photo #4 by KX.
ImagineIt Updates 1 and 2
ImagineIT Update #2
Unfortunately, I am finding myself close to where I was as of update #1...that is somewhat frustrated with my lack of progress with newer algebraic concepts with my students.
The intended goal of my Imagineit project was for student work to reflect the current topics that were being studied in class. Because I have not yet gotten to where I wanted to be for student portfolio entry #4, the project has been at a standstill.
Moving forward, I can proceed in a couple different ways. The first option is to continue as originally planned but move entry dates further down the year. Another is to wait for results from the PARCC practice exam that will take place next week that will certainly reveal areas that need attention. I can use those areas to drive some of my instruction and I can instruct students to use those topics as their inspiration for their new submissions to their portfolios.
I imagine will will use some sort of a combination of the two options described. If topic #4 originally was planned as Lines/Slopes or Systems of Linear Equations, that should be doable as planned, just a little later than anticipated. However, if quadratics/parabolas was planned for entry #6, it might be moved forward as an emerging need based on practice test results.
Essentially, I am fully aware that I am not where I wanted to be with original planning but I am not scrapping my plan. I am modifying it to reflect my current reality. I believe that in future implementations of this project, I will be able to anticipate obstacles and plan for them accordingly.
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This being my second year as a Math teacher, I am finding it very different from my first year.
Last year, I was sort of free to use any materials necessary to deliver the content to the students. I was not a big fan of the textbooks and materials that were previously used in our school. Administration was aware of this and agreed (They were not big fans either). We all agreed that new materials (textbooks) would be purchased for the next school year.
This was exciting and intimidating at the same time, especially since it was my first year teaching math. I wanted to be certain that I was doing right by my students and meeting all their needs. Looking back, I was overall pleased with how the year went. Test scores were very good and students were thinking about math in new ways.
This year, I would say I am still free to use any materials I want but I definitely wanted to use the newly purchased textbooks for all my classes: 7th grade math, 8th grade math and Algebra I. I really do like the textbooks and how the lessons are planned out and supported. However, for various reasons, I am progressing very slowly through the books. (This is based on number of units/chapters that are included with each set and where I see myself right now). I realize that I can prioritize and will prioritize moving forward. It is a little difficult when I see value in almost every section of the book!
This is where I find myself now and why my Imagineit project is not progressing as originally planned.
REASONS why I’m not where I expected to be:
Unfortunately, I am finding myself close to where I was as of update #1...that is somewhat frustrated with my lack of progress with newer algebraic concepts with my students.
The intended goal of my Imagineit project was for student work to reflect the current topics that were being studied in class. Because I have not yet gotten to where I wanted to be for student portfolio entry #4, the project has been at a standstill.
Moving forward, I can proceed in a couple different ways. The first option is to continue as originally planned but move entry dates further down the year. Another is to wait for results from the PARCC practice exam that will take place next week that will certainly reveal areas that need attention. I can use those areas to drive some of my instruction and I can instruct students to use those topics as their inspiration for their new submissions to their portfolios.
I imagine will will use some sort of a combination of the two options described. If topic #4 originally was planned as Lines/Slopes or Systems of Linear Equations, that should be doable as planned, just a little later than anticipated. However, if quadratics/parabolas was planned for entry #6, it might be moved forward as an emerging need based on practice test results.
Essentially, I am fully aware that I am not where I wanted to be with original planning but I am not scrapping my plan. I am modifying it to reflect my current reality. I believe that in future implementations of this project, I will be able to anticipate obstacles and plan for them accordingly.
_________________________________________________________________________
This being my second year as a Math teacher, I am finding it very different from my first year.
Last year, I was sort of free to use any materials necessary to deliver the content to the students. I was not a big fan of the textbooks and materials that were previously used in our school. Administration was aware of this and agreed (They were not big fans either). We all agreed that new materials (textbooks) would be purchased for the next school year.
This was exciting and intimidating at the same time, especially since it was my first year teaching math. I wanted to be certain that I was doing right by my students and meeting all their needs. Looking back, I was overall pleased with how the year went. Test scores were very good and students were thinking about math in new ways.
This year, I would say I am still free to use any materials I want but I definitely wanted to use the newly purchased textbooks for all my classes: 7th grade math, 8th grade math and Algebra I. I really do like the textbooks and how the lessons are planned out and supported. However, for various reasons, I am progressing very slowly through the books. (This is based on number of units/chapters that are included with each set and where I see myself right now). I realize that I can prioritize and will prioritize moving forward. It is a little difficult when I see value in almost every section of the book!
This is where I find myself now and why my Imagineit project is not progressing as originally planned.
REASONS why I’m not where I expected to be:
- New material/inexperience
- weaving in of old material
- additional obligations: code.org, online math programs
- addressing student misconceptions/emergent needs