The Best Thing I Didn't Know I Needed

The other day, I was roaming the hallway like a ghost of bad behavior past. I had one mission: find a fellow teacher to vent to before I exploded into a confetti blast of frustration and sarcasm.

It had been that kind of day—kids throwing things, lying with the boldness of someone auditioning for a courtroom drama, general chaos. The kind of day that makes you seriously wonder if you accidentally signed up for the wrong profession. ("Did I check the wrong box on that career interest survey in high school? Should I have gone into dental hygiene?") I was evaluating my life choices, and it wasn't pretty.

Anyway, I was on the hunt for my usual confidante, but her office was empty. Heavy sigh. But across the hall… I noticed something strange.

Laughter.

Joy.

People having fun? In a school building? After 2:30 p.m.?

Naturally, I was suspicious.

But I poked my head in and found a whole group of teachers—just hanging out, solving the New York Times crossword puzzle together like it was the most normal after-school activity in the world.

And here’s the best part—they welcomed me in like I’d always been part of the crew.

We’ve got a little of everything:

• Two social studies teachers who know just about every historical fact ever.

• Two math teachers who actually enjoy numbers.

• A technology teacher who loves coding.

• A special ed teacher with the patience of a saint.

• An ELA teacher who knows words that haven't been used since 1874.

Our ages range from mid-20s to 60s, so our knowledge is as diverse as our snack choices. Someone always knows something, and someone always has a random fact no one asked for—but turns out to be super useful.

And Friday? Friday was a milestone. For the first time ever, we completely solved five days’ worth of crosswords in a row. A full streak. It was like winning the nerdy Olympics—and yes, we were very proud of ourselves.

I went looking for someone to commiserate with, but instead I found a little unexpected joy in a classroom full of crossword-loving coworkers. Now, I look forward to it every day. It’s not just about the puzzle—it’s the laughter, the camaraderie, the brainpower, and the feeling that hey, even on the worst days, I’m not alone in this.

Teaching is hard. But a daily puzzle with good people? That’s a little reminder that there’s still a lot of good tucked in between the chaos.

An Epiphany Moment

Mom, he says, with a contemplative look in his eye.  I've had an epiphany.

Alarm bells start going off in the back of my brain.  I don't like surprises, and epiphanies definitely qualify as surprises. I just never know what he's going to say when he gets that...look.  I decide to tread gently, just in case I need to hide the knives, because I'll never forget his "epiphany" when he decided my chef's knife should be used for everything (resulting in stitches).

An epiphany?

Yes. I really am a geek.  I ... belong ... with the geeks.

Ahh, another proud mom moment. I do love that boy.

He's dreaming about math!

I tap on his door gently to wake him up at around 10:30 a.m. He told me he does not want to sleep all day; he's got homework to do before he goes to work at 4. 

Hey, kiddo, it's time to wake up. 

He yawns, stretches, and then gets this wild-eyed, panicked look...

IT'S COMING ALONG SOON! IT'S COMING ALONG SOON!

Ummm...it's coming along soon?

YES! IT'S COMING ALONG SOON!

What's coming along soon?

2√2y!  (Pronounced, "2 root 2 y")

Errrr... 2√2y is coming along soon?

YES! IT'S COMING! ALONG! SOON! 

There is another long pause, and then he looks at me angrily...

You have NO idea what I'm talking about, DO you?!

Sweetie, do YOU know what you're talking about? 

There is another pause, and then the confusion clears...

Oh.My.God. It's that DAMN MATH PROBLEM I've been working on all night!!!

I couldn't help myself. I just burst out laughing. 

HE'S DREAMING ABOUT MATH! 

I couldn't be more proud.

Pleasure

One of my students has been in this country for less than six months, and as we all know, English is one of the hardest languages to learn. I help him all I can, and I'm glad that he feels comfortable with me to ask questions that are not necessarily related to math, but to science and ELA as well.

He came up to me after class to ask me what pleasure meant, only he didn't say "pleasure". He made it four syllables with his vowels all long. It sounded something like plee - a - su - ree. It took me a second, because I knew he was saying the word he was reading phonetically. "Oh! Pleasure!" I said, "It's something that you enjoy, makes you feel good, happy."

