Am I really implementing Common Core Standards?

How are the new Common Core Standards going to change my mathematics classroom?  This is a question that I struggled with for months.  It took a while for me to even figure out what the heck these new standards meant!  While I was focused on the “Content Standards” I finally realized the key is the “Practice Standards.”   These eight standards are the same for grades K-12.  Their center is a student-focused classroom, built on students uncovering mathematical concepts.  The teacher is not the focus. The teacher is there to guide students as they travel down the conceptual paths.  I finally figured out the CCS is not just about what to teach, but how to teach.

I designed a rubric (attached below) for teachers to self-evaluate implementation of the Common Core ideals specified in the Practice Standards.  I have evaluated myself and been evaluated by peers, and each time I learned ways in which I can do better. 

I do not think it is possible to implement the Common Core Standards and ideals without rigorous self-evaluation.  Hopefully, this can help other teachers implement the Mathematics Practice Standards which is the very fabric of the Common Core Standards.

30. Final Exam

Three things I was introduced to in this class:
I believe I could list 30, but here are the three that stuck out to me the most.
1. Animoto.  I love this! I made one for my class last week.  I will use this periodically use this to create motivational videos and informative videos for parents.
2. Moodle.  I am looking forward to my next two Samford classes being on Moodle so I can become even more familiar with this.
3. Podcasts.  I am excited that I can make my on podcast!  It was much simpler than what I expected.

1. I am still not sure how I could integrate livebinders as a teacher or administrator.  It seems that wikis and online file sharing website like dropbox would be much simpler and essentially serve the same purpose.
2. I still am not sure how to effectively use Outlook.  I am not sure how to create email lists, and I just feel like there are other aspects that this software can help me out.

1. I am excited to be incorporating Animoto into my class as a teacher.  I am going to use it to recruit future AP students into my course, and motivate the ones I currently have.  April McCutcheon (BHS assistant principal) and I set up an upgraded account for Buckhorn.  We both see it has an opportunity to market the school and allow teachers to market their own courses and/or extracurricular clubs.

29. Portfolio

I just love portfolios!  I know you all do too!  Portfolios are fun, because you don't know exactly if you're writing too much, too little, or if it's just right!  I am very excited to be done with my first portfolio!  One down, and one to go!


Note:  I tried to limit the amount of exclamation marks, but I get so excited about portfolios, I just can't help it!

28. Holiday Tradition comes early

It always seems like a virus hits my kids right at Christmas.  This year we are hopefully getting it out of our system early.  Cooper, my 8 year old, started vomitting last Wednesday night and is finally starting to recover.  A few minutes ago, it hit Tucker, my 4 year old.  The upside is hopefully a healthy Christmas!  My wife and I have our fingers crossed that it misses us!

26. Saturday School

Today I ran an AP study session with aver 400 kids at MCHS.  I am amazed at the quality students, teachers, and administrators we have in this school system.  Administrators came out of no obligation, except to support students.  They were serving food, interacting with students, and taking pictures of the good times.    Teachers are positive, uplifting, and energetic.  And our students were attentive, respectful, and almost seemed happy to do math from 8:00 - 2:30! ON A SATURDAY!!!

23. Bo Knows Blogs

I watched the ESPN 30 for 30 You Don't Know Bo  tonight.  What an incredible athlete and person.  Bo didn't follow the trend by specializing in just one sport, he played because he enjoyed it.  He called playing in the NFL his hobby, just like fishing or hunting!

I grew up an Auburn fan, watching him play in person and on TV.  Bo was my hero.  I remember getting his autograph while sitting on my dad's shoulders.  So many times when we grow up we see our childhood heroes in a much different light.  I am proud to say that I respect what Bo stands for now more than ever.

GO BO GO!

21.Johnny Football

Congrats to Johnny Manziel, the first Freshman Heisman Trophy winner.  Manziel showed maturity, intelligence, humility, and compassion in his acceptance speech and the New York Downtown Athletic Club Saturday night.  It will be interesting to see how Johnny handles this as he continues in school the next few years.  It will be fun watching Superman in the coming seasons, and he will certainly have a target on his chest.

17. The Twitter

Twitter has changed the way I communicate with my students.  I can send out mass messages with little effort, help with homework questions, and build collegiality with my students.  I look forward to using this more with parents as it progresses.

15. Animoto

I love me some Animoto!  I created an Animoto video to promote Advanced Placement enrollment a few days ago, and emailed it to my administrators.  They loved it!!!  My school now has their own account and upgraded to to allow for videos of unlimited length.  I am very excited to use this to motivate students in my AP Calculus class.

