Teaching Reflections: Year 10 (2021-2022)
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September 13, 2021: Monday Must Reads: Volume 89
Now that I’ve been back to school for about a month, I finally feel like I’m getting in the swing of things. My school is doing distance learning on Mondays this year. However, students are allowed to still come in person on Mondays for extra help or if they need to make up missing work/tests. I gave my first Pre-Calculus test of the year on Friday, so I had a million students in my room today. I survived, though. I even got to help a former student with some calculus which was fun.
Since it’s Monday, I decided that it was time to put together a new volume of Monday Must Reads. MMR is my weekly-ish attempt at capturing the amazing ideas shared by (mostly) math teachers on twitter. I hope you find at least one idea you can use in your own math classroom. There are even a few science ideas this week for the chemistry teachers who might be reading this.
Introducing the Distributive Property
Amie shares a great series of problems that can be used to introduce the distributive property. I really like how students have to determine if they can apply the distributive property or not with each problem.
3D Bohr Models
This 3-D Bohr Model display from Reagan Josephison caught my eye recently when scrolling through twitter. It’s creative activities like this that make me miss teaching chemistry!
Math Club Ideas
Looking to start a math club or just looking for some fun, hands-on activities to use in your classes? Check out this thread from Miss G. There are tons of lovely activities and suggestions in the comments!
My Life in Numbers
Adele shares a great beginning of year activity called “My Life in Numbers” that results in some lovely room decor.
Puzzle of the Week Set-Up
Check out how Ms R is incorporating a puzzle of the week this year!
Magic Square Tic Tac Toe
This Magic Square Tic Tac Toe Game looks like a ton of fun. Be sure to follow PUSDmath on twitter for tons of math sidewalk chalk problems and other creative content!
SMP Self Reflection Forms
I absolutely love these SMP self-reflection forms from Nat Banting.
String Art with the Classic Handshake Problem
Mark Kaercher blows my mind once again by combining the classic handshake problem with string art. So fun!
Justifying Function or Not a Function Worksheet
I really like this function worksheet that Jessica Merrill recently highlighted. I appreciate both the fact that it requires students to write sentences to justify whether the relation is a function AND it teaches students how to write these sentences.
What are you certain of?
Check out this brilliant teacher move from Katy Dornbos. Ask students to identify what they are certain of. So simple, yet so powerful of an idea!
Until next time, keep sharing your awesome ideas! Want even more ideas? I suggest checking out previous volumes of Monday Must Reads!
September 27, 2021: Monday Must Reads: Volume 90
Happy Monday! I’m so happy that you’ve chosen to join me today for a new volume of Monday Must Reads. Can you believe this is the 90th volume of Monday Must Reads? If this is your first experience with MMR, it’s my weekly-ish attempt at capturing the amazing ideas shared by (mostly) math teachers on twitter. I hope you find an idea or two to use in your own classroom or to share with a coworker.
Calculus WODB Tasks
Jennifer Vibber shares some WODB tasks that she created for teaching calculus.
Random Coloring Task
Looking for a fun math problem to explore? Check out this tweet from Luke Walsh!
Inspiring Origami
If you are an origami fan, you MUST check out the twitter account of Dr. Lizzie Burns. She is continually trying out new origami folds and is a great source of inspiration for experimenting with paper-folding.
Math Art Installation in Classroom
Check out this math classroom design from Mark Joyce. Absolutely gorgeous!
Surface Area and Volume Project with Names and Isometric Grid Paper
How awesome is this surface area and volume project from Martin Joyce?!?
Residuals Activity with Guessing Ages of Celebrities
I love how Victoria Saldiveri had students choose the celebrities that they would use for their age guessing residuals activity!
Ideas for Introducing the Game of SET
Molly Rawding inspires with her approach to introducing students to the game of SET. I especially like how she printed/laminated copies of the online SET game for students to use to practice finding sets. Brilliant!
Chemistry Jokes
I enjoy reading the chemistry jokes that BranVanChemist shares with her students!
Bad Passwords Dress
Check out this awesome bad passwords dress that Dr. Kristin Briney teaches in! Now I’m wondering what type of math dresses I could come up with…
Function Detectives Activity
Kathryn Kundrot inspires with an activity that engages students by giving them the job of “function detectives.” How creative is that?!?
