1st Day of School “About Me” Pennants
Starting in 2021-22, I began using an “About Me” pennant to not only get to know students, but to also create a lasting memory of each student that I have taught - plus, it’s a really fun activity that immediately breaks the ice on Day 1 and makes a great ending on the final day of school!
Graduation Night! C/O 2023
Last night, my school held the graduation ceremony for our senior class of 2023. I always try to be a part of this procession since I teach seniors and want to help make their evening special. This exciting event is our last chance to say goodbye to our seniors!
Getting Ready for Next School Year
I am finding myself with a bit more free time these days now that the AP exams are over and seniors are gone, so I spent today getting all of my online platforms ready to go for AP Day.
DAY IN MY LIFE: 6/6/23
Well, we officially only have four days left of normal class before finals and then end of school! I’m finishing up logarithms and doing the best I can to get all the material in before finals begin. Here’s how my day went.
Side Hustles as a Teacher
Well, you know the saying, nobody becomes a teacher to become rich! For as long as I’ve been teaching (11 years!), I’ve always had at least one side job, usually two, to help pay all the bills while also putting money away in savings accounts.
Logarithm Curriculum Refresh Continued
We have been doing logarithms for exactly one week now, and overall I am happy with the restructured curriculum that I have been working on. Here is what I have done so far since my last blog post on Logarithms.
Math Competition Set-up!
The day is finally here - Our second annual, district-wide elementary school math competition is tomorrow, hosted at my high school! ALSO: information on our high school - elementary school math team partnership.
Man Versus Machine: AI and ChatGPT
Ponderings on how ChatGPT and AI are changing the face of education and how teachers can adapt to meet the demands of our students’ very different future. Inspired by a Wall Street Journal article (included) this weekend.
Spotify Classroom Playlists!
I don’t typically play music in class, but today was different. The Queen of Rock n’ Roll just passed away. We celebrated her life and music by listening to my Tina Turner Tribute Spotify playlist while doing math. Also, some other Spotify playlists I’ve used in class.
Exponential Thin-Slicing + Quiz Redos
Today we did real-life exponential task cards at the VNPS whiteboards where students wrote the equation of a function. Also, thoughts on redoing assessments.
Rethinking Logarithms
Due to Covid and Covid learning gaps, I am teaching logarithms in Algebra II for the first time since in three years and I am excited to finally get to this important concept!
Senior Math Award Gift Ideas
Graduation is in TWO WEEKS, so I spent some time this weekend putting together our department’s Senior Math Award gift bag. Each year, we choose a senior who has demonstrated excellence, perseverance, and growth in mathematics.
My FAVORITE teacher planner!
My beautiful 2023-24 At-A-Glance planner just arrived! I start planning for the next academic school year in May of the prior school year. I am a HUGE believer in PAPER PLANNERS (NOT digital planners) and I truly could not function without my planner.
Senior Prom 2023
Another year is quickly coming to an end, and nothing signals the end a school year more than senior celebrations like prom and graduation. This year’s theme: An Enchanted Evening.
What to do with Seniors after the AP exam?
The internet is chock full of ideas for how to spend the final weeks of school after the AP Calculus exam ends. Here are some academic ideas to continue their learning and some fun ways to spend your final days with your seniors!
Senior Projects + Shadowboxing
Today was day 1 of creating our polar design magnets in class, and, as usual when trying out a new activity, I learned A LOT along the way! Also, I now know what Shadowboxing is?!
Get Rolling with Exponential Decay
One lesson I really enjoy in my Exponential Functions unit is the “10-Sided Dice” lesson. Most Algebra teachers know about the M&M exponential decay lesson, where students get a cup full of M&M’s and roll them.
Polar Project fun
This year, their “final exam” is a project, and I’m trying something new! I saw this idea in the “Desmos Educators” Facebook: creating a magnet using a polar graph design created in Desmos.
Exponential Growth is King
One of the big takeaways I want my students to remember about exponential functions is how powerful exponential growth is. It will outstrip linear growth ALWAYS. It grows faster than any polynomial.
🤑Money talk: Financial literacy
Look, I’m not dummy, I get it - my students will PROBABLY never need to synthetically divide polynomials again in their post-high school future. But you know what they WILL need to be good at? Managing money.