Blackboard Notes

Matthileo CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Invariably, when you try to take on too many jobs at once, such as working a business (which I've had to put aside temporarily--though it surprised me how many students were interested that I sold protein?!?), tutoring, working as a full time long term substitute (say that 3 times), and also working as lead math teacher for SOCRATES, AND taking my kids where ever they need to go...you lose track of some of your old routines...like blogging. I've been having a blast working in an Iowa school district (remember I got my licensure for Iowa this year, as well as Tennessee and Florida), but not in math...in Spanish!  Espanol! When I talked about COMMUNICATING last time, I didn't think I'd have to be doing that in another language, but it's been pretty fun!  Right now I'm working on a project drastically different than what they may be used to in that class, but it seems they're doing great --  The only downside is that now I have ...

Since this is one of the points of the blog, seems that it's worth writing about (given the amount of void I've put between posts).  It seems that Math and World Languages have a common trait; they seem foreign to most people.  Therefore it's good to talk about communication. This goes on more than just telling your own children, "So how did it go today?"  I'll guarantee that if that's a filler for conversation, DON't expect honesty from your children (or last least expect 1-2 syllable answers).  Realizing this can be a slippery slope topic, let me break it down (chk-chk-a). If you really want to communicate, you may need some "translation" skills.  This isn't trying to change math words and symbols into equations; I'm talking about real dialogue, especially with teens whose world has been kidnapped by the technology bandits (cell phones, iPads, anything that can detract attention from those around them).  They're facing more ...

Tis the season to be resourceful!  has become my motto for this month. As I continue to do work with Online Teaching Associates,    Sophia , and SOCRATES online , I'm amazed by the progress and quickness of change that happens within each of those environments.  It also seems that the quicker the change, the more time I need to respond, train, and be able to adapt. As I reflect on that, I wonder how students are adapting to the tools that can be used to help them; it also makes me wonder "Are we training them with the right content to respond to the needs of the 21st Century?"  In many schools, I still see a production-like template of the class.  A creative teacher will create a creative lesson...sounds redundant but true.  If you've been following Will Richardson 's blog (and tweets ) then you'll get the same impression that we're tacking on, not really innovating.  Students who strive will continue to strive in life; students who cheat will ...

Wow, one can definitely get overloaded with the stuff that's out there.  If you are a beginner blogger, for example, I would follow Will Richardson 's blog on how to read and write blogs.  If you are big into education and want to keep on top some of what other's in tech ed are doing, check blogs out like Sue Waters (and now Ronnie Burt) Edublogger.   If you want free stuff to use in the classroom (or for students in general), goto Richard Byrne's Free Technology for Teachers . Now like Richard comes clean with disclaimers, as should I.  Lately I've been working with a group called SOCRATES (South Central Regional Area Telecommunications System, whew!), providing educational consulting in Mathematics.  Also lately, I'm doing some work with Sophia.org as a Math Reviewer.  I'm not being paid to write the following.  So with that said, I have some stuff to "say about that." This blog is about communicating math, right?  So equally important is com...

Before I start, let me really, really, (did I say really?) encourage you to go to this article A New Age for Algebra , by Lindsay Oishi.  Sure it's got some of the same stuff that you have heard already, but it really hits home how much we NEED to support our educators, and not reduce them to budget cut decisions, or "not right fits" because of personality or pedagogical differences. In the monthly newsletter, Summing Up , NCTM President J. Michael Shaughnessy addresses in his editorial, Let's not Forget Geometry! , that Geometry is just as important as Algebra, but tends to get shoved to the side.  Though not necessarily in favor of a CORE+ style delivery of mathematics, I do think that the Integrated Mathematics approach helps balance this load. I have to say I agree with the comments Shaughnessy makes. Even as an Algebra teacher, I was not hog wild about math until I took Geometry.  That cued me into my other areas of learning, as I am very much a visual (and t...

I know what your thinking . . . and you're right (borrowed that from Thomas Magnum, for you eighties fans).  When ever someone starts off with those three words, it's about whatever the Writer feels is the coolest thing, sometimes not the audience. But recently I just test drove a new web based app called Knovio .  It works similar to some of the more expensive apps like Echo 360 (minus a window).  The power of this app comes from the ability to video record the presenter while slides are being presented.  It's assuming you have a power point file to upload, so make sure all your slides are in a .ppt file or maybe save your Google present as one (I never tried that functionality yet). Here's how I did it:  I used a template of slides from PresenterMedia (comes with Office 2010).  I put in my info on the slides with a picture I took of a library door.  Then I set up a script board using topics I wanted to talk about for each slide, basically...

I've taken a break from my normal "webbing" activities to get a focus on what I want to do next.  It seems that my skills don't match up with the archaic designs of our current school system structure (plus my turnover doesn't help either).  It seems like the schools NEED someone like me to get their own districts up to the current 21st century, but there's both overhead and infrastructure barriers that prevent them from doing this. Many animal activists groups call it "inhumane" if we were to let a dying dog live in suffering if no remedy can elongate its life.  Yet in our current society, the powers that be are quite willing to let the suffering of the current system go on.  My personal opinion on that rests with those that have a "gravy train" of funds or income which would disappear when the system gets a reboot, and trying to ride that train for as long as it will run.  My other reasons I'll leave for you to guess because it'...