Until next time, keep sharing your awesome ideas! Want even more ideas? I suggest checking out previous volumes of Monday Must Reads!
October 4, 2021: Monday Must Reads: Volume 91
I can’t believe it is already Monday again and time for the 91st volume of Monday Must Reads! If this is your first experience with Monday Must Reads, it’s my weekly-ish attempt at capturing the amazing ideas shared by (mostly) math teachers on twitter. I hope you find an idea or two to use in your own classroom or to share with a coworker.
Desmos Four 4s Challenge with Parents
I love how Dana Harrington not only engaged her students with the classic Four Fours problem, but she also got parents involved! What a brilliant way to introduce parents to Desmos, as well!
Math is Like… Display
Check out this “Math is like…” display from Michael Siegel.
Using Geometric Transformations to Solve Puzzles
Sarah Furman shares an absolutely brilliant activity where she combines student knowledge of geometric transformations with puzzle creation. Students had to create their own puzzles similar to Cover the Duck, Cover the Heart, Cover the Camel, etc. Then, they had to use geometric transformations to describe the solution to the puzzle they created. I am just blown away by this activity.
Pumpkin Would You Rather Task
The Community Classroom shares a fun, fall-themed task. Which pumpkin would you rather have? (Note: there is a typo in the original tweet. The large pumpkin is full of pennies, not quarters.)
Playing Nim on Pop-Its
Pop-its seem to be all the rage these days. Adrienne Hestenes recommends playing Nim on a pop-it. Great idea!
Wooden Visual of Conic Sections
The MathHappens Organization is sharing free files for creating your own tool to help students visualize conic sections. They even have a printable version that you can create with cardstock if you don’t have access to technology for creating it out of wood.
Laser Cutting Desmos Artwork
Matt Zigler shares some awesome student work that all started in Desmos!
Finding Real World Examples of Math
Denis Sheeran continues to show that we can find math anywhere and everywhere if we just take the time to look!
Coloring Tangrams
David Butler shares an interesting fact about tangrams that could easily be turned into an exploratory activity.
Trig Derivatives Memory Trick
Jonathan shares a mind-blowing diagram for remembering trig derivatives.
Integer Rules Tic Tac Toe
Alyssa Castorena shares a fun-looking integer tic-tac-toe game. I especially love the use of cups for X’s and O’s. I’m definitely stealing that idea!
Factoring Trinomials Open Middle Task
Mr. Canning shares an awesome open-middle task for factoring quadratics.
Until next time, keep sharing your awesome ideas! Want even more ideas? I suggest checking out previous volumes of Monday Must Reads!
October 22, 2021: Things Teenagers Say Volume 60
It has been a VERY crazy week, so I thought I would end the week with a new volume of Things Teenagers Say. This is my regular round-up of the crazy and memorable things I hear my students say in class.
One week into school…
Student: Wait. We have lockers?
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They put letters in math problems. Why not put math problems in letters?
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If you give me detention, I will catch my tears in a cup and pour them on your head and it will make your hair look weird.
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If my ovaries don’t stop me from having children, my wish for fame will.
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I got rich people chocolate milk.
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That’s the only reason I go on all these college tours. Free T-Shirts.
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Student: Are we allowed to work with partners?
Me: Sure.
Student: No thank you!
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Is it Adam’s rib or Eve’s Rib? I don’t know. Oh wait…it’s Adam’s apple!
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Student A: You’re a cosine.
Student B: That’s not nice!
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I know why the bell at the end of the day hasn’t been ringing. Somebody stole the bell!
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Is the homecoming game a home game or an away game?
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Student A: Why is there half a ruler in my backpack?
Student B: Maybe you got a little hungry?
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Student A: Would you be a dear and let me copy your notes?
Student B: I’ll be a deer. A deer in the headlights.
October 25, 2021: Monday Must Reads: Volume 92
Happy Monday! Welcome to another volume of Monday Must Reads, my weekly-ish attempt at capturing the amazing ideas shared by (mostly) math teachers on twitter. I hope you find an idea or two to use in your own classroom or to share with a coworker. This week’s volume features not only inspiring math teaching ideas but ideas from physics, chemistry, and Spanish. I am a firm believer that learning from teachers of other subjects improves our teaching.
