New Commitments – New Year

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Jessica Breur

MCTM Social Media Editor

Math Coach – Mounds View Schools

A new school year is upon us and with every year comes the excitement of meeting the students, implementing something new, and a fresh start for both students and teachers.  It is a time of building classroom community, establishing routines and rituals, and reintroducing students to what mathematics is and can be. With 18 years of teaching mathematics at the middle and high school level, a current preschooler and a first grader, I am constantly learning new things that makes me even more excited to start this school year.

Five years ago, Annie Fetter gave an Ignite Talk called, “Ever Wonder, What They’d Notice?” – If you have never watched it, it is worth your 5 minutes to do so right now.  I have seen teachers of all levels K-12 use this strategy in a number of different subjects and it is always so engaging to listen to all of the thoughts students have.  While on vacation this summer, after just playing in a splash pad with our fancy dinner clothes, my 4 year old daughter and I rounded the corner and she stopped me immediately, “Whoa mommy, look how big we are!”  Each of our students come to us with so many experiences and my daughter’s exclamation made me wonder how often do I miss out on these noticings by not making space for them. This year, I commit to listening more to student ideas and using those ideas to drive learning forward.  How do you do this in your classroom? 

“Hope is not a strategy.”  These were frequent words heard from my former superintendent.  We just can’t hope for ‘better’ ______________ (you fill in the blank).  We have to do something to make it happen. This week as I was working in a classroom with a teacher who was responding to formative assessment data by having students work in guided math groups a conversation went down like this:

Student: (Looks down and sees 1 out of 4 on his paper) “Ugh, I don’t get this.”

Teacher: That is fine, we are going to work together to help you get it.

Student: So, I can make this better?

Teacher: Yes, when you are ready you can make it better and I know you can do it.

Student: Yes (with a huge fist pump)

This interaction reminded me of the powerful Ted Talk from Rita Pierson, Every Kid Needs a Champion.  This year, I commit to being a champion for students – loving them, helping them get on a winning streak, and working to make their  mathematics experiences positive. 

What are your commitments for this year?  MCTM would love to hear from you. You can find MCTM on social media.  We have a closed Facebook Group titled MN Math Teachers, our website, www.mctm.org  is a wealth of information, and we are active on Twitter – follow us @mctm_mn.