitment to your students and your dedication as an educator!

classroom bulletin board ideas

Do you have classroom bulletin boards to decorate? One or two? And how often do you change the display? Do you cover your board with fabric or poster paper? Do you hot glue your border to the frame or staple just inside the frame? There are so many options!

I have one long bulletin board in my classroom. It's located above the storage cabinets along the back wall. I've opted to select a display that remains all year. There are other things in my classroom that change according to content; the bulletin board just isn't one of them.

The title reads "Many Faces of ^Wildcat Math Students" and includes a display of different faces. My daughter created the faces with inspiration from the popular "How do You Feel Today?" poster. And my students periodically select "their face" and respond in their journal writing about how they feel with our current content. (Have I mentioned that I love my daughter's artsy self?!?)

Be sure to comment and share your favorite bulletin board display title. We can't wait to hear from YOU!

It's a busy week in my classroom.
Hope your week is off to a fabulous start...make it count!

organization of classroom supplies

"A place for everything, and everything in its place." An organized teacher makes for a happy classroom. What's your motto?

The lovely Stephanie Moorman encouraged her readers to share our best organizational tip. Hop on over to her blog to check out how she keeps up with who has turned in completed work and who is still in progress. Simple and brilliant!


Between math manipulatives and classroom supplies, I have lots of pieces to keep up with on a daily basis. It's crucial that I know what materials my class has available and exactly where they are located.
need for structure + my love for totes = organization of classroom supplies

These 12 totes contain the supplies that my students need for classroom activities each day. The totes for small items also contain a plastic candy store bin for extra organization. The supply storage sits on the counter at the back of the room.

I have a similar system with red totes and a black five-shelf bookcase behind my desk for math manipulatives. The only difference...the totes are labeled but not the shelves.

So how do you organize classroom supplies? By item in a general location? Or grouped into a team supply container?

I'll be back soon with more posts for my classroom tour!
Have a fabulous weekend...make it count!

my students move to learn

Cooperative learning can look different from one classroom to another. Some teachers prefer to have students working collaboratively at their desks in pairs or teams of four. There is definitely a new level of management involved when students work collaboratively as a whole class; however, student engagement continues to increase as structures include choice and movement.

Rachel Lynette is hosting a "Move to Learn" linky party about incorporating movement into the school day. Hop on over to her Minds in Bloom blog and join the party!

I'm thrilled to share one of my favorite activities to use when my students are reviewing for a unit test. In the structure Find Someone Who, students mix around the room to find a partner. The students ask their partners to explain a problem from their record sheet. The students record the responses, and the partners initial accurate answers. Students continue to find new partners until they complete the record sheet. Here's a sample of the Metric and Customary Measurement Find Someone Who record sheet we will complete during our unit review on Monday:

Click on the picture to download this FREE product from my TpT store.

This freebie is part of Manic Monday at Classroom Freebies...hop over and join the fun!

See you tomorrow for our regularly scheduled program...my classroom tour continued.
Have a great Friday...make it count!

displaying student work

How do you display student work in your classroom? My space is somewhat limited. Unfortunately I don't have a blank wall or a bulletin board in the hall because my classroom is in a pod surrounded by lockers. My classroom does have a bulletin board (I'll save that display for another post), but it is above my counter and my height-challenged self would need a ladder to routinely hang student work. :) Thus my dilemma! Enter: the random closet door. I covered the closet door on my front wall, hot glued magnets to the three posters, and labeled the space "Wildcat Math" in fun, giant letters.

We just finished our state tests last week...so my student work display is still empty. I hope to hang our sailboat measurement activity by the end of the week. So what do you have displayed in your student work corner?

More blog posts to tour my classroom...coming soon!
Enjoy the rest of your week...make it count!

teams for cooperative learning

My students learn math in cooperative teams of 3-4 students. We use Kagan structures for cooperative learning. Each team is numbered 1 through 6. Each student within a team is numbered 1 through 4. And each pair is lettered A or B. So each student in my math classroom has a Team number, Student number, and Pair letter. That's a lot for a junior high student to remember!

To offer a silent but constant reminder, each team is labeled with a team tag in the center of the tables.

Visit the cooperative learning tab above to grab a template for making team tags for your classroom.

This post is part of Manic Monday over at Classroom Freebies...


ETA: Please excuse my door...my framed window is missing a few scallops. ;) Let's focus on my classroom motto instead...haha! The motto "Make it count!" is posted above the door so that my students will remember to carry our supportive classroom environment into the school at large. We want to make a difference in the small things...letting each and every action count for a positive impact.

Stay tuned for the continued tour of my classroom...coming soon!
Hope your week is off to a fabulous start...make it count!

differentiation via small groups

For teachers to meet the individual needs of their students, time for differentiation must be integrated into the class schedule. My math students spend 15-20 minutes during each 80-minute block class completing their MATHercise centers. (For more details about our MATHercise routine, visit this blog post for specifics.) This independent work time allows me to gather students at our small group tables. I can work with students who need remediation on specific content. Or I can use this time to enrich students who need challenged.

Here's where the magic happens:

I have seats for six students to join me at the small group tables. Usually I work with a small group for 10 minutes of guided instruction and then allow them to practice together for 5-10 minutes. On some days, I have worked with one group for 10 minutes and then a different group for 10 minutes...it just depends on how many students need served that day.

ETA: We are the Washington Wildcats, and my oldest daughter painted the giant mural on thin 12x12 canvas squares during the summer before her 6th grade year. It's the first thing you spy when entering my classroom. I love, love, LOVE it! :)

For more great ideas on how to use math centers and some fabulous sample centers, hop over to Laura Candler at Corkboard Connections blog.  Laura is hosting a linky party with lots of ideas math centers in your classroom.


Stay tuned for the continued tour of my classroom...coming soon!
Have a great week...make it count!