Thank you to the Delabys for buying this lesson from the Woodbrook PTO, and thanks to the Aldermans for lending their basement out for some karate action. A good time was had by all!
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Three Ninjas
Thank you to the Delabys for buying this lesson from the Woodbrook PTO, and thanks to the Aldermans for lending their basement out for some karate action. A good time was had by all!
Friday, June 29, 2018
Rub Some Dirt On It
Okay, here is an awesome article.
Click above. As a person who is no longer accountable to being responsible for your kids, I encourage you to read it! (Ha!)
Seriously, it looks at what might make your kids into the kids that grew up the way you and I did. You know, a little dangerous, but well-adjusted and not afraid of our own shadows.
Click above. As a person who is no longer accountable to being responsible for your kids, I encourage you to read it! (Ha!)
Seriously, it looks at what might make your kids into the kids that grew up the way you and I did. You know, a little dangerous, but well-adjusted and not afraid of our own shadows.
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Strawberry Fields
Before it's too late, I wanted to post this article (click here to see it). Tonight is the full Strawberry Moon.
So if you have strawberries to harvest, now is the time to do it!
Oh, man! I'm finding so many great jobs right now, but if The Old Farmer's Almanac is hiring, please let me know, Almanacers! That just might make me move to New Hampshire.
Oh, man! I'm finding so many great jobs right now, but if The Old Farmer's Almanac is hiring, please let me know, Almanacers! That just might make me move to New Hampshire.
Stuck
Hey, everyone. I realized earlier that it's been a full week since I last posted, and you may be wondering if I am just going to let this thing trail off into the sunset. Please know that's not the plan.
But until I have something more substantive to post in regards to the educational world, I wanted to share this picture. Seriously, this is the kind of thing that always made the job worth it!
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Sums That Go On Forever
This story from Edutopia shows off some great ideas for implementing real world math strategies in everyday life. This is exactly what I have always preached about Math, and I'm really happy to have my own "lectures" backed up by the social sciences.
I'm going to brag now.
Way back during my first year of teaching, I taught the Challenge class (now known as the HA, or "high ability" class). However, at the time, the assistant principal taught all of the Math classes, except for one, which was given to me. They gave me the lowest of the low students at that time. When I say the lowest of the low (and we are talking the class of 2001-2002, so these kids are in their late 20's now), I mean the bottom eleven students in the 100+ fifth grade class.
That year, they were implementing a new curriculum, but being the Challenge teacher, I got to write my own. And my own was based on my experiences, both from IU--where I learned how to teach math, and Purdue, where I learned how to understand and do math. And I kicked it old school.
My students were taught first to learn their multiplication facts. Then we went from there to learning how to add and subtract, making sure it makes sense, then using those facts to add, subtract, multiply, and eventually divide fractions.
Then we did decimals. Then I showed them how fractions are just decimals, and decimals are just fractions.
I taught them that the "remainder" on their division problems should never be put as "R3", because "R3" could mean 3/1,000 or 3/4, which are very different amounts. So I taught them how to write their remainders as a fraction, or worst case scenario, a decimal.
After the second six weeks grading period (this was another time), I had a few more students who ended up in my math class. Not because they were now at the bottom, but because their parents wanted them in.
I showed them all of these things through real-life examples. Balancing your checkbook became a lesson on adding and subtracting decimals. Multiplication came around because of finding the area of a 12x16 room. And dividing was done to show that 1/4 is actually a division problem that worked out to 0.25.
Plus, I'm pretty sure that everyone who had me for math in my eighteen years of teaching fifth grade heard stories about my favorite math professor from Purdue, Dr. David Goldberg, who taught me to love math because it is everywhere; and my math professor from IU, Dr. Diana Lambdin, who taught me that it wasn't enough to be right, because I was going to have to teach a grade-school kid how I was right. Both of them taught me how to unlock the concept of math, and from there, everything else makes sense.
I can't wait to see where else I'm going to take these lessons, and it does me good to know that I have branches going out everywhere now.
I'm going to brag now.
Way back during my first year of teaching, I taught the Challenge class (now known as the HA, or "high ability" class). However, at the time, the assistant principal taught all of the Math classes, except for one, which was given to me. They gave me the lowest of the low students at that time. When I say the lowest of the low (and we are talking the class of 2001-2002, so these kids are in their late 20's now), I mean the bottom eleven students in the 100+ fifth grade class.
That year, they were implementing a new curriculum, but being the Challenge teacher, I got to write my own. And my own was based on my experiences, both from IU--where I learned how to teach math, and Purdue, where I learned how to understand and do math. And I kicked it old school.
My students were taught first to learn their multiplication facts. Then we went from there to learning how to add and subtract, making sure it makes sense, then using those facts to add, subtract, multiply, and eventually divide fractions.
