Set The Hook.
Follow me:
  • Home
  • Fishin' Solo Blog
  • MTBoS
  • Table Talk Math
  • The Classroom Chef
  • Would You Rather...?
  • Meet the Fisherman
    • Resume
  • Flipping 2.0
    • Flipping Your Classroom
    • Troubleshooting a flipped classroom
  • Choose Your Own Assessment
    • Student Work Samples
  • Apps In Class
  • Pre-made Math Lessons

You're A Teacher. Be Proud Of That.

2/24/2015

1 Comment

 
I'm a year and two months removed from having my own 175 students to experiment with, talk with and learn with. During that year and two months, I've seen some incredible growth in the teachers that I've been working with closely to implement technology and accept the shift in pedagogy to a more student-centered classroom, but it's not the same. I miss teaching. 

Today, however, was a unique day in my role as a technology coach. Today, I got to co-teach a lesson with Mr. Martinez at Los Osos High School and it. was. perfect.


I had a chance to make something potentially very useful, even if it isn't that flashy, in Desmos:

Just a basic conic with the radius: https://t.co/gK17CS7IH7 Thank you @Desmos! #mtbos #mathchat #conics

— CJUHSD Tech Coach (@CJUHSDTech) February 24, 2015

Quick reflection: I miss teaching. I miss the students. I miss the relationships. If you're teaching, cherish that. Be proud of that.

— John Stevens (@Jstevens009) February 25, 2015
This post have very little to do with math, though. In truth, teaching has very little to do with content, regardless of what you teach.
By now, I'm sure that you've read Grant Wiggins' post about his daughter going back to school as a student for the day. If you're really up on your "I'm going to read great blog posts" game, you read John Mahlstedt's post that was inspired by Grant's daughter's journey. Those are two days in the lives of students, and they're necessary if we want to get the perspective of the kids.

But we're missing something. We're missing how much we as teachers take for granted the smile that Darin comes in with every morning, good day or bad. We're missing the high five that Rylan wants after she answers a question correctly. We're missing the wide-eyed Octavio who is eager to learn because you're the one person he has learned to trust. We're missing the difficult Andrew who comes in with a chip on his shoulder and dares you to brush it off. 

When it all comes down to the details, we know that we didn't get into teaching for the paycheck - that's merely a byproduct and tangible reward for what goes unnoticed on a daily, even hourly, basis. My day today was filled with so many moments that reminded my why I loved my job as a teacher and why I love supporting other teachers who are ready to push themselves. While I often overlooked them while I was teaching, I certainly don't miss the chance to cherish them now. I'll say it again:

If you're teaching, cherish that. Be proud of that. We are a noble profession.


Happy Fishing
1 Comment

The Day The Kids Invaded EdCamp

2/8/2015

1 Comment

 
EdCamp Palm Springs happened last week. There were some great things that happened, and there were some things that I would want to do differently for next year. One aspect I wouldn't change? Having students be a part of the experience.

Since EdCamp Palm Springs was being held at James Workman Middle School, Jessica Pack had her ASB students show up to help out with the day. Setting up the signage, registering attendees, and greeting people. Oh, and this:

Bringing a herd of MS Students into #ThingsThatSuck definitely shows how polarized some issues can be. #EdCampPS http://t.co/aPXtjIdlHF

— Matt Vaudrey (@MrVaudrey) February 7, 2015
C'mon, you didn't watch that?! Seriously, it's great stuff. Mrs. Pack's students gave a play-by-play introduction of what EdCamp is, how to EdCamp, and even a few tips on having a successful day. We played this on a timed loop to begin the morning.

Not only did the students help set up, but they also helped make the sessions run. They were in the iMovie session, pretty much leading it. They filled a session where a teacher wanted to know hot to use tech without abusing it. They were intense contributors of "Things That Suck".
Many tweets were sent about the learning that happened, and that was great. My favorite, though? The kids.

At the beginning of the morning, we made a decision to give each student a raffle ticket and dropped it into the bag for a few iTunes gift cards. EdCamps are not hubs for winning "stuff", but it's really cool to be surprised when you give up your Saturday. Plus, it's an added "woohoo!!!" for a group of lively middle schoolers. Surprised, we all were.

After giving out over a dozen prizes throughout the day, none of the students had won anything. They worked hard, hustled around the campus, and engaged in genuine conversation. One student finally won a gift card and her face was priceless. 

Our big prize at the end of the day was a 64GB iPad mini with a case from Maxcases. Once the smaller prizes were given, everyone's ticket got dumped into one, and one more ticket was drawn. Last 4 digits? 8121. EIGHTY ONE, TWENTY ONE? ANYONE?"

Fortunately, there was a name. "David. David? Is David still here?" Getting ready to pull another name out of the box, a timid young man comes from behind me and apologetically says that the ticket was his. He had accidentally dropped both of his tickets into the bag and felt terrible. "I'm sorry, but it was an accident. I didn't win. Please draw another name."

Now here's the conundrum: I told the students that they were only eligible for the iTunes Gift Cards. However, it would have been impossible for me to discern between their tickets and the rest of the teacher tickets. Now, everyone's looking at me and what I do.

"Whadda ya think, everyone? David here put an extra ticket into the bag by accident."

(audience full of teachers is all positive)

I look over to a couple of the EdCamp Palm Springs organizers and all I needed was the head nod. They granted it.

"Look, folks. These kids have worked their tails off. They've added to the conversation and made our day that much better. David, get up here and take your new iPad!"

Without a doubt, this was the best moment of my week.

Chalk one up to good karma for EdCamp.
1 Comment

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Author

    Math nerds tend to have a reputation for being math nerds.  I'm here to continue that trend.

    For more blog posts, click HERE

    Picture

    Archives

    July 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

    RSS Feed

Not that you would do anything crazy, but here:
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States License.
Photos used under Creative Commons from timlewisnm, leppre, KristinNador, Jarosław Pocztarski, Martin Pettitt