Day 24: Decades Day

Another #themeday... I chose to dress like the 80's because I already have so much in the closet that applies. Thanks for the real vintage earrings, Mom.

I also got to meet Marty McFly. Legit.

The music during class needed to apply to our theme. Each class listened to different decades. Super fun!

Day 22: Grading tests

We've been working on writing paragraphs. They're tests ranged from "Ms. H, what's a paragraph?" to fantastic. 

Here are a couple of the great ones. 

Day 21: Math problem date

I've started writing the date as a math problem. When asked what's the date, I just point. I don't know why, but I get so many growns and "aww, really miss?" Muahahaha. Evil. Plan. 

Day 20: SAT prep

Many of my kids are seniors and a few are juniors. About 1/3 of my seniors are taking the SAT in October and my juniors are all taking the PSAT in October. My plan for them was to complete a 2 question warm-up each day, and we'll see how well we did at the end of the week.

Week 1 went pretty well, but I used fairly easy problems to get them started. We also had chats about attempting problems, eliminating answers, and not just giving up and sitting there. Trying to overcome the lack of confidence here. 

And jerkface teacher friend drew on one of my desks. But, this is harmless compared the jerkface stuff I do to him. 

Day 19: Nerd Day

Another #themeday. Who's excited? Me, duh.

Outfit highlights: treble clef earrings, calculus toms, super fun glasses, missed button on the argyle sweater, and music note socks

Day 18: Writing Paragraphs

The kids are learning to describe piecewise functions in complete sentences. Started a little rough, but they are getting the hang of writing paragraphs in math class.

Some of the vocabulary words they have been using include: Domain, linear, quadratic, constant, increasing, decreasing, and undefined

Day 17: Piecewise Functions with Desmos

Talking with AP teachers in other departments (mainly science) at my school and some of their struggles over the last 4 weeks, I realized I was doing a disservice to my kids if I never made them struggle through a word problem as a group. They told me how bad their first tests were because the kids can't pick out what the question is asking. I need to force them to read and comprehend what a problem is asking which is a crucial skill in testing situations, and so often I just answer their questions instead of letting them work through it.

We've been discussing piecewise functions in class, and they have a lot of application. I found a decent word problem here and had the kids work through it today. We used Desmos to graph the situation because graphing things like this by hand a) takes a long time, b) never looks as pretty and c) loses some value. The discussions I heard were fantastic and letting the kids play with Desmos has been fun. 

Day 16: Disney Music Debut

So I kind of like Disney. *understatement of the century*

There's some Disney fun already happening in my room, and the children asked for music today. SO I decided Disney music should make its first appearance. Best. Idea. Ever.

Well, this turned into singing Frozen, and I ended up on Instagram singing Let It Go. This happened between classes, so I wasn't wasting class time being super distracting/making a fool of myself. :)

What's more awesome is that my hair was Elsa like that day.

Day 15: After the test

We are working on finding solutions to quadratic functions intersecting with linear functions and other quadratics. The easiest way to do this is to use the quadratic formula. The kids took a test on Friday, Day 14. They weren't bad, but it made me realize that 90% of them could show their work correctly but get the wrong answer after putting it in the calculator. I realized we needed some calculator practice and instantaneous feedback to see where and how we were using the calculator incorrectly.

Enter: Star Wars Whiteboards

*Super Nerd Alert* I love my Star Wars whiteboards. They are fun, the kids are sort of tricked into doing work, it allows me to walk around and check their work, and they usually have some funny drawings...

We still need practice with the calculator, but they are SO much better after our calculator practice day.

Bonus: the kids LOVE my whiteboards too and have already asked for them again.

Day 14: Homecoming Game

After today, my stress will go down one million points. I was in charge of halftime at the homecoming game. That meant writing the script, making sure ten kids and their parents know what to do, directing principals, taking pictures, buying gifts, and so many little details that have already left my brain. I had a lot of help, so I can't take all the credit.

Despite the stress and craziness of this week, it's hard to not feel great about all the hard work when it ends successfully, without any glitches, and two of your students end up with crowns.

Selfie with the Homecoming King

My football mentee :)

We were making sure the crowns fit...duh

Day 13: Voting Day

Now that I teach seniors, I have half the Homecoming Court in class. Naturally, they want to campaign in my class. Sure, whatever. But, sometimes it can get a little crazy...

The original chalk was fine. Then I walk away from my podium for 5 seconds and this appears. So, I add the DO NOT, and a few minutes later, I bust him trying to erase it.

He still won. Clearly my shenanigans didn't do any harm. 

Day 12: Powder Puff

It's Homecoming week and I am the senior class sponsor. It's been busy before, but this week might be the peak of busyness thus far. Prom is looming. I am prepared for the busyness to get worse. Today's task: make copies for the entire school to vote on the NHS 2014-2015 Homecoming King and Queen. 1000+ copies that I got to cut in half. YAY...for that being over.

Today was also the Powder Puff game. The Junior and Senior girls play against each other in a flag football game. The Senior Men do a dance/cheer that is always hysterical. This year they danced to Single Ladies. It was amazing!

so much pasty white boy thigh that I can't unsee

Senior girls WIN!

Day 10: Crazy Hair Day

I might have mentioned before that I love theme days. This week was Homecoming so EVERY day was a theme day. HEAVEN. :)

I basically rocked Crazy Hair Day. ALL the selfies with children.

In case you're wondering...there are two mini water bottles in my hair with Christmas hair ties. Genius.

Day 9: Hawaiian Day

I kind of like theme days, and by kind of I mean that I make it my goal to be the most dressed up person at school on theme days.

Gift Bag for my mentee...being clever at 7 AM

Co-sponsor buddy

The NHS varsity football team <3

Day 8: A Whole New World

There were significantly less notebooks left in my room because the children took them home to study and finish their assignments. WHO ARE THESE CHILDREN?! Not complaining.

Day 7: #sponsorlife

1st ever trip to Arne's and I went by myself. I do not recommend this. Arne's is a 2 story warehouse of all things party supplies. They have EVERYTHING you could possibly want. It took me 30 minutes to find leis. When I did...

Day 6

Colorful organized notebooks make me wish I was more organized.