So you might be thinking, why you would use paper chains in a 7th or 8th grade math classroom? When I first saw a paper chain as an activity on Teacher Pay Teachers I had the same question. They seemed a little superfluous. Actually, they looked like a waste of time to me and I dismissed them. Then, one day I was trying to think of a novel activity for my students near the end of last year. Plus, I was feeling a bit adventurous and itching for a change with testing in our rear view mirror. I made a template for a paper chain. [Read more…] about Math Teaching Strategy that Works: Paper Chains
Teacher Tips
9 Activities for Simple Probability You Will Love
When you teach simple probability, it seems like you have to strike a balance between showing students how probability works and getting them to understand the math behind it. This topic lends itself to a lot of hands-on demonstrations and activities, which can be really fun. When I look for activities I know that I need hooks, practice activities and extensions. If you are looking for more about how I break down teaching and modeling simple probability, check out this post. Let’s dive into some fun and easy ways to get students thinking about simple probability.
[Read more…] about 9 Activities for Simple Probability You Will LoveHappy Teacher Appreciation Day!
Happy Teacher Appreciation Day to all you hard working teachers out there!
It’s nice to feel appreciated, so soak it up today! It’s nice to have gifts and freebies as a small recognition of just what an impact a teacher has on the lives of the students we work with.
Finding Time for Reflection as a Busy Teacher
One of the most powerful things you can do as a teacher is spend time reflecting on how things are going in the classroom. Reflection give you a chance to identify things that are working well and replicate their success. Reflection also gives you time and space to honestly appraise what isn’t working well, and identify potential ways to address any problems. But, the problem with reflection is that it’s hard to carve out time for it- papers demand to be graded, emails clamor for our attention, and just about everything else becomes more urgent than finding a quiet time and space to stop the presses and just reflect. [Read more…] about Finding Time for Reflection as a Busy Teacher
One Simple Law Teachers Must Learn for Work Life Balance
My first 10 years as a teacher, I worked crazy hours. During my first school year I would routinely start the day in my classroom at 6:30 and not leave until 6:00 at night, sometimes even later. And holidays and weekends- yep, back in the classroom. I was surrounded by other workaholic teachers who wore their excessive hours as a badge of honor, and I felt like it was just part of the job, an expectation if I wanted to be a good and effective educator. It’s been a journey from that point to one with improved work life balance, and one simple law first coined in 1955 by Cyril Parkinson in an essay published in the Economist has been super helpful in getting even better!
[Read more…] about One Simple Law Teachers Must Learn for Work Life Balance
