10 Things to Change

My first year is now completely, and officially over.  So it's time to reflect on what it is that I need to change to make next year a bigger success.

1.  Adapt to Common Core
As the year ended, more common core resources emerged, and I was able to incorporate them into my lessons.  This up-coming year, I plan to teach common core Geometry, even though my curriculum does not have to be aligned for another year.  I figure that by aligning early I will have the opportunity to work out some kinks ahead of time.

2.  Plan Efficiently
I've been in a permanent state of exhaustion all year long.  When the weekend finally arrived, I would sit in bed with my laptop in my lap and the TV on.  This completely slows down my planning, but to me this was "relaxing".  (At least it was the closest to relaxing I could get.)  This year, I need to force myself to sit at my desk, with the TV off (and the music on), to plan.  This will allow me to spend less time planning, and give me some time to actually relax.  Also, I do not want to conduct my internet research during my planning.  I need to do it at a separate time.  Otherwise, I end up spending hours searching through resources.

3.  Adjust Test Corrections Policy
This year, students could submit test corrections to earn back half of the credit that they lost by completing a test corrections form (on sale now in my TPT store).  This ended up being too easy.  Most students just found another student to copy from, and did not put any effort into re-learning the material.  For next year, I don't want to abandon this policy completely, but add another component.  After completing the test corrections form, I want to have students retake the test (a different version of course) to make them accountable for re-learning the material.  After they retake the test, then they can earn back credit.  I haven't figured out yet if they get back half credit, or if I should average the two test grades.

4.  Start with Policies and Procedures in Place
This sounds so simple, but for me this year it was not.  Starting out this year, at the end of August, not knowing everything I needed to know about the school I was working in, or the student population there, I had to add policies and procedures as I went.  This was a challenge.  Students were already accustomed to the original policies and procedures, and I was not consistent in enforcing them.  This year, I need to be on top of it all.

5.  APPR Binder is a Must Have
I was so overwhelmed by everything else I had to do, that I did not heed the advice to start collecting evidence early.  This summer, one of my projects is to put together an APPR evidence binder so that I can collect evidence continually throughout the school year.  Google Docs was recommended to us, but that didn't work for me.  Even living and growing up in a technology age, I still need to write stuff down.  Plus, after seeing the end result, I will know how to organize such a binder.

6.  Pencil Borrowing Procedure
After complaining to my students about my pencils disappearing at an alarming rate, they suggested that I make people borrowing the pencils write their names on the board so that they have a reminder to return my pencils.  Once the pencil is returned, they can erase their name.  Simple.  Efficient.  I don't have to add keeping kids accountable for a measly pencil onto my already too long to-do list.  I love it.  We started this toward the end of the year and it was working pretty well.  I just need to move where I store my pencils to borrow.  I'll look for a magnetic pencil cup and keep it up at the board to make the procedure smooth. 

7.  More Activities Please
This almost goes hand-in-hand with common core, but unfortunately my Contemporary Math class isn't exactly common core compliant.  I have to stretch the standards to make them fit what I'm teaching in Contemporary Math. (Most of the class is financial literacy, and there just aren't any standards for that.)  This class needs more activities for sure to make the class more robust.  The plan is to find these activities over the summer so I don't spend hours on the computer searching for them throughout the year.

8.  Emphasize the Geometry Website
I spent this year hunting additional videos and resources for my students to use outside of class, and laid everything out on my website.  I also listed upcoming tests, quizzes, and all of the homework assignments.  I'm fairly certain this was a waste.  For next year, I want to start with my students understanding that this a tool for them to use when they need homework help, extra practice, forgot the homework, etc.  This year I want to upload homework worksheets (when I give them) so I don't have to deal with students asking for extras. 

9.  Establish Routines
Not for my students, but for me.  I need personal routines to help me stay sane.  I need a good, solid weekly routine for planning, relaxing, working out, cooking dinner, cleaning, and managing my life outside of school overall.  I was working on routines toward the end of the year, but this year I want to start with them right away so I don't burn out too soon.  When I do this, though, I need to remember that the key to a good routine is to be flexible (something that I'm always working on).

10.  Classroom Management
I gave the whole "don't smile until Christmas" method an honest try.  It's just not in me to not smile.  I know that as a student, I didn't want to be in the class of the teacher that didn't smile.  I managed to not smile for the first month of school, once I relaxed, the kids relaxed, and then they relaxed a little too much.  I need to find some kind of balance, which will require some summer reading.  My kids weren't out of control all year, there were just a few moments (or a few students) where I didn't know what to do.  The kids in my school are amazing in general, which is why I let my guard down a little too soon.

My Teachers Pay Teachers store is now Open!

Follow the widget on the right hand side of my blog to check out my new Teachers Pay Teachers store.

My overall goal is to upload items that will help secondary teachers get organized.  Math lessons and resources are my secondary goal. 

10 Things to Repeat

The year is over, and before I can begin adequately planning for next year, it is important to reflect.  My first reflection is to focus on the positive.  While this past year was not perfect, it was far from a failure.  I want to take time to reflect on what went right and what I want to carry with me into the future.

