Math Is... 2014 Version

If I didn't teach math, I would love to teach English because I enjoy reading so much! I especially loved reading your Mathographies, and I captured your "Math is..." comments in the wordle below:

Please allow me to address some of your questions and concerns here:

• Even though my "other job" carries a lot of responsibilities, when I am with my classes, you are my priority. If you have questions or need tutoring, I will find time for you, and I have been known to tutor during every period of the day! Talk to me, I'll check my calendar, and we'll work out something that is mutually convenient.
• Feel free to email your questions, too. I usually shut down my school email early (8:00 PM) but I begin answering email super early in the morning. Check my website for answer keys and videos that may help, too. Ask a friend or find another math teacher to help! 
• Some people prefer groups, some people working alone...we'll do both. For those who prefer individual work time, the "collaboration" work time will require you to stretch, I know. I completely get it because I am a huge introvert. I try to accommodate many learning preferences, but I also want you to grow as a learner.
• Several people commented that they tend to shut down when they get frustrated or don't understand something, and I plan to help you conquer that mindset. (Here are tips to change from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset.)  In my class, I hope you will develop a growth mindset about learning, I want you to appreciate the struggle, and learn that making mistakes is OK! I've created a slideshow with my favorite quotes about learning and struggle, and it's on my website homepage. It's so important that I'll add it here, too! 
• My favorite growth mindset comment was from the person who wrote, "I like to work in groups with people who are smarter than I am." Awesome! What a way to show that you're willing to take risks, stretch yourself, and learn from others.
• One of my number one priorities is that our class is SAFE...safe for you to take risks, safe to make mistakes in your learning journey, and safe to ask as many questions as you need!
• Your notes will definitely help prepare for your test. I know we have rushed through some notes, but I hope you'll take the time to return to your notes, process the material, and fill in any blanks (steps, definitions, etc.)
• A few people were worried about the weight of tests. I will do my part to make certain you're prepared for tests, but you'll have to do your part, too! Find some useful study tips here and here.
• By the way, we're learning all about reference angles to work right triangle problems (SOHCAHTOA) and vectors, which are also used in physics.

If you have any questions or other concerns, feel free to leave your questions in the comments below.

Thanks so much for a great start to PAP pre-calculus!

Mathmagically Yours,

Ms. Laster

Enjoy some of my favorite mindset quotes!

Welcome to 2014!

Welcome to our class!  

I know we're going to have a great year together.

Welcome to another year of math!  I hope this year will be a wonderful learning experience for you, and I've accepted the challenge of making it the best year ever for all of us!

I hope you realize that teachers don't actually have 3 months off during the summer, and I spent a LOT of time doing some great learning by reading, attending conferences, and reflecting.  (I think people who love teaching are the ones who love learning!) Thanks to a great idea in a book called Teach Like a Pirate, I decided on 5 words that I hope will describe our class this year:

I want our class to feel safe, inspiring, and challenging.  During our class, I hope you will feel accomplished and experience the joy in learning.  

---

Yes, the pencils say Mathmagical and Growth Mindset! 

The purpose of this post is for brief introductions, so a bit more about me...this summer, I spent a lot of time with my family--here, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and in Colorado. I also spent time with friends, where we tried new restaurants, talked school stuff, and went to movies.  (I finally saw Frozen, and it was my first digital 3D movie, which I loved!)  I'm a cat person, I'm a mountain person, and I love reading and buying new school supplies.  According to some around LHHS, I  coined the phrase mathmagical, and in honor of the new word, I have a whole box of new pencils waiting to give away to students who show something mathmagical or those who exhibit a growth mindset. (You have heard about growth mindset, right??) My other job at school is I am one of two campus "Instructional Specialists," so I did a lot of planning and work for presentations in August. 

Arches National Park--Look at that great parabola!

For your first post, please briefly introduce yourself.  You may share something from your Mathography, or you may include something new. You only need to write a sentence or two...just please write something that will help us know you a bit better. Please look over the blog rules page before commenting.

My examples were too long, and don't feel obligated to write that much, but I'll be happy with all of your posts.

I look forward to getting to know you, and I'm so excited about the new year!  
Get used to hearing about #growthmindset!

Thank you for your comments!  

(By the way, I moderate the comments, so they do not appear until I post them.  Sorry for any confusion!)

Mathmagically yours, 
Ms. Laster

2013-14 Begins NOW!

Welcome to our class!  

I know we're going to have a great year together.

I started this class blog a couple years ago, and I plan to utilize it with our class again this year for both math and non-math posts.  Please look over the blog rules page before commenting.

For your first post, please briefly introduce yourself.  You may share something from your Mathography, or you may include something new.  You only need to write a sentence or two...just please write something that will help us know you a bit better.

To help you get to know me, one of my favorite sayings is "Whatever worth doing is worth doing well." (What does that say about me as a teacher and a person?   How could that possibly be a hint about our class?  Hmmm...)  Another bit about me: last year, we wrote 6-word memoirs and mine was "I love to help find solutions."  Do you get how that is math-y, teacher-y, and applies to my IS job?  I also love technology, so we will experiment with sites and tools I find.  I have been known to waste a lot of time looking for the perfect, fun font.

This summer, I spent a lot of time with my family--here, at a friend's lake house, and in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I also spent time with friends, where we tried new restaurants, talked school stuff, and went to movies. I also visited two Presidential Libraries, and I highly recommend visiting any of them around the country!  I learned how to grill vegetables, and I enjoy cooking and baking.  (I bet you will love the ginger snaps I bring you!)  I was kind of "craft-y" this summer, and I made about 100 magnets for different people.

I also took at least one picture every day this summer, and I plan to continue taking pictures every day during the school year!

Some teachers don't have much time off, and I did a LOT of school work this summer, but it was mostly for fun and just good learning.  I took a free online course through Stanford called "How to Learn Math," and I know you will benefit from what I learned there.  I love to read pretty much anything, but this summer, I spent most of my time with educational stuff.  I enjoy some YA fiction (Allegiant is released on 10/22!) and I am also looking forward to the movie Catching Fire (11/22!)

My examples were too long, and don't feel obligated to write that much, but I'll be happy with all of your posts.

I look forward to getting to know you, and I'm so excited about the new year!  
Get used to hearing about #growthmindset!

Thank you for your comments!  
(By the way, I moderate the comments, so they do not appear until I post them.  Sorry for any confusion!)

Math Is...

I loved reading all of your Mathographies!  I will re-read them at the end of the six-weeks, at the beginning of the 2nd semester, and probably several other times throughout the year.  Thank you for all of your responses!  I'm looking forward to a great year with you all as my students.

Here's a wordle of your "Math Is..." responses.  Some of you created great similes and metaphors, by the way. :)

By the way, in our two classes, I think we have student representatives from every organization and sport.  I think you were about split 50-50 between which you enjoyed more: algebra and geometry.  (I'm more of an algebra person, myself.)  I loved seeing this comment in numerous papers: "Math is like a puzzle!"  I agree!

YES, I offer LOTS of tutoring, but you sometimes have to specifically get on my calendar...but I WILL find time for you.  And YES, I do offer some extra credit, but I'm still trying to work on my details and changing my philosophy about that.

I know we're going to have a wonderful year learning from each other!  I'm so glad you're in my math class!