Then we did decimals. Then I showed them how fractions are just decimals, and decimals are just fractions.
I taught them that the "remainder" on their division problems should never be put as "R3", because "R3" could mean 3/1,000 or 3/4, which are very different amounts. So I taught them how to write their remainders as a fraction, or worst case scenario, a decimal.
After the second six weeks grading period (this was another time), I had a few more students who ended up in my math class. Not because they were now at the bottom, but because their parents wanted them in.
I showed them all of these things through real-life examples. Balancing your checkbook became a lesson on adding and subtracting decimals. Multiplication came around because of finding the area of a 12x16 room. And dividing was done to show that 1/4 is actually a division problem that worked out to 0.25.
Plus, I'm pretty sure that everyone who had me for math in my eighteen years of teaching fifth grade heard stories about my favorite math professor from Purdue, Dr. David Goldberg, who taught me to love math because it is everywhere; and my math professor from IU, Dr. Diana Lambdin, who taught me that it wasn't enough to be right, because I was going to have to teach a grade-school kid how I was right. Both of them taught me how to unlock the concept of math, and from there, everything else makes sense.
I can't wait to see where else I'm going to take these lessons, and it does me good to know that I have branches going out everywhere now.
Monday, June 18, 2018
For Tonight
First off, I know I haven't been posting as much as I have in the past several summers. This summer, I'm sure you understand, is a bit different. I'm happy to say that I am finding all kinds of leads for jobs, applied in places I never would have thought of at first, and am actually enjoying the process.
Second, I saw this today, and it doesn't surprise me at all. According to the World Health Organization, there is actually a thing called "Gaming Disorder."
As I said above, this comes as no shock to me. The propensity for boredom is high among kids today. I would suggest that it is higher than ever. You can read the article here.
It's interesting posting stuff like this, no longer having a horse in the race, although, the way things are going so far, I think I'm going to end up trading that race for a higher level of the same competition.
So let's pull back on that screen time, because mental health is where it's at these days.
I hope everyone is having a good summer so far. I still think about you all every day.
Second, I saw this today, and it doesn't surprise me at all. According to the World Health Organization, there is actually a thing called "Gaming Disorder."
It's interesting posting stuff like this, no longer having a horse in the race, although, the way things are going so far, I think I'm going to end up trading that race for a higher level of the same competition.
So let's pull back on that screen time, because mental health is where it's at these days.
I hope everyone is having a good summer so far. I still think about you all every day.
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Zimmy
Zac is one of the most cheerful, energetic boys in his class. I say this honestly: He did not know a single enemy. What's not to love? His heart is honest, and his positivity is infectious.
He is the third of his brothers than I have had in class, and sadly for us, the last in his family. I've known his family for a long time. I remember when they brought him home from the hospital, and asking his older brother if he was changing diapers (he insisted no). He truly lived up to his legacy in the classroom; I'm pretty sure everyone in their family is just always a happy person.
I hope you're having a great summer so far, Zac. It's been well-earned through all your hard work throughout the school year.
Happy Birthday, Zimmy! You definitely deserve it.
Thursday, June 7, 2018
This Is Not Good-Bye
Hello, everyone. I hope summer is treating you well so far.
This isn't easy for me to write, but it has been in the back of my mind for a long time. Some of you know that it's been on my mind for years.
It is time for me to move on from teaching school. It has nothing to do with the kids, the excellent staff with which I have had the honor of working, or anything like that. I have loved all the years I have taught at Woodbrook, the families I've met, and the relationships that I have built through my time there. Recent events have all come together and shown me that now is the right time to make this move.
The fact is, I'm not getting any younger. I never expected to teach school for my entire life, and if I want to try new things, now is the time to do that. Enough opportunities and possibilities have come my way this year that it has become clear that this is the way my path is leading.
I am forever grateful to the Woodbrook staff, families, and the students. Each one of them has contributed to making me who I am today.
I will keep Mr. Carter's Dojo going for now. I want everyone to have their birthday blog fair and square for one thing.
Everyone have a fantastic summer, and I will keep you posted on where life leads me next!
This isn't easy for me to write, but it has been in the back of my mind for a long time. Some of you know that it's been on my mind for years.
It is time for me to move on from teaching school. It has nothing to do with the kids, the excellent staff with which I have had the honor of working, or anything like that. I have loved all the years I have taught at Woodbrook, the families I've met, and the relationships that I have built through my time there. Recent events have all come together and shown me that now is the right time to make this move.
The fact is, I'm not getting any younger. I never expected to teach school for my entire life, and if I want to try new things, now is the time to do that. Enough opportunities and possibilities have come my way this year that it has become clear that this is the way my path is leading.
I am forever grateful to the Woodbrook staff, families, and the students. Each one of them has contributed to making me who I am today.
I will keep Mr. Carter's Dojo going for now. I want everyone to have their birthday blog fair and square for one thing.