1.  I was super organized.  
As a first year teacher, it is a huge compliment to be giving veteran teachers ideas.  Especially when it is for simple classroom procedures that they have been using for years. I love it when people come into my classroom, take a look around, and say "I love how you did that."  I also love when they ask questions, like "how do you use/do this?"  I love helping other teachers.

2.  I relate well to my students.
It's almost a given that I'm going to relate to my students because I'm only 10 years older than they are.  I don't want to lose how I relate to my students, and I don't want to become unapproachable to my students as older teachers sometimes do.  Even as I age, I don't want to forget what it was like to be their age, and about the little things that they go through that at that age are the big things.

3.  Food + Activity = Successful Lesson
When I polled my Contemporary Math classes about the year, they remember the activities we did involving m&ms and Oreos the most.  I wasn't surprised, but it was definitely a reaffirmation.  I'm sure if I polled my Geometry classes they would have said the same things.  It's a simple formula for success.

4.  Welcome Input
On the note of polling my classes, I definitely want to do that again next year.  Moreover, I want to expand the poll to my Geometry classes as well.  It always bothers me when students are afraid to share their unsolicited input.  Students timidly ask if I can slow down, not talk as they copy notes, etc.  I always try to make an example of these questions at the beginning of the year by reminding students that I'm there for them, and whatever it is that I can do to help them (within reason), I will do.

5.  Incorporate Assessments into Regents Review
In the past, I got to Regents review and hit the ground running.  This year, I sacrificed the time to assess my students on Regents questions, and I found it to be beneficial.  Firstly, I was able to hold students accountable for still doing work during review.  Too often students take review to mean "we're done here."  Secondly, it gives me a better idea of my students' strengths and weaknesses, which helped to further prepare for review.

6.  Anchor Charts Everywhere
I decorated my classroom with content-rich posters.  It served me throughout the year, especially when we needed to use topics in later lessons.  I could just point to the poster and the visual set off light bulbs of recognition.  I loved this, and want to do it again next year.  I also want to get my kids in on the decorating again next year.  Poster decorating was a fun/relaxing activity that allowed students to review what they learned, but in a less demanding way.  My students this year were wonderful, and were able to work cooperatively and productively.

7.  Grades Updated Weekly
At my school, I'm very fortunate to have School Tool set up as an attendance and grade management system.  Every Friday I updated my students' grades, and by setting up that routine I was able to keep my grading manageable.  It also meant that I had to keep up with grading.  I think quick feedback is vital, especially in mathematics.  We want to fix our students' mistakes so they don't keep repeating them, and can learn from them sooner.  My routine also set a routine for my students and their parents to keep on top of their grades.

8.  QR Code Overload
I love using  QR codes in the classroom.  I only actually used them 4-6 times throughout the school year, but next year I want to use them more.  Our principal is wonderful and advocates for us allowing our students to use the technology that they have available to them.  At the end of the year a red-yellow-green policy was instituted to allow students to use their cell phones with restrictions based on each teacher's preference.  With this in mind, I want to actively look for ways to allow cell phones in my classroom.  (If students are too busy learning with their phones, they won't have time to text, or so I hope.)  This will definitely take awhile to achieve, but QR codes are my start.

9.  Be Available
I dedicated so much of my time to my students.  I allowed my students to come in before school, during my preps, during my lunch, and after school for extra help or to make up work.  I want to continue this.  It gives students one less excuse why they can't succeed.  For my content area, it is vital that students spend the extra time learning the content.

10.  Make some "me" time
On the other hand, for my sanity, I definitely need to take some time out for myself.  Toward the end of the year, I was able to get into some routines that gave me back some of my time for myself, my fiance, my friends, and my family.  I need to refine my routines, and plan productively.

Summer To Do List

As the school year is (finally) winding down, I finally find myself feeling that I actually have time to blog.  I have so many things that I want to accomplish over this summer.  On the one hand, I cannot wait to get started.  On the other hand, I want to actually just relax for once.  Anyone else feel that way?

For the most part, I want to begin planning for next year.  I'm fortunate that my state finally came to their senses and decided to stagger the introduction of common core curriculum.  (Unfortunately for grades K-8, this came on too late.)  This coming year, I am to teach the same curriculum, but my school expects me to integrate the common core curriculum.  My plan so far is to teach the common core curriculum, but not in the intended depth so that I can still cover the topics that my students will be tested on in June.

So with all of this in mind, plus my ambitious nature, this is my summer to do list:

• New Algebra Pre-test (for my Geometry students at the beginning of the year)
• New curriculum map
• Blog weekly
• Make-up new forms
• Start TPT store
• New parent letters for beginning of the year
• APPR evidence collection binder
• Read (both professional and recreational)
• Plan my wedding <3 

I have professional development planned to help me complete a new curriculum map at the end of July.  The only potential problem is that I may be doing summer school, and I'm not sure how this will affect my plan for PD.