Random Variables Would You Rather
Julia Anker shares a Would You Rather? Question for introducing combining random variables.
Truchet Wall
Mark Kaercher shares a VERY COOL truchet wall that he installed outside his classroom. My students were trying to make designs using the panda squares puzzle the other day, so I think I need to make a set of these truchet tiles for them to make designs with!
Create Your Own Visual Patterns
Mark Chubb inspires by having students create their own visual patterns.
Physics-Themed Halloween Costumes
Looking for some Halloween costume inspiration? Check out this thread where Emily shares a different physics-themed costume to every quantum mechanics lecture in October. I wish I could pull something off like this for math!
Polynomials WODB
Erick Lee shares a polynomial-based WODB task.
How it Started…How it’s Going
I am a big fan of this “How It Started…How It’s Going” structure to get students to realize how far they have come in their learning throughout the year. This example is from Amy Lenord, a Spanish teacher, but I would love to see math teachers adapt the idea for their own classrooms!
Transformations Around the School Activity
Laura Williams engages students with an activity that gets them moving around the school while practicing rotations, reflections, and translations. So fun!
Puzzle Day Reflection Sheet
I am blown away by the thoughtfulness that Michelle Lemmon put into this Puzzle Day reflection sheet that she has her students complete after working on various puzzles. She has graciously offered to share the reflection form she created so you can use/modify for your own classroom!
Element Haikus
These element haikus from Megan Denman‘s students are BRILLIANT. They make me want to have my students write math haikus soon.
Teaching the Chain Rule with Cups
Teaching calculus? Check out this idea for teaching the chain rule with cups from Chris Bolognese.
Until next time, keep sharing your awesome ideas! Want even more ideas? I suggest checking out previous volumes of Monday Must Reads!
November 8, 2021: Monday Must Reads: Volume 93
Welcome to a new volume of Monday Must Reads, my weekly-ish attempt at capturing the amazing ideas shared by (mostly) math teachers on twitter. I can’t believe that I have almost compiled 100 of these round-ups! I hope you find an idea or two to use in your own classroom or to share with a coworker.
Geometry Slapjack Review Game
I’m always on the lookout for fun ways to structure practice in math class. Check out this slapjack review game from Tara Maynard!
Blue Angels Transformations Activity
Mrs. Brown highlights a lovely transformations activity from the Virginia Department of Education.
Stacking Origami
Paula Beardell Krieg shares some lovely stacking origami. I’m adding this to my very long list of origami projects to explore!
Printable Dice Net
I am mesmerized by this printable dice net from David Butler. No glue needed!
Tape hack
Doing lots of STEM building projects? Check out this teacher hack from Chuck Stoffle!
Coding + WODB
Diane Dreef combines coding with WODB (Which One Doesn’t Belong). What a lovely combination!
Using Charty Party Game in Calculus
The creative Kerri Homan shares a way to use the game Charty Party in calculus class. Looks fun!
Convince Your Arch Rival Activity
I love this Convince Your Arch Rival idea from Nat Banting! So many possibilities…
Halloween Math Mistakes Activity
I realize that Halloween is now over, but this idea from Chris Luzniak is just too good not to share!
Ellipses Self Portrait in Desmos
Suzanne von Oy shares her Desmos self-portrait. LOVE IT!
Until next time, keep sharing your awesome ideas! Want even more ideas? I suggest checking out previous volumes of Monday Must Reads!
November 22, 2021: Monday Must Reads: Volume 94
Happy Monday! It’s the first day of Thanksgiving Break for me, so it’s an extra happy Monday. So far today, I’ve used my extra time off to work on cleaning out our garage, hang up some Christmas decorations, get my booster shot, and write this blog post. I know I live an exciting life.
If you’re new around here, welcome! Monday Must Reads is my weekly-ish attempt at capturing the brilliant ideas shared by other (mostly) math teachers on twitter. I enjoy highlighting these ideas that I want to hopefully someday use in my own classroom. Hopefully you can find an idea or two worth trying yourself!
