A happy, happy place to learn math...
This is my twentieth year teaching!!! I am in utter shock! How did this happen!! The first kids I taught are now in their mid-thirties!! I have a daughter who is a high school graduate (from King George no less!) My career is (likely) half-over already!! Unbelievable!
Ah well, time flies when you are having fun I suppose. I feel so lucky to have a job that I love. I still feel like I am learning lots (and, hopefully, helping others learn a little too).
I'm thankful, as well, to have ended up at King George. Such a great school! Perfect size! Good teachers. Awesome kids! Yes, it has it's challenges (like all the pencils I lend out and never get back) but there is no other school that I would want to be at.
Here are my goals for this year:
Feeling lazy so the rest of this intro is the same as last year. SORRY but it's some pretty inspired writing. Enjoy it again!
Hopefully, you will find the videos just as helpful this year. But remember, in spite of all the stellar content on this site, the key to your success in Math class this year is… YOU!
Your recipe for success in math class is - SURPRISE! - the same as the recipe for success in all areas of your life. And good news! It's only a two-step process (soooo easy to remember)!!!
I'm not saying that it will always be easy, but your plan for success in Math class is THAT simple.
Understand?
Ah well, time flies when you are having fun I suppose. I feel so lucky to have a job that I love. I still feel like I am learning lots (and, hopefully, helping others learn a little too).
I'm thankful, as well, to have ended up at King George. Such a great school! Perfect size! Good teachers. Awesome kids! Yes, it has it's challenges (like all the pencils I lend out and never get back) but there is no other school that I would want to be at.
Here are my goals for this year:
- teach Math 8 and 9 using MYP completely. I'm looking forward to coming up with some interesting assessment projects for both of these classes.
- use more problem solving in all of my classes
- emphasize estimating as a valuable, "real-life" skill in all my classes
- improve the finance section in my Foundations 12 class (ran out of time last year)
- learn some more computer programming
- not allow any gossip in my classroom (of / by students or teachers!)
- laugh lots and be kind always
Feeling lazy so the rest of this intro is the same as last year. SORRY but it's some pretty inspired writing. Enjoy it again!
Hopefully, you will find the videos just as helpful this year. But remember, in spite of all the stellar content on this site, the key to your success in Math class this year is… YOU!
Your recipe for success in math class is - SURPRISE! - the same as the recipe for success in all areas of your life. And good news! It's only a two-step process (soooo easy to remember)!!!
- Work hard / try. Incredible how this step seems to improve your chances for success! Who would have guessed?! Basically, I am asking you to do your homework (and do it on time). In fact, if you work hard IN class, you may have very little homework at all! And we all know what less homework means: more time for our amazing bottle-cap collections!!
- Be responsible. Although it may seem like it is my fault (or your parent's, friend's, gerbil's, etc.) that you are failing math / falling behind on your homework / having no success in your love-life, you will have a lot more power in your life if you take responsibility for what is going on in it. You will move from the passive / helpless / victim world to the "at-cause" / "in-charge" / "taking-action" realm. This is a lovely place to reside! So... when you are having difficulties in Math, get assistance as soon as possible!! "Assistance" might mean asking a friend, re-watching a video, using the forum, or even asking ME! Although I may look like a snooty world-class fashion model I am actually very approachable (a very approachable dork, in fact). Come and talk to me about your concerns / ideas / complaints and we can work together to figure something out.
I'm not saying that it will always be easy, but your plan for success in Math class is THAT simple.
Understand?
