Clik here to view.
2-7-11
I know that "they" say not to talk over people when teaching/giving instructions, but I think I'm going to leave room for on-task chit chat. At any rate, I'm done with sucking all the fun out of 8th...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Convert Keynote to Powerpoint
Hello edublogosphere,My colleagues and I have recently taken our collaboration to a new level through dropbox. We are ecstatic and encourage all teachers to give it a looksee if you haven't...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Zoom In: Do Now
I borrowed a page out of Mr. G's book -- literally, more or less -- and made Do Now sheets for the students that they could hold on to for the week. Until recently, I collected half sheets of Do Nows...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Budget Cuts as Personal
I watch the news. I see the protests. I've participated. I have the discussions and read the articles. In the past two years, I've had new hires become friends... and then watched them become latest...
View ArticleClik here to view.
3-3-11
Each time that I post my mini-goal for the day, I am usually able to finish my day in a hopeful mood. So let's go.Today, I will do a better job of setting my students up for success in their Exit Slip....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Old School Tricks/New School Application
Even though, I've studied self-fulfilling prophecies before, sometimes it takes a certain context to facilitate new ideas. I just started reading Outliers. You know you are a science dork, by the way...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Past Midnight Meanderings
I was on campus until 5 today. I got home and graded for 3 hours. I made phone calls home to about 20 parents. It's a lil' past midnight now and I am not fully prepared for tomorrow's lesson(s) - (2...
View ArticleClik here to view.
"Letter to a Young Teacher"
Yesterday was a bad teaching day on oh-so-many levels. I'm talking kids out of their seats, chasing each other, cussing each other out... Never again. Never, never again will I let things get to that...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Good Day Sunshine
OK, so there is no sunshine to speak of in Berkeley, but today was a good day!I’m glad for it, too, because yesterday was such a bad day. I was “putting out fires” for most of the period and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How to Employ Student Potential
A student asks "Ey G, can I erase the whiteboard?" In past years, I'd be reluctant. After all, the whiteboard is sacred teacher space. This year, though, I've allowed myself to trust: "Sure, go ahead."...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Morning of the CST
We had an advisory period before today's math CST. The team decided to provide the kids with last minute review and tips. Each teacher would provide slides for their subject's test. Given that I won't...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Help Wanted: How Do I Create Learning Opportunities for Students Who Need it...
One problem I've been struggling with lately is that I noticed that my students can be divided up into the following student categories:= = =Student Type 1: I understand the material and I just got a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Cogs and the Difference-Makers
Casual Conversations about Teaching. Him:"Wow, you want to teach in New York and D.C? Those are some tough areas. You know that those districts and cities are so big that you probably aren't actually...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Compliments and Middle School Teachers
I had an evaluation meeting with my supervisor and colleague about my performance as a student teacher. One of the things said about me during the meeting was, "she has such a middle school...
View ArticleClik here to view.
6th Grade Wows and Wonders in East Oakland
I love teaching science to middle school because middle school kids still love science. There is still very little science-phobia in middle school, especially with 6th graders. They feed their natural...
View ArticleClik here to view.
count me in for year five
Hello world,Here's another apology note to the edublogosphere. I'm still around, and I'm still learning from you. I'm still thankful for you. This year, I teach a new prep (advanced algebra), and it...
View ArticleClik here to view.
school spirit
During my first three years, I had a hard policy against dress-up days. How I dress is connected to how the students respect me. Therefore, I must always dress professionally and never silly.Twin day?...
View ArticleClik here to view.
pencil policy - first two years vs second two years
My first two years - "Nothing should ever prevent a student from learning in my class. If they need a pencil, I will provide it. No questions asked. I won't hassle them or nothin'. You're in this class...
View ArticleClik here to view.
165+ one-on-one interactions daily
Previous roommateships would have me awake and out the door by 7am, home by 6pm, grading and lesson planning until I'm burning the midnight oil while fellow roommate could easily sleep in til' 7:30 or...
View ArticleClik here to view.
the 65 hour work week
The summer before my senior year of college, I interned for breakthrough collaborative. The program places college students as teachers to low-income middle school students. The experience is a post in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
math teacher's response to @kanyewest
Updated: 1/8/12I've struggled more and more so with the question: "what's the point?" I read articles upon articles about curriculum reform and I listen to strategists and TED speakers debate about...
View ArticleClik here to view.
i want a math classroom full of life.
In this 5th year, the classroom that excites me the most are the ones where genuine student interaction is commonplace. It's a classroom where students share their thinking with other students, so they...
View ArticleClik here to view.
@igarrovillas on twitter
Hi all,I know I'm in-and-out of the edublogosphere in terms of posts. But I'm always reading and learning and growing from you and your blogs. I'm also doing it on the edutweetosphere. I've decided to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Many Reasons Why Good Teachers Leave the Classroom
A teacher friend invited me to Disneyland after my third year of teaching. His co-worker had won tickets off the radio and they had a few extra to spare. Good times.It just so happened that all the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Teacherpeneur - Part Teacher / Part Everything Else
What if Arne Duncan taught in the morning?Nothing will ever take away my respect for a teacher, especially a great teacher. But, it's undeniable that something is missing when one's leaves the...
View Article