Desmos Christmas Door Decoration
Andre Sasser shares an epic Desmos door decoration for Christmas.
Coded Triangle Artwork
Check out this awesome triangle artwork created by the students of Dan Anderson.
3D Printed Keychains
How awesome are these 3D printed keychains created by two of Ella Hereth‘s students?!?
Draw the Polynomial on Your Back Activity
Julia Anker inspires with a fun looking draw the polynomial on your back by asking questions activity. So creative!
Quadratics Pumpkin Chunking Activity
This pumpkin chunking activity from Brandi Green to practice quadratics looks fun!
Illustrating Data Displays with Post-Its
Doug shares how to make a great data display using post-its.
Improper Fraction and Mixed Number Open Middle Task
Graeme Lachance shares a new open middle problem he created.
Coordinate Plane Bingo
This coordinate plane bingo idea from Miss C looks super engaging!
Snowflake Construction Activity
Love these snowflakes constructed by the students of Stephen Caviness using a compass and straight edge!
Illustrating Fractions
Check out this lovely visual from txirimiri of different ways to show the fraction 4/4. Beautiful! This would make a lovely task to give students.
Until next time, keep sharing your awesome ideas! Want even more ideas? I suggest checking out previous volumes of Monday Must Reads!
January 3, 2022: Monday Must Reads: Volume 95
It’s the first Monday of the new semester for me, and I have to be honest that I wasn’t thrilled to set my alarm last night for a day full of professional development meetings today. I know that I’ll get my teaching energy and enthusiasm back tomorrow, though, when I find myself in a room full of teenagers again.
To help get in back-to-school mode, here’s a new volume of Monday Must Reads. This is my weekly-ish attempt at capturing the creative ideas shared by other (mostly) math teaches on twitter. I hope you find at least one or two ideas that you can adapt for your own classroom.
Word Wall and Words of the Week Display
Vocabulary is definitely an area of teaching where I could improve. I really like this idea from Austin Coleman of posting weekly vocabulary that you want to focus on.
Desmos Gingerbread Houses
Tricia Krumbach inspires with an idea I’m filing away for next Christmas – Desmos Gingerbread Houses!
Mathematical Memes with Template
Scottie O’Neill suggests having students create their own mathematical memes using a template. I love this idea!
Polynomial Theorems Two Truths and a Lie Activity
Katie Marhefki suggests using the Two Truths and a Lie practice structure with polynomial theorems. Brilliant!
Using Mentimeter on the First Day of School
Check out these examples from Kristen Fouss about how to use Mentimeter in the classroom.
Panda Square Parades
I realize this is an old tweet, but I only ran across it recently. I love this twist on Panda Squares from David Butler – a Panda Squares Parade.
8 5 4 9 1 7 6 3 2 0 Sequence
Justin Aion shares a clever brainteaser.
Math Puzzle Bulletin Boards
Leah TenEyck highlights a brilliant way to display puzzles to capture student interest.
Conditional Probabilities with Taco Tongues and Evil Eyebrows
Check out this fun probability lesson from Kim Jackson!
Until next week, keep sharing your great ideas! You may just find yourself in a future volume of Monday Must Reads!
March 7, 2022: Monday Must Reads: Volume 96
Today feels monumental for some reason. It’s the last Monday before Spring Break. The rest of the school year always seems to fly by after Spring Break, so it almost feels like this is the point in the school year where I’ve “made it.” I’ve survived another year of teaching.
The end of this school year will mark a decade of classroom teaching. Since I started blogging while student teaching, that means I’ve been writing about teaching math for over a decade. How is that even possible?
One of the best things I’ve done over my teaching career is to seek out ideas from other math(s) teachers around the world. I hope you’ll read on and check out my newest volume of Monday Must Reads – my weekly-ish attempt at capturing the amazing ideas shared by (mostly) math teachers on twitter!
Graphing Food Decay Activity
Check out this memorable lesson from Mr. Collier which involves decaying food and Desmos! Students select item & monitor it for 2 weeks. Students weigh item each day (using a scale that is accurate to two decimal places) then use that data to write their function to predict the next day’s weight. Items are covered with wrap during the process. Very interesting!
