Flipped thoughts

When I first started flipping my math classes, I knew that it could work.  But, to be honest, I didn't know if it would be a teaching method that would work for me.  After teaching using the "flipped classroom" method for four months now, I LOVED IT!!!  I couldn't ever see me going back to the traditional teaching method.  Well, as I stated here, we have split our classes and in four of my classes, I have the 11th grade TAKS students.  For those classes, I am still flipped.  I have been making videos going over each TAKS objective and key things for them to remember as they work on the word problems.  However, in my other class, I have the 9th, 10th and 12th graders that are studying for the EOC.  For various reasons, we have gone back to the traditional teaching method...notes in class, independent practice to be done for homework.

So now that I am doing both methods...flipped and traditional, I thought it would be interesting to see if I miss the traditional method.  Verdict is in...NO!!!! I DO NOT MISS THE TRADITIONAL TEACHING METHOD!!!!  I don't like being the "Sage on the Stage".  I am not able to get a good feel of whether or not the students are learning during my notes.  I see the students eyes glaze over after 5 minutes of instruction.  They might be copying down the notes but they are not completely engaged in the learning process.  The common complaint from students is back..."I thought I understood how to do the problems just fine when you were teaching it, but then when I got home, I couldn't remember how to do the problems."  I asked this one class today which method they liked better.  The responses were about half and half.  But, I heard comments that they thought traditional was easier.  (yeah, it is teacher centered and not student centered!)  And then one girl said, "I like the flipped better!  When you give notes in class, you talk too much!!"  LOL  She clarified it by saying that she likes moving at her own pace and not having to wait for slower learners to "get it".  Interesting...one of my main reasons for starting the flip...differentiated instruction.  Students can move at their own pace!!

So there you have it, I will not go back!!!

No More Math Tricks!!

During staff development today some math teachers went to lunch together and we had a conversation about math tricks. As math teachers we need to be very careful about teaching students tricks to learn the mathematical process. A prime example is factoring. Some teachers teach the box method and some people teach a type of guess and check method of undoing FOIL. I think these tricks inhibit true learning because students aren't seeing the reason why the trick works. Check out this blog post talking about the same thing...
http://mhsmathematics.wordpress.com/2013/03/29/no-more-tricks-use-the-math-practices-instead/

State Testing

So we are entering the dreaded "countdown to State testing".  In Texas, Algebra 2 is lucky to have some students (9th and 10th graders) taking the new state test EOC/STAAR.  And other students (11th graders) take the TAKS test that is retiring after this year.  Since Algebra 2 is a Junior level class, most of our students should be taking the TAKS.  However, Pre AP students who are on an accelerated track OR on level students who have dropped out of the PAP track for whatever reason are expected to take the EOC.  Our department chair and several others tried to convince the "powers that be" to split the Algebra 2 on level classes into classes that need to take the EOC and classes that need to take the TAKS, but they didn't.  You see, the TAKS test and the EOC test have totally different standards!   So,  NOW administrators are wanting us to split our classes for about six weeks so that one teacher will focus on reviewing for TAKS and the other teacher will continue on with Algebra 2 since the EOC test  covers only Algebra 2 standards.  Talk about chaos!!  Splitting the classes SHOULD HAVE happened at the beginning of the year.  There is so much research about teacher/student relationships and how it directly correlates to student success.  So now the students who have a good relationship with their teacher will now have to get used to another teacher!  UGH!!

Since I have flipped my classes, I thought it would be so much easier for me to differentiate with MY OWN students.  To me that made more sense but I am outnumbered so April 1, we will be splitting up our classes.  Our current students will stay on our own roll so the teachers will have to shuffle attendance and grades daily!  I am praying that this works for our students and "the powers that be" see the results that they are wanting.

We'll see...

I look forward to the day when I can focus on TEACHING my students the standards and being confident that they are LEARNING and therefore will do VERY WELL on the state test!!

Spring Break is over

This has been a WONDERFUL, relaxing Spring Break!!  It started with a surprise party for my 40th birthday!!!  It was great seeing some friends that I haven't seen in a long time!!  Then my mother-in-law (Mimi to the kids) came in town for a few days.  Then, Jon is starting a new job so he had a few days off and we took the kids to the lake to try and fish...but it was sooo windy that we didn't catch anything!  However, it was so nice spending time outside and letting the kids play.  Then one of my friends from Tulsa stopped here on her way into Houston with her kids.  We hadn't seen each other in a couple of years.  Now it is over and it is time to get back to work...sigh.  I am thankful for this time to spend with family and friends.  I pray that my students had an enjoyable week off because it is now time to get back to business.  It is a mad dash to PASSING our state test AND end of year festivities....put on your seat belt!

Sophia

When I first started looking at "flipping", one of the first things I decided was where to "house" all the videos.  I wanted my students to go to ONE location to watch the video AND I wanted a way to hold them accountable.  I looked at Edmodo, just using a YouTube channel, my teacher website, iTunesU, and Sophia.  Sophia.org seemed to have EVERYTHING that I wanted and it was VERY user friendly.  I still created a YouTube channel and that is where I upload all my videos to.  Then I create a tutorial on Sophia where I can embed a video, and a google form, AND a quiz if I want to.   Sophia also has a "group summary" section where I can get the stats for each student on how long and how often they have logged onto the site and how long and which tutorials they did each day or which week.  This is great for parent conferences!  I also use the google form to decide how I will start class the next day.  I ask students what they understood the most and what they are still confused about.  I take the first 5 minutes of each class clearing up any confusion from the video.  Here is a link to one of my Sophia tutorials...
http://www.sophia.org/55-addsubtract-rationals-with-uncommon-factored-de-tutorial

I also put in my class procedures that if they don't submit the google form to me before class the next day then they lose 30 points on their assignment!  That is our school policy anyway.  If they turn in a homework assignment late then it starts at a 70.

Since I have been "flipping" for a few months now, I really want to explore a mastery grading system.

Math Mistakes

I recently read about the blog Math Mistakes where you can submit a math mistake that was made on a math problem and then people can submit ideas on why the mistake was made and how to help the student!  I think this is a great teaching tool!!  I then read on another blog (can't remember which one) about an activity where students work a problem on a white board and make a mistake on purpose, then students do a gallery walk of the problems and have to write about where the mistake is made and how to fix it.  I love it!!  I am going to try this soon in my classes!

Oh the places you'll go...

About a month ago, I came up with the idea that I would post College acceptance letters of my Seniors.  It has been wonderful seeing the success and my underclassmen have been asking lots of questions about things they can do now to be better prepared to apply for college!  GREAT!!