27. Discuss BYOD and mobile learning

I had a discussion from another teacher this afternoon about how BYOD has enhanced instruction.  No longer are teachers restricted to the outdated PC that has been in their classroom for years.  Now they can bring in personal devices and surf the web on macbooks and iPads with apps and programs they use at home.  Also, teachers having their mobile device on the school network allows them to check and respond to emails more frequently throughout the day, rather than only during their planning time.  This is a big step for our school system that has made a huge impact in instruction in a very short period of time. 

25. Digital citizenship (safety, etc.)

Web2.0 is taking community to a level never before seen.  Some of these communities can be infiltrated by undesirables.  We must educate and warn our children and students of the dangers.  This must not be a one time thing, but a reminder.  As an administrator I would make this a consistent part of a professional development for my teachers, so they can stay abreast of new hazards that can arise.

24. Discuss iPads (or equivalent) and their role with special education

My son, Cooper, has a vision impairment and his third grade teacher has turned an iPad into a closed circuit TV.  This has made a huge impact for Cooper.  Since using the device Cooper has become much more comfortable at school and excited about his school work.  I talked to the districts specialists who deals with students with visual impairments and he had never heard about and iPad being used this way.  

How can iPads influence special education?  With innovative teachers like my son's, the sky is the limit.

22. Flipped classroom

I try to keep opinions of flipped classrooms to myself to keep from hurting people's feelings, but since you asked  ....................

I love my job.  My job is a teacher.  My job is not a homework helper.  In essence, this is why I do not like flipped classrooms.  How can I strategically question students, challenge them to think, facilitate discussion between peers, .....

If students are watching video lessons at home and coming to school for clarification from me.... well that's just not what I want to do.
  

20. Barriers of technology in education

Some students will push the envelope and the opportunity is greater now that ever before because of technology.  Because of this administrators and teachers must try to protect students from themselves.  But what are the costs?  

A few years ago schools used to be one of the few places that students could get online, but now most students have these capabilities in their pockets, 24 hours a day.   It might be time we trust students and teachers to be responsible users and supervisors of use.  And when abuse of the rules occurs, make use of stern consequences.

19. Does technology help or harm literacy?

I think that technology can both help and harm literacy, and it's up to teachers which way teeter totters.   Kids know all of the shortcuts and it's up to teachers to be aware of these.  But technology can greatly improve literacy.  Our school just ordered a set of nooks and it's exciting to see how this will effect instruction.  From downloading articles, books, blogs, etc, students can now annotate in communicate in ways that have never been done before.

18. Discuss an article you’ve read recently about technology in schools.

I read an article about the results of MathXL, and its impact on end of course test.  I was amazed at the one year improvement that schools made that implemented this program that our school system just attained.  I shared this with my principal and he he was excited about how this could help our students.  Here are some of the results.

16. What do you do with old technology?

If my old technology benefits me and my students, I will use it.  The TI-84 graphing calculator is one such tool.  There are more advanced graphing utilities, but the 84 is the easiest for students to learn quickly and works well when students take the ACT.  If there is technology I seldomly use, I pass it on to other teachers who are in need.  I am fortunate to be in a grant that has technology funding.  I try to get what I can and pass what I seldom use to others.

14. Discuss a website you’ve discovered recently that can be helpful to either students or teachers or administrators.

At our second math vertical team during the last week in November, I presented MathXLforschool.com

This is a remarkable interactive website that gives students unique problems.  Teachers can use in during class or use it for homework.  The research behind this website is strong, and I will focus on its effectiveness in my upcoming paper.

13. SECCG

Poor Georgia Bulldogs.  If I was a UGA fan I would have been on the floor crying after watching the end of the SEC Championship game.  UGA fought so hard and played so well, against the best team in the country.  The way the game ended had to be the worst for Bulldog fans.  It didn't end on a big hit by an Alabama linebacker, a sack by a big defensive lineman, an interception, or even an incompletion.  It ended on a first and goal play in which a Georgia receiver caught a tipped pass and immediately fell down allowing time to run out.

Poor Bulldogs.

Oh well, we have a heck of a national championship game ahead of us!

12. How would you approach resistance by teachers to use of technology in the classroom?

Teacher are hardheaded.  Teachers are cocky.  But we have to be don't we?  If not, how could one face kids on a daily basis with the intent of making them smarter and better thinkers?  Therefor teachers are naturally resistant to change, because we think we are already doing a pretty dang good job.  And what is changing the most in education???  That's right ... technology. I have found the best way to get teacher to think about change is to convince them that they can do better - they can be better.  As an administrator, I would not mandate change to teachers. I would sell them a product.  I would be the Sham-Wow guy.

11. Super 6

I'm watching the Super 6 on TV, and I am marveling at the state of sports in Alabama. The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) has brought the sport a long way in a short amount of time.  Rotating the championship games game between Tuscaloosa and Auburn (away from Legion Field) was a great move.  Kids get a once in a lifetime opportunity to not only play on TV, but to do it in a major stadium.  This exposure improves the sport for all schools in the state, which helps communities both financially and in spirit.  I look forward to seeing where the AHSAA takes the Super 6 in the coming years.