Fractions and Decimals Open Middle Task
Will M Dunn shares a lovely open middle style problem involving fractions and decimals.
Inspiring Desmos Skirt
I am blown away by this Desmos skirt that was hand-crafted by one of Nat Banting‘s students. Wow. Just wow.
Notice and Wonder Hallway Display
Ashley Skiffington showcases a great way to incorporate Noticing/Wondering into your school culture!
Interactive Math Wordle Display
If you are obsessed with Wordle, check out this interactive Math Wordle Display from Molly Owles.
How to Create a WODB Activity
Have you ever wanted to create your own Which One Doesn’t Belong activity? Check out these step-by-step directions from mathwithmeMN.
Linear Equation Sun Catchers
Solenne Abaziou shares some inspiring linear art created by her students.
Peardeck Weekly Themes
Looking to infuse a bit of fun into your class? Sevdije Perezic does this by letting students pick a weekly theme.
Pi Day Facts
Tracy Darbyshire uses Pi Day as an opportunity to share fun math facts with her students.
Graphing Window Hack
Nicole Miller shares a clever teaching hack for anyone with a plethora of windows in their classroom. Tape graph paper on the outside of the windows to make it easy for students to create graphs on the glass with dry erase markers.
Until next week, keep sharing your awesome teaching ideas!
March 21, 2022: Monday Must Reads: Volume 97
It’s been a rainy Monday full of prepping to attend an ACT training tomorrow and analyzing our spring ACT benchmark data as a math department. I thought I should take a bit of time today to put together a new volume of Monday Must Reads.
Can you believe I’m getting close to reaching 100 volumes of Monday Must Reads? Monday Must Reads is my weekly-ish attempt at capturing the amazing ideas shared by (mostly) math teachers on twitter. I enjoy sharing and amplifying these ideas so they can impact as many classrooms as possible.
Quadratic Equation Puzzles
I’m super excited that Nicole Whitty has started a new math teaching blog with some amazing free resources! I miss the days when it seemed like everyone was sharing free resources on their math blogs, so it’s super exciting to see a new blog pop up.
I really like these quadratic equation puzzles.
Systems of Equations Debate Activity
And how awesome does this systems of linear equations debate activity sound?!?
Cuisenaire Quilt
Simon Gregg shares an awesome quilt made by a kindergarten class from Cuisenaire rods. Beautiful! Each section of the quilt represents a hundred.
Math Quote
Berkeley Everett shares a great quote about mathematics.
Hands on Angles Lesson
Check out this brilliant hands-on angle lesson from Sevdije Perezic.
Teaching Transformations with Transparencies
Anna Scholl demonstrates how to use transparencies as a manipulative in geometry class.
Adding and Subtracting Fraction Templates
These fraction templates from Julie Morgan look very helpful!
Coding Laser Cut Coasters Project
Rob Morrill shares a fun coding project.
Illustrating Volumes with Post-It Notes
Jed shares some excellent student work from his calculus class made out of post-it notes.
Trig Question
Check out this thought-provoking trig question from Matt Enlow.
Puzzle Bulletin Board
Check out this puzzle bulletin board shared by eliotmath. I love that the math challenge was created by a 3rd grader for his fellow students to solve!
Until next week, keep sharing your awesome math teaching ideas!
March 29, 2022: Things Teenagers Say Volume 61
It’s been way too long since I put together the last volume of Things Teenagers Say, so I thought I would remedy that issue. This is my regular round-up of the crazy and memorable things I hear my students say in class.
Me: Hyperbola is such a fun word to say. Hyperbola, hyperbola, hyperbola.
Student: I like saying asymptote. I feel like I’m getting away with something.
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Student 1: You are so funny. Where did you get your sense of humor from?
Student 2: Junie B Jones.
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Watch out. This one is a negative slope. It’s going downhill like my life.
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My phone is more modern than your stone age phone.
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Can you get in trouble for skipping a class if it’s a sports class? We’re running and I don’t want to.
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I am not taking cough medicine. I am NOT letting my dad win that battle.
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I feel sooo tall today.
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My life isn’t sad. I just hate Valentine’s Day.