"Pleasure," he said, a couple of times, trying it out and thinking hard. "Miss?" He paused again, and I could see his wheels turning. And then he gave me a big smile. "Miss, I pleasure this class math."

My favorite student now, hands down. 

I love these kids!

For the holiday, I assembled treat bags for the kids with little things Melissa and I bought for them. We gave them a jingle bell, a candy cane, a pencil with two little erasers, a sticky hand, and a coloring book. We decided that, because of the low attendance today, we would show them a movie and give math a break.

7A, my SPED class, was the one I thought would be the most crazy. Instead, they opened their treat bags quietly, ate their candy canes, and enjoyed Beethoven's Christmas Adventure. They even said thank you as they were leaving the classroom!

7B, my gifted group, was the one I thought would be the quietest. Wrong again. The sticky hands were almost immediately flying in all directions as they tried to pull other student's belongings away from them, tried to stick them on the ceiling, tried to stick them in each other's hair... The Santa Clause was just background noise for happy shenanigans. I thought they were a riot, but Melissa was not amused. Probably a good thing...they would have been out of control all period, and I'd have been right along with them. :D

7C, my English language learners, was the group I was unsure of. A high percentage of the group follows the path of Islam, so I had a back-up coloring sheet in case they had religious objection to a Christmas movie and gift. I need not have worried. Some seemed to get the biggest kick out of the candy canes, eating it from both ends. As a whole, they initially preferred coloring in the little holiday coloring books in their treat bags to watching the movie , but then quickly realized they could grab each other's coloring books with the sticky hands. I probably shouldn't have let them get away with it, but hey, it's the last day of school before break, and I'm tired. :D

It's funny how this job is working out for me. I don't think I've ever worked so hard or for so many hours, but I feel like I'm making a difference. It's fulfilling, enjoyable, and worth every minute.

I have finally found my purpose.

For my ENL (ESL or ELL) students

I have quite a few students who are learning English as a second (or fifth) language. While the signs in math are similar or the same, they struggle with the words.

As a basic cheat sheet, I made 3 x 3 cards out of construction paper:

I then laminated them ... :

and then hole-punched a corner and put in a binder ring so they can keep them in their math notebooks:

I hope this helps them! One of my students has only been in this country for about 4 months, so now he is not only learning a new language in a new culture, he is learning math in a new language in a new culture. I can't imagine how difficult this must be.

I Got the Job!

Say hello to the new 7th grade Math teacher for the Buffalo Academy of Science! I am so excited and scared and nervous and excited...

I am about to begin a big adventure, a new chapter in the story of my life. It's going to be interesting, fun, frustrating, challenging, and much different from the typical day I am used to. I am looking forward to it.

And I am determined to be the best darn math teacher I can be.

Graduation

Graduation. The culmination of years of hard work, exhaustion, and a fair amount of tears. I did it. I earned my Masters degree in Mathematics Education.

But I didn't do it alone.

My brother Michael was a constant source of unwavering encouragement and support. Even though he lives on the other side of the country, I could not have done it without him. I've looked up to him since childhood; I have immense respect for him as an adult. When things go horribly wrong, Michael boosts me back up and offers objective advice to calm my emotional hailstorm. And when I've done something I think is stupid and I feel like I should turn in my Mensa membership card and tell them there's been a terrible mistake, Michael would probably tell me I'm right, which makes me laugh to recovery. Somehow he just instinctively knows what I need when I need it.  I love him, and when I grow up, I want to be just like him. But a female version with no chest hair. I cannot thank him enough. Worshiping him from afar will just have to do.

My son Ian was such a good kid through it all. When Mommy did her homework, Ian did his homework. And as he began evolving into a young man, he helped with chores to lighten my load. He's a better cook than I am. I love him as well. He changed my life for the better, although he'll never know how much until he has a child of his own. Just. Like. Him.

My mentors Karla and Annie were amazing during my time at WGU. They heard me laugh with joy and cry with frustration, kept me on track, and cut me slack when I needed it. They helped me when I struggled, and rejoiced in my successes. I got to meet them at my graduation. Their kindness, confidence and strength shines, and I am richer for having them in my life.

