Teaching Jobs, Where are You?

My next step in this quest to become a math teacher is to find a job. However, this piece is stressing me out. It doesn't help to go on the news and hear that teachers are getting laid off and jobs are being cut everywhere around the state, like in this article from NBC: SDUSD Teachers Brace for Possible Layoffs. The only thing that is keeping me sane is the fact that I am constantly told that "We need good math teachers." I don't know where this will happen, I guess I just have to hope for pregnancies and retirements from math teachers so I can snatch up their jobs. I just have to be persistent and constantly be looking for opportunities to network and make myself look marketable which is far outside of my comfort zone. But at this point, I want to work so bad, Teaching is what I want to be doing, and I can't imagine doing anything else.

Learning in New Media Environments

The idea of introducing new technology into a culture is an interesting one. We all hope that it will benefit us and help us to get to information, connect to other easily, among other things. There is the concern, according to the video, that this might change our culture for the worst. In some ways this is already true. The concept of texting and using Facebook has caused so much distraction when used too much. There are so many accidents caused by texting and driving, and so many students are distracted by using Facebook in class rather than paying attention. I also think that new media has changed the way that we interact with each other. I know for myself, that I rarely call anyone on the phone, it is way more convenient to text them. Sometimes it is easier and cheaper to Skype my friends from far away rather than visit them like I used to. So really less face to face interaction is needed. It connects us in ways, but it in a way limits us from becoming more personable. The thing that hit me the most during this video was the idea of learning should be applied. Since we live in this technological world full of information that is easily accessible, then why do we need to learn it in class. I think that learning should be more in application and refining skills. For math, I think that this can be done by giving students assignments that use problem solving skills in a problem that directly applies to them or an interest of theirs. It will force them to better understand the material and practice their logic and reasoning skills in which a lot of students lack. This way, students will get more out of the lesson than simply learning facts.

Japanese 2

When my OSL told me to observe a Japanese 2 class, I thought she was crazy. Oddly enough, she had a good point. Even though the extent of hearing Japanese was while tourists were speaking it over my Coast Cruise spiel at Legoland (That's another story), I learned a lot from the class. I had no idea what they were talking about, but I could understand the structure of the class. These were mostly 9th and 10th graders and it seemed to be a very squirreley class, but I learned if you keep them moving and keep the class going at a fast pace, then there is no time for bad behavior. I saw them playing games to remember the kanji, using hand movements and motions to remember the vocab, and were rewarded with a Japanese movie at the end of the period for being good. Since I had no clue as to what was said, I was able to focus on the pacing of the class as well as the way that the students react and are behaved. Overall it was a very fun and interesting experience.

Confused...

Today was another observation day at my school site.  It was not a bad day despite a suspected gun man running around the near by neighborhood causing the school and other schools in the area to go on lock down. Although my issue was not exactly about my day, but about what type of teacher I want to become.  The more I observe the different types of teachers, the more I question what types of things that I want to do within my class.  I want to incorporate group work and conceptual problems (like POW's), but I also want to make sure that the students have strong algebra skills that will help them in later, and more difficult classes.  I have seen classes (at many sites) that have a more student centered environment, but it seems like they don't get much done.  I have also seen classes where the teacher stands up in front of the class and bores the kids so much it drives them to text, doodle, and talk to their friends.  I feel like there is a middle route here.  I feel like there should be a way to use group work and self discovery of concepts but still be lecturing and making sure that the students understand each concept by sharing proofs, and the history behind them.  I guess this is something that I will continue to be pondering well on through my first years of teaching, but it is definitely bothering me now!

A Weekend of Conferences

This weekend was jam-packed full of conferences for me.  I went to two different education related conferences, with different perspectives and ideas, but overall it was very valuable.

On Thursday evening I went to the Education Re-Energized conference which was on the USS Midway.  Not only was the location amazing, but everything that was happening was more than what I had expected.  There were booths to view before the main speaker and they were mostly high school and middle school students representing different after school programs which bring science and math awareness to young students.  I thought this was amazing, and it is something that I definitely want to be part of when I get into a school.  The speaker of the conference brought new insight to teaching and education.  The speaker was Steve Farber, normally a speaker of Leadership to the business world, he then was notified by educators about how his theories can be related to educators.  He discussed his acronym: LEAP.  Love, Energy, Audacity and Proof.  He presented some great thoughts and ideas.

On Friday and Saturday, I attended the GSDMC (Greater San Diego Mathematics Council) Conference which was focused on teaching math.  Some speakers were good, I learned about the use of Hollistic problems, getting kids interested in puzzles, and working with the new Common Core Standards.  The best talk, however, was Dan Meyer, who talked about the phases of word problems and how they relate to a good movie.
Act 1: The hook, students need to be interested in what they are solving.
Act 2: Students gather the tools, resources and information (it's better if they do it on their own)
Act 3: The done moment, when students get to see if they are right.

Even though it was a long weekend, it was well worth my time. I was able to network with other teachers and think about they way that I want to set up my own class.

Visitor vs. Resident

Technology has always been a part of my life, since my family had owned a computer before I was born.  (They purchased an Apple 2 in 1984.)  This then influenced my brother to become a Software Engineer, and has influenced me to not only be technology literate but to enjoy and understand it as a tool.   I learned math on Math Blaster, reading on Reader Rabbit, had my own email address by the age of 5, and an AIM account at 7.  With this I have been familiar with the idea of cyberspace, and as soon as Facebook was available to high school students, I was quickly on top of it.  I like the fact that I can easily connect to my friends that I might not have been able to stay in contact with due to crazy lifestyles and moving across the country for school or work.  I constantly read blogs, use skype, twitter and other sites which gives me a presence, which according to Dr. White, makes me not only a resident, but a fearless one.  Since I am fearless, it allows me to try all sorts of tools with education.  I am already being more exposed so some social networking tools that I can use for education, and I am willing to try anything as long as I can connect my students to the math.