tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post8425714111779337120..comments2024-03-22T13:39:55.941-07:00Comments on Math Mama Writes...: Middle of the Night, Stuck in a Bad PlaceSue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-57524511412168010462010-10-10T06:27:04.496-07:002010-10-10T06:27:04.496-07:00Thank you for writing about your struggles. It...Thank you for writing about your struggles. It's so helpful to know that other teachers are having a hard time at this time of year too. We all begin the semester with so much excitement and things often seem to go so well at first. I often find late-Sept and early-Oct to be a challenging time. It's helpful to see that that's the case for other teachers out in the blog-o-sphere. It helps me to feel much less alone.Jasminehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14163491309269691356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-72408441531214184392010-10-03T14:50:23.261-07:002010-10-03T14:50:23.261-07:00Owen, call me anytime to talk about classroom stuf...Owen, call me anytime to talk about classroom stuff. I'd love to have that conversation.<br /><br />Jennifer, I think those were hugs you put around my name. Thank you! If you saw my post from yesterday, you know I've been looking at some of the good things too. But of course I'm still concerned about the class that's caused me all this difficulty. I have another post in mind, about 'power over', but it will take some time to write that one.Sue VanHattumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-19416232367745626572010-10-03T09:53:47.661-07:002010-10-03T09:53:47.661-07:00Sue,
I just saw this post today.
Since I'm n...Sue,<br /><br />I just saw this post today.<br /><br />Since I'm not in a classroom yet, I don't have any advice, but wanted to add my voice to the chorus, saying it's obvious you are a good teacher. <br /><br />A bad teacher would have chalked up the failures and moved on without reviewing.<br /><br />((((Sue)))) I hope you feel better.Ms. Wagnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11688130508222303784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-35229158841393224292010-10-01T07:05:25.397-07:002010-10-01T07:05:25.397-07:00stunning post.
no... let me rephrase.
*insipring* ...stunning post.<br />no... let me rephrase.<br />*insipring* post.<br /><br />"how does it feel to be the teacher?"--<br />there's only a few of (ahem) us<br />with the gonads (ordinarily i'd've<br />said "yarbles", but see <a href="http://researchinpractice.wordpress.com/2010/09/02/why-do-i-think-sam-shah-is-dope/" rel="nofollow">this thread</a><br />in ben blum-smith's [astonishing]<br />_research_in_practice_) to take <br />this as our topic and use examples<br />from our current practice.<br />brazen and j. spencer come to<br />mind (and this is high praise).<br /><br />yay sue v.!<br /><br />meanwhile my class (first in over a year)<br />is ripping me up emotionally; hints at<br />certain details may or may not emerge<br />in MEZB. it's great to be back so don't<br />get me wrong. but who do you *talk*<br />to? g-d bless this world wide web.owen thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09249915192605437832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-59110208365774873392010-09-30T14:30:43.915-07:002010-09-30T14:30:43.915-07:00Mary, I love that song, thanks!
And thank you bot...Mary, I love that song, thanks!<br /><br />And thank you both, Doug and Butterfly. It was good to see these replies when I woke up.<br /><br />It's been a mixed day today. My first class went fine, and at the end one student was in tears (happy tears) because she's had to drop the class at this point multiple times before, and she passed parts of the test, and only needs to redo a couple of problem types. I told her another student (the one who's always encouraging others) needs her help now. <br /><br />The next class saw all that happen, and we proceeded on our way. About 5 people walked out at different times before class was over. I have no idea why, and I struggled to ignore it. (What else can I do?) <br /><br />I was explaining about thinking of slope as rate of change and using units, and writing full sentences to explain what it means. One student told me afterward it was a wonderful lecture. Lots of emotion today. I got lots of gratitude for what I'm helping them with, and I sure appreciate it.<br /><br />This week is almost over, and I'll try to get ready to come to the next week with some good ideas.Sue VanHattumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-62609497336522785892010-09-30T06:52:02.657-07:002010-09-30T06:52:02.657-07:00Hang in there--your heart is clearly in the right ...Hang in there--your heart is clearly in the right place!<br /><br />Here is a song I like to listen to when I get discouraged:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u90qRE2F7CM&feature=relatedMary O'Keeffehttp://albanyareamathcircle.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-90160928877246761782010-09-30T05:58:46.341-07:002010-09-30T05:58:46.341-07:00Reading what you've written today, and previou...Reading what you've written today, and previously, I'm sure you are one of the good teachers, and I'd hazard a guess perhaps among the best ... you obviously care!! <br /><br />I hope you get a good rest and feel less distressed tomorrow. Maybe define a few goals for them if you haven't. Not always knowing how to respond to attitudes and behaviour issues perplexes me too, so I look forward to reading other responses. I hope you do find some solutions ... maybe a play-based lesson as you suggested would be the answer.<br /><br />I did a few quick searches, and these ideas may be a bit simplistic but I wanted to send some encouragement :)<br /><br />http://theapple.monster.com/training/articles/122-50-actions-that-will-grab-your-students-attention<br /><br />http://www.4faculty.org/includes/108r2.jsp<br /><br />http://712educators.about.com/od/teachertips/a/teaching_exp.htmButterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04696049648997719529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-56397342975174010682010-09-30T05:58:37.152-07:002010-09-30T05:58:37.152-07:00This happens to me more often than I like to admit...This happens to me more often than I like to admit. One thing I've tried, to see if the trouble students had was with the math, or reading the math test itself is to change the values in the problems, and give the test again - orally. I read it aloud, and it has made a big difference in outcomes. <br /><br />Losing sleep over these things sucks, but I'd be bored with any job that never kept me up at night.Doug Noonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13407946361739255563noreply@blogger.com