{"id":1388,"date":"2023-04-07T01:01:58","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T20:01:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rileymath.com\/?page_id=1388"},"modified":"2023-04-27T19:38:15","modified_gmt":"2023-04-27T14:38:15","slug":"my-blank-canvas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rileymath.com\/index.php\/my-blank-canvas\/","title":{"rendered":"My Blank Canvas"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Taking over a Middle School Math Class in April<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Well, Here I am again. \u00a0When will I learn? \u00a0I actually retired from the classroom in the spring of 2022. \u00a0And ONE YEAR LATER, I am back in the classroom again. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Here’s what happened:<\/p>\n

After retiring, I started this blog and began presenting at conferences. \u00a0(Six in 2022). But no one wanted PD. \u00a0No one would pay me to help them build a state of the art math program in their school. \u00a0So in February, I started subbing to make a few extra dollars to fill in the gaps in my budget. \u00a0But I ended up subbing for a week or two for a class that had not had a teacher since December. \u00a0Those kids needed a math teacher. \u00a0So I talked to the Principal about getting rehired for the rest of the year. \u00a0A tough challenge, but I felt it was worth it to make some money and teach some deserving kids.I went off to Costa Rica for a month and came back to start on April 4th. \u00a0I knew that I would need to be very strict with classroom discipline in order to get the environment I needed to have a Project-Based Classroom. \u00a0I am going to add to this blog every day as either a victory story or a lesson on what not to do. \u00a0My ultimate goal is to paint a masterpiece and get an opportunity to be the middle-school math instructional coach for the four new middle schools that will open in 2024. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

April 4th:<\/p>\n

I created an essential agreement for the class as follows:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Essential Classroom agreement<\/span><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Raise your hand to contribute to the conversation<\/span><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Stay in your seat unless you have permission<\/span><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Respect and listen to your classmates<\/span><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Respect and listen to the teacher<\/span><\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Be prepared for class (Book, Notebook and writing utensil)<\/span><\/p>\n

6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Be quiet during announcements<\/span><\/p>\n

7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Respect and care for school property<\/span><\/p>\n

8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Clean and Reset the classroom at the end of class for the next class<\/span><\/p>\n

9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>No horsing around or running in the classroom<\/span><\/p>\n

10.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Use classroom materials properly<\/span><\/p>\n

11.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>No food or drink in the classroom<\/span><\/p>\n

12.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Use proper study team practices. (Do your job well)<\/span><\/p>\n

13.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Follow instructions the first time they are given<\/span><\/p>\n

14.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Use positive and appropriate language<\/span><\/p>\n

15.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Be engaged in class activities and study team work<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I went through it with the students\u00a0<\/span>starting<\/span>\u00a0with the rules I expected them to violate during the reading of the rules. \u00a0And they did not\u00a0<\/span>disappoint, They argued an screamed at every rule and would not stop arguing. \u00a0So I started taking names for our “silent reflective” lunch. \u00a0I thought of it as lunch detention, but it was a lunch period where I joined them for lunch and sat with them in silence. \u00a014 students during the first 8th grade math period.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

My essential agreement tends to lean towards rules that are easy to adjudicate. \u00a0For example: \u00a0If they are out of their seat without permission, that was an automatic. \u00a0If they dropped the F-bomb, that was an automatic<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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April 14 – Yesterday, I began chapter 5 in CPM Algebra, CPM CC3 and CPM CC2. \u00a0My goal was to try and introduce some structure to the class along with some homework (check your understanding) problems for them to work on. \u00a0I purchased a Composition Notebook for every student and handed them out. \u00a0Today, I collected the notebooks to look at and see how they are working. \u00a0I noticed that in each class students are identifying the study team roles and know what their roles are. \u00a0This is progress. \u00a0This weekend I am hoping to come in and attach the rolly desks into groups of four. \u00a0I will also put up enough white boards for each group. \u00a0<\/p>\n

It seems like progress is being made, but some students are very resistant to any change. \u00a0Today I had one student who was loud and offensive. \u00a0She used the N word many times and yelled at me that she would not do as I asked. \u00a0Some girls at her table were playing music on their laptops when they were supposed to be doing a DESMOS activity (Marble Slides). \u00a0I approached the table to stop the musics and get them back on task. \u00a0This student became argumentative and again used inappropriate language. \u00a0I confiscated her laptop and she became irate and out of control. \u00a0I called her Mom. \u00a0Her mom talked to her daughter and them chewed me out. \u00a0I thanked her for her support and got off the phone.<\/p>\n

We will have a meeting next week to find a solution. \u00a0This student has one of the worst attitudes I have seem. \u00a0But any progress at all will help the class. \u00a0So good news. \u00a0This weekend will be me setting up my classroom and Monday I will have my first seating chart. \u00a0Many of them will have a meltdown and refuse to sit where they are assigned. \u00a0We will see what happens.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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April 27 –  I remade the desk centerpieces to hold four desks into a group.  They are sitting in groups, but they don’t like it.  It occurs to me that, if I had started with these methods in August instead of April, they would not complain about it.  Middle school students do not like change.  So I have to use all my management skills to help them accept the changes we need to get to an effective project-based math class.  We are now doing testing, so I won’t be able to guide them for the next week.  I also disassembled the tables so that the desks could be moved for individual testing.  Next weekend, I will put them back and add numbers to the tables.  The I will start doing CPM units with a BTC flavor.  I will share how the lessons go.  I only have four weeks left for them to explore Quadratic Equations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Taking over a Middle School Math Class in April Well, Here I am again. \u00a0When will I learn? \u00a0I actually retired from the classroom in the spring of 2022. \u00a0And ONE YEAR LATER, I am back in the classroom again. \u00a0 Here’s what happened: After retiring, I started this blog and began presenting at conferences. 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