tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-217943822024-03-13T15:20:06.493-07:00Groupwork, Grading, and Geometry - oh my!The State of California has licensed me to hold the future in my hands.Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.comBlogger366125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-82007055857591038772013-12-25T22:45:00.000-08:002013-12-25T22:45:18.280-08:00Year in Review
XKCD posted my year end review for me. Iceland, I may never forgive you.Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-13312531947059610332013-08-26T19:58:00.000-07:002013-08-26T20:05:28.985-07:00First Day of Not SchoolLast night I had trouble sleeping. I had a bad stomach ache last night and this morning I woke up about an hour before my alarm went off and couldn't fall back asleep to save my life. Pretty common for the first day of school. Teaching-related sleep anxiety has been a staple of my August-June life for the past six years.
But today was different. It was indeed the first day of school in my Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-911505520623876252013-03-16T13:47:00.001-07:002013-08-26T20:06:54.599-07:00The Purple BinderYesterday a couple of students came into my class, saying they had been sent by their teacher to retrieve his Purple Binder. It took me a second--the only binder I'd borrowed from that teacher was a binder he probably wouldn't need, especially not in the middle of class. Then I remembered what the Purple Binder contains: the greatest classroom management strategy in the world.
You know those Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-78509317141095955962013-02-21T17:42:00.000-08:002013-08-26T20:06:05.157-07:00The Wrong SimilieO: Can I go to the bathroom?
Me: Do you have a bathroom pass?
O: But your eyes! Your eyes are as blue as the deep blue ocean.
Me: You still need a pass. And your sucking up doesn't even make sense because I have brown eyes.
O: Oops, I mean, your eyes are as brown as the stain on my--
Me: That's supposed to flatter me?
O: Wait! I wasn't going to say 'underwear'!Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-18540595479938912282013-02-11T21:14:00.002-08:002013-08-26T20:06:11.900-07:00The Next Fox News AnchorI know teachers aren't supposed to have favorites, but N. happens to be one of mine. He has an unbelievably quick and sharp wit. I know I can always count on him for a perfectly-timed smart remark.
The other day he was working on homework in my room after school and was whining about not wanting to do the problems and arguing (in a nice way) about why they weren't worth doing. He Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-56545290251990670072013-01-19T15:21:00.001-08:002013-08-26T20:06:38.944-07:00I choose C.This video is so out-of-touch. The other day I overheard a group of principals talking about how "A" is the new "C" for multiple choice tests. This girl should choose A.
I am teaching full-on CAHSEE prep right now. It is the worst teaching I have ever done. And this is what it will lead to.Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-47259081042314497032012-12-03T19:55:00.000-08:002012-12-03T20:02:39.387-08:00At least one kid got itFrom the one student's "About the Author" section of a recent project in my class:
"I am the type of person who doesn't typically ask questions when I am confused on the subject, however, after doing this certification [project], I learned that sitting there and copying things off the board doesn't help me learn and I would always not understand things that we were learning. So, I Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-81773842014804836482012-11-24T16:04:00.001-08:002012-11-24T16:04:25.875-08:00Thoughts from Ann ArborIn no particular order:
"There is a lot of neon along I-94."
"This grocery store has so many preservatives."
"Since when did girls wear tube dresses to Charley's? In my day we saved 'dressing up' for Rick's."
"Do I pick up a Michigan accent when I'm back here?"
"I'm glad I went to college in the era when dressing up meant black pants and a tank top."
"Is that a typo or is beer really that Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-81345359820378044072012-11-09T09:03:00.000-08:002012-12-03T19:56:26.375-08:00HashtagI've gotten into the habit of ending every test/quiz with the question "What do you want your teacher to know about how you're feeling right now?" It brings out some good responses that I think kids might be willing to say out loud or approach me with in person.
Yesterday a girl concluded her response to this question with "#justsaying." I hope this means she's tweeting about geometry class. I Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-13682056179772855542012-11-05T22:52:00.000-08:002012-11-05T22:52:12.752-08:00Election WisdomToday at lunch, one of my students was trying to convince me to vote for Romney.
N.'s reasoning: "He has such a cool name! I mean 'President Romney'? Doesn't that sound cool?"
Me: "You mean 'President Obama' doesn't sound cool?
N: "And look at his hair. Romney has such good hair."
Me: "I don't think good hair is an indication that someone will be a good president."
N: "All the good presidents Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-19639835299359890012012-09-22T16:50:00.003-07:002012-09-22T16:50:42.073-07:00Thank You, Paul ToughI spend a lot of time reading education books, attending education talks, and generally trying to access and think about big ideas in education. While I like spending time with all of these ideas, it's rare that the ideas feel new. Even when an author's perspective deeply resonates with me, it usually feels like another iteration of the same old idea.* However, Paul Tough is now two for two in Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-68732762269003789902012-09-19T21:10:00.000-07:002012-11-09T09:04:01.147-08:00Is this why there are casual Fridays? From a student today:
"Ms. L., I think you're in a better mood when you wear jeans."Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-88689545002510095322012-08-29T22:12:00.002-07:002012-08-29T22:12:57.058-07:00Low Expectations vs. Realistic ExpectationsOf the many education quotes and adages I have floating around my head, one that consistently surfaces is George W. Bush's description of "the soft bigotry of low expectations." What does it mean when I have low expectations of a student? I see it sending two messages: (1) You're not smart enough to meet the high expectations that you see me holding other students to. (2) I've given up on you. Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-87335707861569511882012-08-26T22:03:00.002-07:002012-08-26T22:04:16.156-07:00T-minus one sleepSeems like this is the right time to blog; tomorrow is my first day with students at a new school.
