Tues, Oct 19: White boards

Today I used little white boards with students for the first time. I brought 5 students upstairs during lunch to go over what they didn't understand in the lesson (multiplying 2 digit by 2 digit numbers), and they loved using the white boards to figure out problems.

The only challenge is that students can get a bit overexcited using whiteboards. They say the trick to being a good teacher is to maintain 100% calm even in the most difficult situations; to be the constant no matter how riled up the kids get. I must work on maintaining this calm and not taking the misbehaviors personally.

This is Hard!!! But cheers to White Boards! I think they will be a great tool for the future!

Monday, Oct 18: Student Centers

Today after my lesson I set up a table at the front of the room for students who didn't understand and needed extra help (This is the first time I've done this and felt comfortable enough to work with a small group and leave the other 25 working unattended!!) Below is one of my cutest and most entertaining students who joined our group.

Oct 8: Message

I got the following voicemail from one of my students from last year:

"Hi Ms. Tolan, I wanted to share some great news with you that I got a 4 on my math test in 5th grade, and I'm so thankful and proud of you for teaching me good stuff so I could get a 4, and I hope I get one this year. So have a nice day, goodbye."

Listen to the message here:


*Note - The NY State Math test is on a scale from 1 to 4, with 4 being the highest. Scoring a 3 or 4 means a student is on grade level.

Week 5: Camp Ramapo

I had heard of other schools taking their students on a fall outdoor adventure trip and really wanted to do that with our kids, so I pitched the idea to our principal and we made it happen. It was thrilling to see the kids in an environment where everyone was supporting them to feel successful in challenges. I hope we can bring that sense back with us. Check out some photos:

Week 1: We believe.

In my first week of school I asked the students to decorate their math binders with their names. One student got out his red pen and meticulously wrote out the entire credo on the cover of his binder. The credo reads:

We believe.
We believe in the creation of inspired lives
produced by desire, discipline, and dedication.
We are not frightened by the challenges of reality
but believe that we can change our world and our place within it.
We work, plan, create and dream.
Our talent, character, and integrity will be the tools we need
to build a better tomorrow.
We believe that we can take this place, this time,
and the people here
and build a better place, a better time, and a better people.
As a team and a fmily, we will either find a way or make one.