The Simple Things

I went to the "office" today.  As I finish a pile at home, I take it back into work and reorganize.  I wish I could say that I don't bring any more work home with me, but I always seem to bring something else to work on.  Today I took back Algebra 2 (I got through enough last week that I will be set for about the first 3 weeks of the year) and I grabbed some Geometry, since I will now be teaching a section of that in the Spring.

I've also been going into work periodically so that I can run copies of stuff that I know I am going to need that first week.  I hate waiting in line for the copy machine during the 2 days we have before school starts (as we know that's the time they always break!), so I try to get as much done as possible beforehand.  So I was STOKED when I found out we received our new machines (they are Cannon and not Xerox) since the fiscal year just started and we have a new contract.  I tested this machine a few months ago and I was SOOOO happy with what it offered.  I also found out that they are in our new staff lounge!!  Which means that come August 13th, we will have an official staff lounge.  We had just been using an empty classroom, but with the huge growth in our enrollment, we will need all available rooms for the new teachers we have hired (last count I saw 24 new additions to our site!).

The other simple pleasure I encountered upon arriving was that my classroom had just had its deep cleaning.  The custodial staff had stacked all the desks and chairs, moved the other furniture.  They completely dusted and cleaned the cabinets, counters, and other surfaces, and they had just finished with the carpet.  It looked so spotless and wonderful in there!!

My simple happiness:  New copy machines and a super clean classroom!  What more could a math teacher ask for!

Paper-Less

I've spent the last few weeks thinking about how to be more organized.  I went to my room and started cleaning things up and rearranging so that I could accomplish that task this summer and be reading for the new school year.  As I was doing that, I've created FIVE boxes full of paper ready for recycling (I save student tests and some work as record for a year, so that was 2-3 of them).  So, I started thinking, "In our world of technology, how are we not more paperless?"

I decided to research how I could use Google Forms more efficiently for this purpose (I found "10 ways" and "80 ways" that helped give me ideas).  I already have my students do a First Assignment through forms that collects information about them and math experience.  I've used the forms in the past for End-of-Course Surveys, technology surveys, and collection of information from my department.  But, I didn't feel that was enough.

This week I created multiple forms that I felt would assist me better.  As a support provider for beginning teachers, I also though about what would also assist my new teachers and what they needed to document as part of their BTSA program.  So, I created:

• AVID Get to Know You
• Math Get to Know You (recreated)
• Communication Log (document parent communication)
• Meeting Agenda/Minutes
• Professional Development Log (based on the California Standards for the Teaching Profession)

I was SOOOO excited about what I had accomplished that day.  When my husband came home from work, I started to tell him about the meeting minutes and I was so excited.  Then he drops "but I wouldn't want it as a spreadsheet.  I'd want that information as a PDF."  I responded with "well, that's just how Google Forms does it.  It automatically records the responses in a spreadsheet...I think."  Which then led me to researching further if what he was saying would be even possible.  I'm a little OCD, so not just anything would do.  I'd have to find the way to get it just perfectly.  I already had a way envisioned in my head, so it was just seeing if that was then possible.  I ran across a site that was EXACTLY what I was looking for - Merging info from google forms to a PDF document to send via email.  TJ Houston wrote a script and had an advanced explanation of how to do this.  Since I know nothing about script, this took me a little longer to accomplish then it probably should have.  My first attempt had a small error in the script, so I had to figure that out and fix it.  Second attempt, the input values loaded into the wrong places on the PDF, so then I had to figure out if that was an error in the script or something wrong with the form (it ended up being how I created the form then the order it placed in the spreadsheet - so, I had to recreate the latter part of the form).  The third attempt was a success!!!  By that time, I was so grateful because it was 2:00am and I was exhausted.  

I met the next day with a few teachers, so I decided to test the form out again and have record of our discussion and next steps.  It was so perfect!!  I was able to automatically send myself the minutes, which I then forwarded on to the other teachers.  

I am so excited about the possibility with this option!!  I'm excited to share the possibility with the staff at my school and even the District.

Now, if only I could get my students to be this excited and passionate about accomplishing math!

Something New

So, I'm taking on a new role in teaching this upcoming school year.  Well, really it started just before this last one ended.  This past school year I was "Co-Department Chair," but I am now officially the Department Chair.  Our school has been around for 5 years now and has been growing exponentially.  I was hired there only 2 years ago.  Just before I got there they had 5 teachers in the department - next year we will have 9!  Our enrollment is going up by about 300 students.

I'm nervous about taking over the department.  I don't have as much experience as some of them, but I think I'm a leader and can really get our department on the same page and moving forward as we implement Common Core (disclaimer: we actually work really well together.  We collaborate regularly and typically are on the same page).  I think the key here is getting us organized and to be together as we implement Common Core.  Like many districts, we aren't just shifting to Common Core, we are also shifting our course sequence as we are going Integrated (that discussion will be for another time).

I've spent the past couple of weeks using the internet to see what others are doing with Integrated Math for Common Core.  I was able to find some great ideas out there for so many other things, but not as much as I was hoping for with Integrated Math.  So, I decided "why not become a resource for others?"  I have a lot of great ideas of my own to become a better and more efficient teacher in the classroom.  And, as we implement Integrated Math, maybe I'll have some ideas for other's.

Now, I'll add "Bloogger" to my something new hat!