Monthly Archives: February 2011

It’s About the Learning, not about the Technology…or is it?

Posted on February 27, 2011 by

Many of my tribe gathered and learned together this weekend.  (If you have not read The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Sir Ken Robinson, run don’t walk to your preferred book supplier to read a copy.)  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning, Teachnology, Technology | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Helping Students Level Up

Posted on February 26, 2011 by

Formative assessment takes many forms. I generally put these forms into two categories: formal and informal.  Informal formative assessment happens all the time, planned and unplanned through questioning and observation.  As I float through the room and look at student work, … Continue reading →

Posted in Algebra, Assessment, Conferences, Presentations | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Stopping Distances

Posted on February 25, 2011 by

… written in collaboration with Ruth Casey and Sam Gough. Distracted driving is any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of … Continue reading →

Posted in Algebra, Conferences, PBL, Presentations | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Phases of the Moon…Middle School Connections with Trigonometry and Science

Posted on February 22, 2011 by

My learners struggle to read and interpret graphs for meaning.  It makes me wonder…How are we teaching them to read and interpret graphs? When our learners get to precalculus, are the adept at reading graphs for meaning so that they can … Continue reading →

Posted in Algebra, Conferences, PBL, Presentations | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Being Part of the Club…Being Labeled…

Posted on February 20, 2011 by

 Have you ever been excluded from something?  How did/does it make you feel?  Do you carry a label?  Was it of your own choosing, or were you labeled by others? I teach children, bright, smart, sometimes discouraged children about … Continue reading →

Posted in Questions | 4 Comments

Students Request Common Formative Assessment

Posted on February 17, 2011 by

I remember making a note to self about coming to office hours that afternoon. After thinking for a few minutes about my question, I decided to ask here in class instead of waiting until office hours. Hearing the “oohhs!” of my … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Questions, Social Media | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Enrichment…Intervention…Benefits of the 4-Point Rubric

Posted on February 17, 2011 by

Our team has been immersed in creating formative assessments, assessments for learning.  We have been developing these assessments based on the work of Tom Guskey, Rick Stiggins, Jan Chappius, Doug Reeves, Bob Marzano and many more. We have tried to … Continue reading →

Posted in Algebra, Assessment | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Being Slow…Mindset…2nd Chances…Learning

Posted on February 12, 2011 by

On the drive to school yesterday morning AS (age 6) explained to me that she was the slowest in her class.  It was very matter of fact.  “I am the slowest in class, Momma.  I finish last every time. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Grading, Learning, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Connect Abstract to Practical…Meaning to Mechanics

Posted on February 8, 2011 by

Square-foot gardening, heard of it?   Hold that thought for just a minute…We’ll come back to it I promise.  I am conflicted about what I am teaching.  I want to say my team is conflicted about what we are teaching, … Continue reading →

Posted in Algebra, Learning, Questions, Teachnology, Technology | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Social Media Experiment: My Learning, Growth, and Practice

Posted on February 5, 2011 by

From the ropes course one of our learners said they learned This week JB and I conducted a couple of Lunch and Learn sessions on Twitter for our colleagues.  It was said, “Well, I’m set up.  Don’t know how I’ll … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning, Social Media, Teachnology, Technology | Tagged , | 1 Comment