My 10% for the 2019-2020 School Year

It is that time of year where testing is over, and we have just a few weeks left until school is out. It's also the time where I start thinking about planning for the next school year. When I went to Twitter Math Camp in 2016, one of our keynote speakers, Dylan Kane, discussed the rule of 10%.  He talked about how teachers should change 10% of their practice every year. He also added a caveat which stated that it is unreasonable for teachers to try to change more than 10% each year because if we as teachers try to change more than 10% each year, we will tend to get overwhelmed and not be successful. Conversely, we should not change less because it is very important that we do this to be more effective for our students.

Here is my list for my 10% for the next school year.

AVID
I am teaching an AVID 9th grade elective class, so this will be a new prep for me. I will have lots to learn and implement. I want to start my class by building community and setting that college ready mindset from day 1. I am pumped and ready to start decorating my room.

Geometry Interactive Notebooks
I have used interactive notebooks in my geometry classes in previous years, but I didn't use an INB this year. I have really missed it, so I am looking forward to getting some INBs in for Geometry next year. We have been doing notes on OneNote this year, and I have really liked it because it cuts down on paper. However, I have had a few kids who haven't had styluses; therefore, it has been hard in some ways. With that being said, I still LOVE OneNote!

Cell Phones
Cell phones have killed me this year. I plan on being way more strict with cell phones. If I see a cell phone, they will be required to turn it in. I just have to be consistent with it!

Kagan
I went to two days of Kagan Structures training last year, and I want to do a better job of integrating Kagan Structures into my instruction and having the individual accountability, which I find to be lacking when we do group work.

Visible Random Grouping (VRG)
I am wanting to try VRG from Day 1 because it will give different kids the opportunity to work together. However, I haven't decided if I want to do weekly or daily. I am willing to listen to advice.

Tech Tools
I am taking an online class on integrating Google Tools with Lynda Moore, who has some great ideas. I want to implement some of the things I have learned in this class, such as drag and drops and review menus.

Bathroom
I really want to start to flesh out a bathroom policy that doesn't make my classroom a revolving door. I also really want to limit how many times a week a kid can go. Some kids take advantage of me almost daily. I am going to start having kids turn in their cell phone in order to be able to go to the bathroom. I would also love to have some conversations on this as well.

CHAMPS
Earlier in the school year, one of my colleagues/friends presented on behavior expectations, using the acronym CHAMPS. Champs stands for
Conversation
Help
Activity
Movement
Participation
Success

I want to implement this to help with some classroom management issues and to create more structure.

Let me know what you think! Maybe we are thinking of some of the same ideas! Here is my 10% post in the 2016-17 school year. I think I have grown since then, so that is good!

Big Announcement!!

This will be a very short post. Last July, I took a temporary (interim) position at the high school in the town where I live. I really wanted the opportunity to be able to be hired permanently. The teacher who I was filling in for this year resigned, therefore creating an opening. I applied for the opening, interviewed, and on Tuesday, my principal officially offered me the job! I am ecstatic! Also, I am going to be teaching AVID 9 (an elective with our AVID program), and I am so pumped! So, now I can relax and enjoy the school year without the fear that I am going to be unemployed. Less than 4 weeks left. WOW!

Teacher Appreciation Week

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and I just wanted to take a moment to reflect. Here are some of the "warm fuzzies" that I got this week. Furthermore, I took advantage of the free sandwiches at Arby's and Chick-Fil-A as well as free tea at McAlister's.

Handwritten note from a student (the AVID job is part of the "big announcement" below

A parent of a student hand knitted this scarf that looks like a pencil. I laid it across my desk so you 

This almost, legit...made me cry. I haven't cried since my wedding day. 

My wife made me a cup with our school logo and my name. 

Also, here are some Teacher Appreciation Notes. I got the idea from Sarah Carter, so I thought I would share. I had the kids write their own thank you notes from teachers. I was lucky to get a few myself!