Math Rocks!

Candidate establishes a classroom climate conducive to learning, e.g. positive classroom management, a safe and developmentally appropriate environment, efficient organization of time and materials, and effective transitions. 
 At the beginning of each school year I start a tradition that lasts all school year in my class.  When I take attendance I ask a question that everyone in the room has to answer.  This question is about the student’s likes and dislikes.  For example, what is your favorite color, actor, movie, and so on.  We are able to take those 2-3 minutes to build a relationship with each other as a whole and that relationship is based on respect which is shown in the student teacher rapport.  I have also found that it helps the students connect to me as a person not just as a teacher since I am answering the questions as well.

If you walk into my classroom you will see student work displayed everywhere and a lot of the times even outside on the walls because there is not anymore room left to display more student work.   Also on the walls are tips and trick to use a calculator and various mathematical operations.  While we are in a unit, the students are exposed to graphic organizers Unit Organizer and vocabulary building activities that are posted around the room and kept in their binder for future reference.  Any student activity that has been done recently is displayed for all to appreciate.  There is a chalkboard that shows the daily content objectives and language objectives that the students will need to place on their agenda for parents to see.    I have started embedding these objectives in my power point lessons which is a basic reminder for me to discus with the students the objectives.  Students have a routine that they are taught within the first few days of school that they follow in each class.  This includes how the transitions work in the class and the high level of expectations that myself and the rest of my team have for the students.  The students are also taught the proper way to interact with community members that are invited to talk to them.  One of these community members was a retired Intel employee who also was a pilot and has traveled the world.  He came in to help with a project that we were working on in the computer lab.

Students are grouped in a variety of ways depending on the concepts and activities that are being taught at the time.  Some of the groupings are by interest, ability or student choice.  Also, I do have a variety of adults coming in and out of my classroom.  I usually have a chance to talk with the adults to tell them about the content that is being taught that day, the grouping, and problem areas to watch out for if there are any.  I feel that the professionals that are coming into my room are more effective if they have the basic information ahead of time.  Of course this ‘basic information’ does not include any confidential information and background.

My classroom has tables in it.  I believe in group work and the ability of the students to ask a question to their peers and work out any content problems that they might have.  Also, the tables are arranged so that the students are able to maneuver around the classroom, not obstructing the view of other students while they are going where they need to go.  I have an area that is for school supplies for any student that might not have the supplies for money reasons.  I leave it up for anyone to help the students that can’t afford the supplies save face.  My desk will be messy during the day. I try to allow time at the end of the day to clean it up but this does not always work.  

Syllabus