Lakewood 7th grade math teaching goals

Lakewood 7^th Grade

Teaching Goals

2013-14

The following is a short list of educational goals that we want to achieve this school year.

INCREASE TEACHER MATH KNOWLEDGE

            We have spent a boatload of time this summer tearing apart the math common core standards.  Not just our grade (7^th), but all grade levels from k to 8.  As we enter the school year we feel as prepared as any school year.  We want continue adding to math knowledge as the year progresses.  We are currently taking the Stanford math class with Jo Boaler which has been very enjoyable.

INCREASE STUDENTS INTERST IN MATH

            A key goal every year for our 7^th grade team in to increase the student’s enthusiasm for math.  We pride ourselves on being unique and creative.  Our DeMATHa (Developmental MATH Academy) Program allows us the freedom to experiment.  Whether it’s our sidewalk probability game or our legendary Khan Academy “WRATH OF KHAN” contest (khantest?) we want to push ourselves to be innovative.

CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HANDS ON ACTIVITIES

            Even though we have two or three epic projects each year, we feel like this is an area that we could make tremendous strides.  We want to focus on having a minimum of one hands on project each week.

INCREASE PARENT/STUDENT/TEACHER COMMNUICATION

            We have used our monthly math newsletter for the last three years.  We will continue the newsletter, but we will supplement with a Twitter account, Pinterest page and a Tumblr page.  A major area of weakness for us has been calling (or emailing or writing) parents when students do something positive in class.  This too will become a weekly goal.

INCREASE STUDENT KNOWLEGDE AND PERFORMANCE

            Bottom line, when the year is done we will be judged by the student’s progress.  For over 7 years we have achieved the highest level of value added in Ohio.  What is nice about each school year is the opportunity to make an impact on a new group of students. 

 

Todd Hawk is a middle school math teacher and the co-founder of the Land of Math website (www.landofmath.com). You can reach him at landofmath2@gmail.com or follow him on twitter: @landofmath2

Don't fall for the seduction of the 1 cent pencil

The summer is wrapping up and the school year is about ready to kick off in full force.  This is the time of the year that is filled with optimism and excitement. Everything starts over.  Students get to meet new teachers, teachers get a new batch of students and parents get a chance to regain their sanity.

Despite all these warm and cuddly feelings that surround the start of school I am dreading another yearly tradition: parents buying their kids crappy pencils.

Don’t get me wrong, I to have been seduced by the allure of the 1 cent pack of pencils at Staples (or Wal-Mart, Kmart, etc.). As a parent you feel good about making such a wise purchase. After all a pencil is just a pencil.

“No so fast my friend,” to quote Lee Corso, the legendary football analyst from College Game Day (and Director of Business Development for Dixon Ticonderoga pencil company).  Pencils are NOT all the same and it DOES make a difference.