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Party in my backyard. We’re burying my computer.
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Student 1: How am I done before you?
Student 2: Because I was looking at memes.
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You’re literally built like a block of cream cheese.
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What did you do today? Go to school? Me too.
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You wore sweatpants to a job interview?
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Student 1: What was that sound on the roof?
Student 2: Thanos.
Me: It wasn’t Thanos. It was Santa.
Student 3: I don’t believe in Santa, but I believe in Thanos.
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Student 1: Wait. Do you have a purse inside of a purse?
Student 2: No, this is my wallet!
Student 3: Are you just now beginning to understand women?
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That joke died like two days ago.
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This is supposed to be cosine. What in the ravioli is this?
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I can’t write on this paper. It has to be straight from the tree.
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One student to another: You look like a mom who just got back from yoga. That’s a compliment, too.
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Why are you so against croutons?
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I only eat Bueno for the salsa.
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I’m not taking a gap year. I’m taking a gap life.
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I never knew you had a stepmom. When did you have her?
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I paid for that whole speedometer. I’m going to use that whole speedometer.
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Do you have hair on your toes?
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Student 1: You go to Planet Fitness? I go to Planet Fitness!
Student 2: I’ve been going there for five days and I haven’t seen you. Are you sure?
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It’s been over 24 hours since I last had a Belgian waffle.
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Student 1: Can I say that you are terrible at flirting?
Student 2: That was just me saying hi.
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Student 1: People that unfriend other people are fake friends.
Student 2: But I resubmitted my friend request in person.
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It’s okay. Starburst wrappers are edible.
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Do fish get thirsty?
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Student who came in my room during lunch: Are you listening to an audiobook sped up? That makes you a terrible human.
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I would have so many college offers if my twitter wasn’t private.
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Student: Is the test timed?
Me: Yes. 5 minutes.
Student: 5 minutes?!? That’s going to be the fastest F I’ve ever made.
April 11, 2022: Monday Must Reads: Volume 98
I can count on one hand the number of Mondays that I have taught since the pandemic began in 2020. When we returned to in-person instruction in the fall of 2020, we adopted a calendar of Distance Learning Mondays where students would complete their lessons asynchronously each Monday.
The high school I teach at kept those asynchronous Mondays this year as well. But this week, we ended up having to move our distance learning day to Wednesday instead of Monday due to ACT testing. This meant that I had a room full of students on a Monday!
To celebrate surviving a Monday with students, here’s a new volume of Monday Must Reads. This is my weekly-ish attempt at capturing the amazing ideas shared by (mostly) math teachers on twitter. I hope you find an idea or two worth adapting for your own classroom!
I am now only two volumes away from 100! Anyone have any ideas on how to celebrate this upcoming special volume number?
Triangle Midsegment Activity
David Sladkey shares a fun, hands-on geometry activity with lots of student choice!
Calculus Class Playlists for Remembering +C
Julie Reulbach shares some creative Spotify playlists she put together for remembering the +c when integrating and for u-substitution.
Transformations and Reflections Playlists
These transformations playlists from Ashley Spotted Wolf look super-engaging!
Calculator and Slide Rule Display
Check out this calculator and slide rule display from Mark Kaercher. Very inspiring!
Pythagorean Theorem, Distance Formula, and Midpoint Formula Mystery Activity
I am super impressed by this crime solving mystery activity put together by Sevdije Perezic.
Isosceles Triangle Puzzle
Catriona Agg shares an isosceles triangle puzzle.
Volume of Solids Geometry Project
Jennifer White shares an engaging performance task she gave her geometry students.
Math Flips Flash Cards
Berkeley Everett has an excellent free resource on his website called Math Flips. These flashcards are not your normal flashcards. Instead of having a problem on one side and the answer on the other, these cards have a problem on the front and a similar problem on the back to “encourage relational thinking instead of answer-getting.”
Math Word Walls
Nicole Whitty has written another excellent blog post which shares several inspiring math word walls worth checking out!
Quadrilaterals Conjecture
Tracy Proffitt shares an interesting mathematical conjecture shared by a student. How would your students respond?
Until next week, keep sharing your awesome math teaching ideas!
