Things to Stop

I'm realizing that I need to stop being so critical of myself and start listening to my students' advice! Here's their take on

Things to Stop:

• being so awesome. i have nothing else to say.
• being nice to people who don't deserve it [this one breaks my heart a little- I want to get them to the next level of believing that everyone deserves it!]
• being too nice to students who are trying to take advantage of you
• never!
• drinking coffee. you will get hyper. 
• letting students in or out
• giving free candy [I've never done this??]
• stop yelling please!
• being mean to girls at the door [who are interrupting our class...]
• speaking in English
• beating people in cards
• sending Eddie on walks 
• having butterfingers
• letting random ppl in yo room
• giving homework
• the walk of shame [see "Things to Start" post about how students have to take a walk if they curse]
• me from cussing
• the walk of shame. except for Eddie. he can walk.
• teasing me about all the girls
• don't stop, keep going!
• giving long tests
• giving 0's for work we didn't do 
• counting tardies
• being absent so you can teach us more
• worrying so much- you are amazing
• letting people go to the restroom for a long time
• getting mad a lot. and sometimes don't be so nice. only sometimes. 
• I don't know I love you.

I love you, too. 

Things to Start

Again, I plan on starting a few more things next year- a better procedure for note taking and a more organized process for make-up work when students are absent. I know that I should be more strict in some areas, and lighten up on other issues- these are fluid things that (they say) you develop with experience as a teacher. (In my head, I'm still laughing at my words while writing this- who would have thought that I could become a teacher???) Anyway, here are some

Things to Start:

• a family
• you should sell your brownies next year
• getting after people that skip
• playing music during assignments
• being strict to people who are not willing to pay attention to you 
• selling more candies [for fundraisers for organizations I sponsor] 
• your new dream job
• give us a Blizzard if we get a 100 on a test, for example on the 6-weeks tests
• next year (duh)
• showing math videos
• teaching your way of teaching to M___. ___________. (another teacher in our hallway! yikes!) 
• putting us in groups
• teaching us in groups based on what we need
• help more kids
• speaking more Spanish!
• speaking English
• playing games often
• cheer them up before you take a test or start a lesson
• you should start selling your homemade cookies
• playing more cards
• being more happy
• selling cheesecakes
• sending Artemio to walk [when students say a bad word, they have to
  "take a walk" to the end of the hallway and back- it gets them moving & gives everybody a chance to cool off in case they offended someone] 
• by not giving homework
• giving out prizes
• being more awesome
• cussing [no, not gonna happen!]
• a walk out [why? these kids are hilarious.]
• make the class shorter
• keeping games to play when we finish our work
• bringing us ice cream
• start being aware of Enrique (future student's name- had a girl warn me that her cousin will be in 9th grade next year!)
• being mean
• scream

I think I'll take some of these with a grain of salt! 

Things to Change

I have my own running list of things that I should change in my classroom and in my planning for next year, but here's what my students think:

Things to Change:

• the game (our class motto was "Change The Game!")
• your home to live here
• people's attitudes toward math
• don't- be yourself. 
• the seating arrangement
• be the Freshman class sponsor
• your attitude
• the homework
• the room's theme
• the combination of your safe
• change the kids and the game
• change from 9th grade to 10th!
• you need to be a little mean
• you should get the bad people out of your class (what is this supposed to mean...)
• nothing
• letting your students sit in your desk
• to teach sophomores so you can have us next year
• change your English language to Spanish
• change your talking in English to Spanish, we students learn more stuff in Spanish ;) 
• be meaner!
• make the lessons more fun
• the people you let in your class
• your room- move stuff around
• my grades until my average is 100
• (student's name)'s attitude toward the class
• I really don't want you to change anything, thanks for being amazing

Things to Keep

State test results are in (and I've officially become a free woman and math teacher blogger)! What an experience, sharing my students' results with them. For those who passed, most are shocked to hear the news and ask me if they can text their mom. For those who didn't, it's a humbling moment. I have the opportunity to love on them, to share how close they were, and to remind them that they are worth so much more than a state test could ever measure. We have just 4 more days of school left, after today, and it's a sweet time getting to love on this bath of students for the

It's the end of my first year of teaching?!? One moment, I think, "how did this happen?" and the next, "finally!" I'm a roller-coaster of emotions right now and I couldn't be more proud of my students. They learned about Algebraic Functions, Relations, and Equations; more importantly, they learned about perseverance, hard work, dedication, and the value of teamwork. I am blessed to say that my students are the future of this Roma community and I learn new things from them every day.

Thus, I'm taking advice from my students today on things I should "Keep, Change, Start, Stop" for next year. There are some pretty silly responses, and some very insightful ones; all are valuable and informative for both my heart and my practice. I'm going to share them on the blog, one post at a time, for all my other teachers out there. (By the way, I totally stole this idea and the PDF from an amazing High School Math teacher that I follow via http://mathequalslove.blogspot.com/. Check out her work. She's a rock star)  First,

Things to Keep:

• encouraging us
• having fun activities 
• spreading positivity and teaching the way you've been doing
• being yourself
• teaching math
• your last name
• pushing us to be better
• giving us inspirational quotes
• letting us charge our phones
• giving homework on Monday
• being who you are, because you're a good teacher
• your humor
• keep our assignments as memories
• keep doing what ever you want to do!
• bringing students to the SmartBoard to work
• the fun 
• kids in your class
• giving out passes
• playing cards
• your lecturing
• having the same energy you have
• showing videos that motivate you
• the smile on your face
• doing what you're doing
• calm and carry on
• the work; don't change it
• making learning fun 
• being awesome
• talking with your students
• giving us free time when we earn it
• being the best teacher <3
• staying awesome. 

Yep, I love them. Cue tears.