Wait to see what I can do as a middle school math teacher. Look out world!

My New Favorite Song!

Compliments Keep Me Going.

I received a compliment yesterday that made me feel great! Between student teaching, working, raising my son, and trying to keep my home from turning into a disaster area from neglect, I do get a bit tired and down-trodden. 

My weekly journal entry for my student teaching segment was, "Reflect on how you are balancing teaching with your daily life and family. What are you doing (or what could you be doing) to take care of yourself and make it through demonstration teaching in a strong way? Based on your experience so far, describe any adjustments you could make to help the second half of your DT experiences go even more smoothly."  

Go even more smoothly?HA! I need to meet their pharmacist!  This is what I wrote in response: 

Adjustments? Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha! My typical week goes like this: 

Monday thru Friday: Up at 5:00 a.m. Shower, dress, have a cup of coffee while packing our lunch and dinner for the day, wake up the Boy Child and address his needs (I am a single mom), review lesson plan for the day, make the 3x5 card as my guide, leave at 7, arrive at school at 7:15, leave school at 3:30, pick up the Boy Child, go to work, arrive at work by 4:15, work until 9:15, go home, make sure lesson plan is in place for next day and if not, draft it with the appropriate worksheets, fall into bed completely exhausted and generally still completely dressed at 11.

Saturday: Up at 6:00 a.m. Shower, dress, have a cup of coffee while scribbling a grocery list for the following week, wake up the Boy Child, start lesson planning for following week, be at work by 10 with the Boy Child, leave work at 11:45 to take Boy Child to baseball camp, back at work by 12:05, leave work at 2:50 to pick up Boy Child from baseball camp, back at work by 3:10, order something to eat from someplace that delivers around 5, work until 10:30 p.m. (or later, if I need to put in more than 12.5 hours on the weekend to make my total hours at work 37.5), go home, fall into bed completely exhausted and generally still completely dressed between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., depending on how long I had to work.

Sunday: Up at 7:00 a.m. because by Sunday, I can’t get up at 5 or 6. Grab a cup of coffee and get laundry started, plan lessons for the week including worksheets and tests, eat whatever Boy Child prepares when he gets up and then quickly shop for groceries, prepare and freeze sandwiches for lunches/dinners for the week; get journal entry done for SGAK in Taskstream, respond to weekly discussion in edTPA community, finish lesson planning for week, fall into bed completely exhausted at 10.

Adjustment? Somewhere in here I have to cram writing my edTPA. It’s not going to get any better until the middle of May when I am done student teaching, unless somewhere, somehow, more hours get put into a day.  I cannot quit my job, or even take a leave of absence. If I don’t work, I don’t get paid. If I don’t get paid, the bills don’t get paid and we can’t eat and end up homeless. Homeless people generally do not have laptop computers and access to the internet, so obtaining my education would come to a screeching halt. Furthermore, test results are in, and it is discovered my son has a learning disability. He helps me how he can, but has needs of his own.

My son is doing the housecleaning, shoveling, taking out the trash, all of the things we did together before I started student teaching. He is on board and knows this situation is temporary.  It is what it is. The fact that this situation is temporary is what is getting my son and me through it. We can do anything as long as we know it won’t last forever. 

My mentor's response was great:   

WOW! You really have this down to a science...time management at its best! I totally understand that this is a stressful time in the life of a student teacher and that sometimes family takes second place. But this will soon pass and things will get back to semi normality - whatever that is. ;-) Hang in there!

I will, Denise. I sure will. Although my friends and family think I'm absolutely bonkers for wanting to teach math - to middle school kids, no less! - it is my dream, my goal, and my purpose. I will make it happen. 

Integrating Technology into My Classes

The kids LOVE to sing and dance...so why not give them song about Math? 

Certification Testing

I am really not looking forward to my upcoming certification test. The first time I took it (and 'not passed') was an incredible experience.