Everyone have a fantastic summer, and I will keep you posted on where life leads me next!
Sunday, June 3, 2018
Where Have You Been?
I spent yesterday celebrating the life of my grandmother, Dorothy Carter.
It's hard to put into words what she meant to our family. She served as the glue that held us together at the worst of times, and the better times, she absolutely swelled with pride. At all times, she had a heart that was completely filled with love.
Often, that love spilled over in ways that still make us laugh. When I was probably in middle school or high school, she had bought some cherry cordial ice cream for a family get-together. Her feasts always more than filled us up, though, ice cream or no. She went around offering everyone ice cream, and no one wanted any. She was clearly distraught over the fact that nobody wanted any, so I spoke up and said, "I'll take some, Grandma!" Even though I didn't really care for cherry cordial ice cream, I gobbled it down, insisting that I was loving every bite.
Everyone used to give me a hard time, because every time I came back to their house, she had a brand new tub of cherry cordial ice cream that she would pull out, just for me. She knew it made me happy, and she wanted me to be happy.
My happy place was in their basement, where I could sit and watch TV and smell my grandpa's pipe tobacco. It was always cold down there, and there was a huge trunk that contained old blankets and my uncle's Purdue football jersey. That basement also had some eerie, slightly damp closets packed with ancient memories, and a bar that I always assumed had served up some rocking parties in its heyday.
After exploring down there (or much more often, just chilling), I would go back up those creaky stairs, with each step raising the volume of the laughter of my dad and uncles upstairs, followed by the laughter of everyone else. As I reached the top and swung the door open to their kitchen, it was clear that my happy place wasn't truly in their basement (as much as I could curl up down there and take a nap right now). It was upstairs, the place where everyone felt so welcome, where everyone would say, "Where have you been?"
Tonight, I find myself thinking about one day, when my time comes, of climbing up the stairs, each step getting louder and louder with the beautiful, raucous sound of my family, and reaching the top, opening the door, and seeing everyone mid-laughter, turning, and saying, "Where have you been?"
It's hard to put into words what she meant to our family. She served as the glue that held us together at the worst of times, and the better times, she absolutely swelled with pride. At all times, she had a heart that was completely filled with love.
Often, that love spilled over in ways that still make us laugh. When I was probably in middle school or high school, she had bought some cherry cordial ice cream for a family get-together. Her feasts always more than filled us up, though, ice cream or no. She went around offering everyone ice cream, and no one wanted any. She was clearly distraught over the fact that nobody wanted any, so I spoke up and said, "I'll take some, Grandma!" Even though I didn't really care for cherry cordial ice cream, I gobbled it down, insisting that I was loving every bite.
Everyone used to give me a hard time, because every time I came back to their house, she had a brand new tub of cherry cordial ice cream that she would pull out, just for me. She knew it made me happy, and she wanted me to be happy.
My happy place was in their basement, where I could sit and watch TV and smell my grandpa's pipe tobacco. It was always cold down there, and there was a huge trunk that contained old blankets and my uncle's Purdue football jersey. That basement also had some eerie, slightly damp closets packed with ancient memories, and a bar that I always assumed had served up some rocking parties in its heyday.
After exploring down there (or much more often, just chilling), I would go back up those creaky stairs, with each step raising the volume of the laughter of my dad and uncles upstairs, followed by the laughter of everyone else. As I reached the top and swung the door open to their kitchen, it was clear that my happy place wasn't truly in their basement (as much as I could curl up down there and take a nap right now). It was upstairs, the place where everyone felt so welcome, where everyone would say, "Where have you been?"
Tonight, I find myself thinking about one day, when my time comes, of climbing up the stairs, each step getting louder and louder with the beautiful, raucous sound of my family, and reaching the top, opening the door, and seeing everyone mid-laughter, turning, and saying, "Where have you been?"
Saturday, June 2, 2018
Cooper
I'll bet he was starting to think I had forgotten, but that's why I write these things down.
I've had Cooper in my class since last year when he was in my math class as a fourth grader. I was so happy when he was on my class list for this past year. He always made me feel better about myself as a teacher just because of the way he would show his appreciation. This really became more and more manifest as the school year began to come to an end. It broke my heart to say good-bye to him a couple days ago.
Cooper was my office messenger--every day, I'd hand him my updated attendance list and he knew exactly what to do with it. The office ladies told me that they liked seeing him every morning.
Cooper, I hope you are going to have an outstanding time at Clay next year. You're one of the good ones and you deserve it. You're one of my favorite people.
Happy birthday, kiddo. You deserve it!
Friday, June 1, 2018
Friends Are Family
Here's 5-1 during the last few minutes of the school day yesterday. I love these kids and I'm going to miss them!
In the meantime, in the in-between time, I hope everyone is having a great, relaxing first day of break.
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