10. What principles should guide your approach for integrating technology into instruction (as an administrator)?

There is one principle that should guide an administrators approach for integrating technology:
1) Be a believer.  The principal must be a believer that technology will improve student achievement and sell this to the faculty.
2) Keep it simple. The principal must choose technology that has the kinks worked out.
3) Be a believer.  Yes, that's down twice.  The principal must follow through and make sure teacher buy in.

9. Sports and Education

I had a conversation with a teacher/coach the other day about the 6A football teams that always seem to be competing for football state championships.  We discovered that all of these school are strong academically.  Whether it be Hoover, Mt. Brook, Daphne, Bob Jones, etc these school are high academic achievers.  Certainly there are schools that perform academically that are not good at football, but the converse does not seem to be true.  If you are a large school, could investing in sports help academically?  Something to think about...

8. How can technology affect the learning process?

The main benefit of technology is that it can be personalized per student.  These accommodations can be crucial to reaching kids on different learning levels.  Technology allows for individualized instruction in a way that has never been available before.

6. How can technology innovations be sustained in schools?

Technology trends will come and go.  It is the job of the principal or assistant principal to be aware of these and help the faculty focus on the most efficient tech tools that will enhance student achievement.  Without leadership a school will be like a tiny ship getting rocked by all of the various waves of technology.

7. Tis The Season

This is the season for Christmas shopping and Christmas blogging. Buddy the elf is creating quite a stir around the house.   I'm just glad I survived another year of hanging up the Christmas lights!

8. Technology affecting learning

I use MathXL in my math classes.  What's awesome about it is that kids have to answer questions correctly, but they get multiple tries and there are tools that provide help.   It seems to keep students who would tend to be lower achieving more engaged. This is part of the topic of my research paper and I'm looking forward to researching its impact. 

4. Best Practices

All teachers love playing Jeopardy - at least some form of it.  I have finally figured out a good way to make it work that keeps all students engaged.  I randomly form teams of 3 to 4 students and play Jeopardy through a powerpoint presentation.  When a question pops up every student must work the problem on his/her own paper.  I use a countdown timer then each team flashes an answer on a whiteboard, and I award points accordingly.

I've always struggled with assigning students a grade for this .... until now.  Each student must work every question and turn it in at the end of the game.  Every student that does this will get a 50/50.  If their team wins I create a separate assignment and they receive a 100/100.  Second place gets 75/75 and third 60/60.  Everyone gets 100% but the winners get a bigger 100%, not awarding grades above 100% helps prevent inflation.   Awarding first second and third place prizes keeps everyone in the game even if one team jumps out to a lead.

The kids love it and I love it!

5. Emotional Saturday

November 28, 2009: Ole Miss - 25, LSU - 23.

This was the last date in which Ole Miss won a game versus an SEC West opponent, until last Saturday, October 13, 2012.  So, late in the fourth quarter, when Ole Miss linebacker Mike Marry intercepted Auburn quarterback Clint Mosely's pass and ran it back for a touchdown put Ole Miss up by 21 points, my emotions caught me a totally off guard.  All of the heartache, all of the pain, all of the despair, there was still always a hope that the Rebels would stop the downward spiral.

Yes, Auburn is very down, perhaps the worst team Auburn has put together in my lifetime.  Despite this, hope that the Rebels have turned things may actually be actually be coming to fruition.


Aside:  I attended Ole Miss' last SECW victory over LSU with my father - the last college football game we watched live together.  I didn't think about that until I wrote this entry, bringing back very fond memories ... including Les Miles spiking the ball with no time remaining on the clock to preserve the victory for Ole Miss.  

2. Why do I want to be an administrator?

So, right now I'm working on my administration degree.  I feel this switch to the "other side" could be a lot of fun, and I think I could make a strong impact on student learning.  The only issue is every time I think about why I want to become an administrator, I can think of three times as many reasons why I do NOT want to be an administrator!  It's a pretty scary step, and it's a question to which I am still trying to find answer.

3. Investments

I recently listened to a discussion about financial investments.  Strategies were shared, advice was given, and none were too afraid to brag a little on themselves.  I just sat and listened, but it made me think, "What am I invested in?"

After thinking about it I realized I had some solid investments to be proud.

I teach high school math. I invested over 10 years coaching a over 1000 kids, but now I mainly invest in two commodities: coaching my two sons' soccer teams (ages 4 and 8). While short term returns are difficult to measure in wins and loses, the long term investments are very promising. This is a direct result of my father's investment in me. Although my father passed a couple years ago his investment has split several times. The hope is that my sons will continue this investment opportunity to their children.
I'm not sure if this makes me part of a Ponzi or pyramid scheme, but I sure am having a lot of fun doing it.

1. Welcome

To my blog!