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Always challenging myself…
My goal is to continue my learning with regards to problem based curriculum and integrating technology into my lessons.
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7 Replies
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Fantastic! What does a typical lesson look like/sound like currently?
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I teach middle school math and we are mainly face-to-face but lately with quarantined numbers rising we have had more remote students. I just started trying to use Desmos as our curriculum (Open Up Resources) has been created for it by some very helpful teachers out there. I try to start with a warm up, then move into various tasks that use problem solving and then we finish with a formative assessment. Each lesson should take a day, but the students are learning how to respond and look at these problems. Usually 2 days is more our pace.
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Super cool. So it sounds pretty problem based by the sounds of things?
What’s your current pebble in your shoe with a typical lesson?
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My current “pebble in my shoe” is just attendance. It is a revolving door in and out with quarantines, illness, sports, and whatever else. I am having a challenging time tracking who has what, helping others catch up, and trying to remember what I did yesterday. I am usually pretty organized, but between getting paper packets ready for my remote students each week and then adding those that are on quarantine, then come back and say they don’t have the work I am sort of frustrated. 🙂
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We totally get it! I’ve been there when it seems like I’m the only one doing any work. Not a fun situation to be. Add on that students coming back to a class and having missed so much of the previous learning. Really tough spot.
How do you feel about your lesson entry point? Do you feel you are able to lower that floor enough so students can enter a lesson despite having missed time?-
Most of my students have been really good about joining daily conferences even when they are home sick. I just have a handful that completely fell off the grid while gone. I am starting to meet with them after school, but it is going to take a lot of time to get them back on track. I just try to continue to fill in gaps during lessons and backtrack whenever I can to connect to prior learning. I am fortunate to have some of my student as 7th and 8th grade so I can connect better that way.
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That’s a tough situation. While we certainly want to continue reaching all learners, take some time to zoom out on the situation to determine the things in your sphere of concern vs your sphere of influence. Those students who have fallen off the map are students who may be in your sphere of concern… if you approach it as if they are in your sphere of influence, you may burn out. While we certainly want to continue trying, be sure to remind yourself that you are doing your best and that your best may not necessarily reach those who have disengaged.
Are there any specific reasons why they are not participating?
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