Yesterday, for the first time, I pre-recorded a lesson for my students. I had IB testing going on, and I couldn't be in the classroom to teach the lesson. I recorded four short segments, and had the substitute show the videos and have the students do some practice problems in between.
Here is what I learned so far:
1. The kids loved it. They were able to go back, watch twice, and help each other figure out what they missed.
2. It doesn't have to be perfect. The first video I recorded twice because it wasn't perfect the first time around. Turns out, it wasn't perfect the second time either. And the kids didn't care at all. I'm not perfect during class, so why would I be outside of class?
3. I think they will actually watch the videos again, because they know they are posted on my class website. Many of them already commented about that. And they can watch them before the test this year, before next year's IB exams, or anytime they need to.
4. I need to stop being scared to use technology. It is a tool and I will get better at it with practice. I will not get better at integrating tech into my classroom if I think it needs to be perfect, or if I think it needs to "work" every time.
Let's hope I can stick with it! I'm going to try to do as many video segments as I can for the rest of the year. I will be missing many days to proctor exams, so there is a good reason to do it, and it can't hurt the students!
They commented, when I checked in on them during the day, that they "didn't need me." And I know not only do they mean it, but they mean it in the nicest way possible!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Keep Playing!
“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” Plato
Thanks to our warmer than usual spring weather, I’ve gotten to see lots of my students play over the past couple of weeks. I saw you singing Adele in the fit lab. I heard you beg to play volleyball at lunch (even in the rain). I watched to you play kickball. I saw you participate in the JSSF. I shared a loud bus ride home with singing freshmen.
I teach math, but more importantly, I teach kids. And seeing you kids play over the past few weeks has reminded me how lucky I am, and given me a fresh perspective on all of you. You are more than budding mathematicians (or scientists), you are people and when you play, your personality shines through.
You may not remember the explicit formula for the nth term of an arithmetic sequence in a few years, but you will remember the laughs we shared in class. You might not remember how you finished at the JSSF, but you will remember the time you spent with your friends. You will use your ability to relate to others every day. You will remember how it feels to win, and how it feels to lose. These play times will teach you to be more caring, more balanced, more principled.
The most interesting, fun, and successful adults I know are the ones who remember to play. As you keep growing up, keep playing, too.
Thanks to our warmer than usual spring weather, I’ve gotten to see lots of my students play over the past couple of weeks. I saw you singing Adele in the fit lab. I heard you beg to play volleyball at lunch (even in the rain). I watched to you play kickball. I saw you participate in the JSSF. I shared a loud bus ride home with singing freshmen.
I teach math, but more importantly, I teach kids. And seeing you kids play over the past few weeks has reminded me how lucky I am, and given me a fresh perspective on all of you. You are more than budding mathematicians (or scientists), you are people and when you play, your personality shines through.
You may not remember the explicit formula for the nth term of an arithmetic sequence in a few years, but you will remember the laughs we shared in class. You might not remember how you finished at the JSSF, but you will remember the time you spent with your friends. You will use your ability to relate to others every day. You will remember how it feels to win, and how it feels to lose. These play times will teach you to be more caring, more balanced, more principled.
The most interesting, fun, and successful adults I know are the ones who remember to play. As you keep growing up, keep playing, too.
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