Things I'm feeling nervous about:
I don't understand tomorrow's bell schedule.
I somehow ended up with an advisory when I didn't think I was supposed to have one.
WHAT DO I DO WITH SIXTH GRADERS???? They are so small.
When my principal handed me my rosters, there is a student whose Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-51192541496592043722012-08-20T23:52:00.000-07:002012-08-20T23:52:37.852-07:00Diversity MattersIt's too obvious of a statement to say that my new job is different from my old one. Of course it is--I'm in a new role, a new city, a new type of school and district, a new set of educational priorities, and a whole host of other things. I switched jobs precisely because I wanted something different. But there's a difference that I keep noticing that I didn't really think about when searching Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-65066688364475439722012-08-06T21:22:00.002-07:002012-08-06T21:22:25.115-07:00Southwest Road TripBetter late than never.
Seeing as how it's taken me over a month to get this uploaded, you'll just have to click on the slideshow and individual pictures to see the captions/explanations.
Still, here are some highlights. To keep it brief, I summarized the trip in haiku.
Long drive to Laughlin
Casino is depressing
Won some major bank
Happy birthday, me
Route 66: dry, kitschy
Grand Canyon isGeethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-77627518195470432262012-06-23T09:24:00.000-07:002012-06-23T09:24:00.489-07:00Graduation GogglesIn season 6, episode 20 of the sage TV show "How I Met Your Mother," Robin describes the phenomenon of "graduation goggles," those nostalgic rose-colored glasses you get when about to end a life situation or phase, even if you know that phase was pretty terrible. Even if high school was nothing but bullies and insecurity, right before it ends you can't help thinking that you don't want to go. Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-29636665866886450722012-06-05T23:35:00.001-07:002012-06-05T23:35:57.574-07:00Check OneOne point of contention for people of mixed race heritage has always been racial reporting on demographic surveys. From my own personal experience and from hearing the stories of many, many others, I know that there is always a strange, uncomfortable feeling that wells up whenever I am asked to report my race. It's not that I'm opposed to collection of demographics--in fact, I feel proud and Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-36970656277453761412012-05-14T21:16:00.000-07:002012-05-14T21:16:03.479-07:00Super Cute
One of my favorite things about my school is that we have spirit day every Friday. Last week, each mentor group got to choose their own theme. Usually my mentor group (thorough all fault of my own) lacks spirit when it comes to this sort of thing, but this time they were all in. (Maybe because they know that spirit days are one of my favorite things ever?) We voted on a superhero theme, so E. Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-54508545250493997262012-04-22T10:31:00.001-07:002012-04-22T10:31:11.847-07:00What is... awesome?Most of my celebrity crushes fall along the usual hot movie star lines, but somehow I developed a massive crush on one skinny, blonde, Mormon trivia nerd. So imagine my delight when I found out that Ken Jennings was speaking about his new book, Maphead, in Oakland.
Morgan and I with my hero:
Best autograph ever:
Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-41768461962846311282012-03-20T19:15:00.000-07:002012-04-22T10:34:02.800-07:00Another Addition to the Banned ListAwhile back I wrote a post detailing some of the phrases and teaching strategies I would like to see banned from our nation's math classrooms. There are always little things that make me wonder why a teacher chose a certain strategy ("When you multiply by 1 it stays the same because 1 looks like a mirror, so it reflects back the number." Do you think that kids couldn't reason out why multiplying Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-18728124780542606602012-03-14T22:09:00.001-07:002012-03-14T22:45:40.064-07:00Happy HolidayAbout a month ago, I got this in the mail:
Unfortunately, I did not heed the urgency of Atlas Pen & Pencil Corp's envelope and once again Pi Day has snuck up on me before I even realized it. But thanks to the nerdy blogs I read and even nerdier company I keep, next yet I will be prepared with an arsenal of Pi Day-related fun. Here, for your celebratory enjoyment:
This is so freaking cool.Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-60060489862389739452011-12-26T15:12:00.000-08:002011-12-26T15:12:31.159-08:00A Terrifying RealizationI have not left the country in almost 18 months.
Life just starts passing you by and all of a sudden there you are, your passport glaringly devoid of stamps. My passport is not even taunting me because it's buried in a drawer somewhere. Drastic times may call for drastic flight itineraries.
I could use a little of this right about now:
Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-20330132652690557542011-12-20T14:11:00.001-08:002011-12-20T14:16:01.994-08:00Sometimes high schoolers are cuteI already gave my final exam, so there is now some down time for my kids who don't also take algebra. I had nothing planned for today, so I broke out the pattern blocks. This group decided they wanted to work together to make one giant, cooperative pattern.
Now they are sitting in almost complete silence, completely engrossed. Every once in awhile they discuss what color or shape to place Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21794382.post-52204011391665267892011-11-22T23:19:00.001-08:002012-01-17T22:02:42.730-08:00Who Can't?There was an interesting letter published recently from members of the Palo Alto High School math department about why they disagree with the proposed change to their graduation requirements that all students pass algebra 2. While I am disturbed by the tone of their letter and some of its implications, I will say that I sympathize with what they're dealing with because lately I have been Geethahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14140515749725400012noreply@blogger.com2