I was instructed to arrive at the testing site, an elementary school, 45 minutes prior to the start of the exam. At that time, all students were herded into the auditorium, where we were read very specific instructions about what is and is not permitted at the testing site and in the exam rooms. For example, water is not permitted unless it is in a clear, plastic bottle with the label removed. No mechanical pencils. No purses or bags. Nothing with a power button, including cell phones, iPods, iPads, smart phones, mp3 players, etc., unless you are taking a Math test, and then only certain graphing calculators from a State-approved list are permitted. 

After the rules were read, we were escorted to classrooms to take our certification exams. The rules were again read. It was announced that the bathrooms would be closed for the first 45 minutes to hour of the exam. The monitors then began coming around the class to clear everyone's graphing calculators. 

One of the students in my room did not have an approved calculator. She had a scientific calculator, and said that was all she had. She was told it was not permitted, which she should have known prior to coming to take the exam because the list of approved calculators is sent with the admission ticket. She burst into hysterics and began asking if anyone had an extra calculator. (They are $100+ calculators; not likely anyone would be carrying an extra. Besides, we were not permitted to bring any purses or bags into the room. Where would we keep an extra calculator?) At this time, she is instructed to calm down or security would escort her out. My nerves were beginning to fray.

Then someone's cell phone went off. I couldn't believe it. After the 45 minute lecture that included "NOTHING WITH A POWER BUTTON"? We were held up until security arrived to escort him out. I noticed I had begun to tremble and was having trouble writing my name.

The next announcement? "The bathrooms are now closed."  I don't care if you haven't had anything to drink in a month, as soon as you are told you cannot use the bathroom, that's exactly what you need to do! All I could think of was Arnold Schwarzenegger in Kindergarten Cop saying, "There is no bathroom!" 

By the time the test began, I couldn't remember my name. I'm not kidding. So when I opened the text booklet and had to find the volume of a rectangular prism, I drew a complete blank. I couldn't have added a column of figures at that point. 

This time, before the test, I am going to take some precautionary steps. I am going to make sure I get up early enough to have eggs for breakfast, because I will need protein to get me through the four hour exam. I will not have any coffee (which is a diuretic) and will have just one glass of milk. I will meditate before I leave, arrive early, and meditate again in my car. I will make sure I have new batteries in my (State-approved) graphing calculator. I will have two sharpened pencils with new erasers. And I will be calm.

Xanax, anyone? :D

Math Joke!

Compliments of George Takei:

Math Humor

WeAreTeachers photo

Happy Pi Day!

I PASSED!

I passed the New York State Teacher Certification Exam!

 (Yes, I do realize that I'm the only one that is surprised by this.) :D

What I find most surprising is, even though I know I have wonderful Math skills, I received perfect scores on the "Artistic Expression and The Humanities" and "Written Analysis and Expression" subareas. I expected to score highest on the Science, Math, and Technology subarea, but in actuality, I didn't. Very interesting...

Mathemagic - Amazing!

Math Can Lie

When I was young, my father told me a story that had me hooked on Math ever since. He attributed the tale to Einstein, who was a speaker at a business convention in Germany. I haven't been able to verify that, or even find this example anywhere, but it certainly rings true that Math does not always paint an accurate picture.

Einstein was allegedly attending this conference when an audience member opined that anything can be proved using Mathematics as it is always true. Einstein disagreed. As my father tells it, Einstein said, "Math can lie.

"Three salesmen found they needed to spend the night at an inn. They asked the front desk clerk the cost of the room for the evening, and were told, '$12'. Each man paid $4, and the bellhop took them to their room.

"Later that evening, the desk clerk discovered he made an error. The cost of the room for the night was only $8. He gave $4 to the bellhop and instructed him to return it to the salesmen.

"On the way to the room, the bellhop took $1 as a tip, as the salesmen had not tipped him earlier. He then gave the remaining $3 to the salesmen.

"Now, $8 for the cost of the room plus $4 refunded totals $12.  Each man originally paid $4 each, for a total of $12, but now they have paid $3 each and received $1 each in refund for a total of $12. This balances perfectly, no?

"So where did the dollar come from that is in the bellhop's pocket?

"Math can lie."

When I got older and went shopping for my first car, my father reminded me of this story, and warned me to be careful of the calculations the car dealers would throw at me. With the right knowledge, and perhaps a little bit of talent, anyone can twist the numbers to make them suit their needs.