Since my last SOTW post was over a month ago (!!!), perhaps I really should take Pat’s suggestion from my last post and rename it “Stars of Whenever I Want.”
If you’re a #SOTW, grab the badge using the code below if you’d like it for your blog!
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Remember you can always use the nomination form and I will put it in my next post!
If you teach Geometry, you definitely need to be reading @lisabej_manitou‘s Crazy Math Teacher Lady blog. She has tons of great ideas, but also realizes that sometimes you just need some no-frills, get-the-job-done, quality materials (a girl after my own note-taker-maker heart). Check out her quadrilateral collection. (BTW, if you interested in more materials like these, be sure to check out the comments on ‘s post that Lisa linked.)
I know we’re not supposed to have favorites in the #MTBoS, but I do, and is one of them. Ever since our TMC14 dash-to-get-cupcakes-before-the-store-closed, her great outlook and humor have always been something I look forward to seeing on Twitter (and in person!). Not only that, but she’s definitely the type of teacher I wish I could be – in the moment, not afraid to try new things, and constantly creating great discussions in her classroom. Check out this gorgeous teacher move of slowly revealing all the information with the absolute twist at the end that no one saw coming (not even Tina!). I know what you’re thinking, sure, everyone gets lucky once in a while, but no, Tina makes her own luck, as you can see in this segment addition postulate lesson. You know, she only has about 60 posts so if you’re looking for a way to up your teacher game, spend an afternoon reading the entire collection. You won’t be sorry.
Speaking of teacher moves, if you teach ELL students, is your gal. She is a great advocate of doing what it takes to bring the ELL student up to the goal, instead of lowering the goal down to where they may be now. Her post on scaffolding open response questions will make you rethink how you can help your struggling students (who may or may not be ELL).
Hey, here’s a great teacher move that easy to implement into any lesson on Monday: Ask Me a Question from @dsladkey. It moves the “Do you have any questions” to “What questions do you have” change to a whole new level.
Another one that’s so easy to implement, but can change the whole classroom climate: ‘s Nevermind Strategy.
Wait, you want more teacher moves? This next post comes with a warning: This article will lead to great feelings of inadequacy and make you think most of what you’ve created is crap. So if your current mood is: ugh, I suck as a teacher, you might want to skip the Guide to Building Great Math Activities. But if you’re feeling pretty good and want to pick up some ideas that will help make your next lesson planning be a little more thoughtful, go read it.
If you did read it (or even if you didn’t) and you’re looking for good examples of rich problems, check out ‘s Algebra II examples. I LOVE the parabola one!!
Speaking of parabolas, you know function transformation are near and dear to my heart. created a wonderful Desmos marbleslide for them, but the key move here is the creation of an additional real-life worksheet for students to reflect on their learning and can have it for reference. (Also check out her Function Notation QR Stations–great practice problems for something my students always struggled with)
Ok: One more teacher move: let’s make mistakes a starting point for rich discussions. @Dave_Sabol shows how he used the results from a Desmos Activity Builder to decode mistakes in Calculus. (Also I think Dave should be in the SOTW Hall of Fame for his How I Teach series.)
Man, I don’t know about you, but now I’m overwhelmed by all the new teacher moves I’m supposed to be doing. So let’s take a brain break, sponsored by ‘s brainteaser collection.
And then let’s eat our feelings by baking these Salted Caramel Pretzel Crunch Bars from Sally’s Baking Addiction.
Now onto some starred tweets!
For reals, take David’s advice:
Yes, Zippy won (Adorable) Scruffiness of the Week!
Joel’s smartass reply (does he have any other kind?) to the discussion of how to say “apothem”:
Speaking of smartass replies:
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve looked at this tweet and laughed out loud:
I told you Heather has the pro teacher moves:
And speaking of that pause feature:
And other features:
You know I love my shortcuts:
And this one was brand new to me and I’ve used it every day since then!!! I’m even using it RIGHT NOW.
It always warms my heart to know that people enjoy my stuff; especially when it’s someone who has so much great stuff herself!
And when someone uses my suggestion and then the result is heartwarming:
And then when someone uses an idea I had and their students do so much better with it:
Be sure to send some encouragement to Kristin next weekend!
Do I like CalcDave because of his gifs or in spite of them?
Insert picture of two beautiful math teachers here.
Now I know what the first 91 books I buy as a librarian will be.
Genius.
Genius Part II.
Genius Part III.
And I think I’ll let Casey wrap this (extremely long) edition up:
What? I’m not crying. YOU’RE crying.
