Saturday, September 22, 2012

It’s Me…


I am starting this blog but wanted to give some background on myself, so those who don’t know me can better understand.  I am a nerdy math geek, who became a teacher.  I yearned for kids to be as passionate about math as I am.  I started my career eleven years ago in a self-contained fifth grade classroom in a very small town.  I found that I spent a majority of my class time teaching math, because I love it.  It’s sad to say other subjects got the short-end of the stick.  After that year, I took a sixth grade math position at an intermediate campus, which I loved (they moved us to middle school later),.  I taught sixth grade math for 5 years.  I left that position to come to my current district as the math specialist for third through eighth grade.  This position allowed me to get my kid fix and help teachers improve their math instruction, and create great resources to use. Currently, I am in my second year as an assistant principal.  Just a little about me.but back to my blog. 

 

Does anyone feel a knot in your stomach when you’re about to teach a concept or subject that is just not your comfort zone?  You’re standing there, in front of your class or teachers perhaps, palms are sweating and your thinking you might lose your cheerios from breakfast.  The fear makes you think, I should have stayed up later preparing more.  I felt (and secretly still do) this way often in the classroom and presenting staff development.  I believe for many teachers and kids that math makes them feel this way.  My goal here is to help teachers have fun with math, enjoy it.  Build confidence in teaching math and making mistakes too.  We learn from mistakes and kids need to see that adults make mistakes too.  Great mathematicians had to make numerous mistakes before solving difficult theorems and algorithms.   

 

Follow along with me and I’ll give you some tips and fun games to make Math your favorite subject

 

Leaving you with a great Math video.  I follow her on youtube. 

 
Shannon

10 comments:

  1. I'm following! I am so excited for you! I loved that video too!

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    1. I really love her video on doodling but it's pretty advanced in mathematical terms...didn't want everyone to know I was that much of a nerd. Lol

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  2. I can't wait to read more from you. It will be great to read about your different perspectives on teaching :) I am heading over via recommendation from Reagan :) Welcome to blogging.

    Heidi
    My (Not So) Elementary Life

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    1. Welcome Heidi
      Reagan has been a huge help. I've been lucky to have had the opprotunities that have fallen in my lap. I have to say that helping teachers enjoy teaching math (and playing math games with the kids) are my favorite things to do. I love to pop into a classroom and ask the teacher if I can play a game with their class. We all have a good time. I'll be sharing lots of fun games to play.

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  3. Welcome Amber! Excited to have you following along

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  4. Yahooooo, you did it. Great job, you make math fun. Love the video.

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    1. Thanks...I love giving you stuff to help our struggling kiddos.

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