I'm feeling really silly about doing this, because even in my 9th year of teaching I don't feel like I have much to offer. But here I am!
I've decided to join in because discovering this community has reenergized me in a way I haven't felt since student teaching. (Sad, but true)
I feel a bit pathetic that I didn't know such amazing teachers have been out there all this time sharing their ideas. The only reason I know about it now is because I had a baby in May and I've spent a lot of long nights up nursing and searching the web. (I've actually formed a callous on my pinky finger from how I hold my iphone!)
Anyways, 3am has become prime time for getting lost in the world of math blogs...the endless links from one great resource to another has me more exhausted than my, now, 4 month old! As I find great ideas, I email them to my work account and then while I'm pumping at work on my prep I organize and file away the 30-70 emails I sent myself the previous night.
I feel like this has been the best start to a year I've had in my career and it's because of the amazing blogs of other math teachers. So thank you! And thank you to my son Ben for waking in the middle of the night so I can do my blog research! (Too bad I didn't have a smartphone when I was up with my, now, 3 year old)
I know just how you feel!. I found the MTBoS right after my first year of teaching and felt like I had struck gold. I've been doing a lot of blog and twitter stalking for the past few years, and thought it was about time for me to join in! Can't wait to read about what you're doing in your classroom :)
ReplyDeleteIt's fantastic for two reasons: One, it has allowed you to redefine the time your son spends up, which can often feel like a negative time. Two, you have found a way to scratch the itch you have. Believe me, you have a ton to offer. With all the blog reading that you say you do, perhaps your first contributions will be to try an idea that you find on a blog, link it into a post and then discuss how it went. Put some photos up of student work and then comment on that person's blog mentioning that you tried it.
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful way to try to get involved. And folks to contribute ideas, lessons, and activities LOVE when people try them in their classrooms and have something to say.
Best always to you and enjoy the journey that's just getting started.
My kids are 16 and 12, but I still remember those middle of the night feeding and I am jealous that you get to spend your time on amazing math blogs. All I got to do was watch Skreech on Saved by the Bell - it was seriously the only thing on when the younger one woke up. :) Can't wait to hear what you are discovering!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you joined in! When I got started, it was mostly to share the other great stuff I found. So that can be a totally good way to start. Especially if you add how it works out in your classroom.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
OMG... I totally feel you! I've been teaching for 10+ years. I feel like I have nothing to add to this, but here I am. And I just had a baby in May also! I've been reading these posts on twitter and getting inspired to be a better teacher. I'm hoping this will whole MTBoS will help. Anyway, Cheers :)
ReplyDeleteOMG... I totally feel you! I've been teaching for 10+ years. I feel like I have nothing to add to this, but here I am. And I just had a baby in May also! I've been reading these posts on twitter and getting inspired to be a better teacher. I'm hoping this will whole MTBoS will help. Anyway, Cheers :)
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you decided to join in on the MTBoS experience. Everyone has something to share and I appreciate your candor and openness to talk about the subject. Sharing and learning from others definitely benefits our teaching practices. Thank you for posting!
Haha, and I thought I stayed up late. That's great how you can use that time productively! Yeah, I found the MTBoS last year (my 2nd year of teaching) and it really is the absolutely best thing that has happened for my teaching career. I am easily 10 times a better teacher because of the practices and lessons I've found on here AND the motivation it provides! Keep up the good work and I'm sure you DO have stuff to offer all of us: you might just assume that "everyone teaching that way" already, when in fact the way you teach a topic may be very different and insightful for all the rest of us!
ReplyDelete-jonathan newman
I understand how you feel!! I have 3 year old twins and I did many hours of work on their schedules. I am eager to share great teaching ideas with you!!
ReplyDeleteI also know how you feel. When I first started looking at the blog posts on here, I was a little intimidated, and awed by all of the awesome things people came up with. Then I started blogging to get my own thoughts out there for myself and realized that I had something to contribute as well. Even if absolutely EVERYTHING I use is borrowed from someone else, I still have a way to make it my own, modify or improve it, or give feedback to the person who came up with it. I know that if I came up with an activity I thought was great, I'd love to hear from other people who tried and hear how they made it better. That's one of the greatest things about these blogs. Even if nothing you come up with is your own (which much of my stuff is not my own) you can still collaborate with the teachers who are also using it and collectively make it better :) Good luck!
ReplyDelete