Re: Resource math help needed

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Math Teachers Chatboard

Resource math help needed

by First year

Aug 21, 2014

Hello everyone, I will be teaching a 7th grade pre algebra resource class of 10 boys half of which are at a fourth/ fifth grade level. As well an 8th grade algebra 1 (part 1) resource class for a class of 6 boys. Could anyone share suggestions/ideas on classroom management. I was thinking of teaching each class using a rotation through math centers. Each class is 70 minutes. I will have a smartboard. My classroom is just big enough for 10-12 student desk. I was thinking about incorporating interactive notebooks as well as signing all the students up with mobymax.com. Is anyone currently using either interactive student notebooks or mobymax that could share some feedback. Any advise that can be shared that would help make this first year manageable would be great. Thank you.

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Simon Start your own online tutoring institute in your location with our 100 teachers for all subjects K-12 and college. Send mail at [email removed]

On 8/21/14, First year wrote: > > Hello everyone, > I will be teaching a 7th grade pre algebra resource class > of 10 boys half of which are at a fourth/ fifth grade level. > As well...See More

Aug 22, 2014

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Tough assignment On 8/21/14, First year wrote: > > Hello everyone, > I will be teaching a 7th grade pre algebra resource class > of 10 boys half of which are at a fourth/ fifth grade level. > As well an 8th grade algebra 1 (part 1) resource class for > a class of 6 boys. Could anyone share suggestions/ideas > on classroom management. I was thin...See MoreOn 8/21/14, First year wrote: > > Hello everyone, > I will be teaching a 7th grade pre algebra resource class > of 10 boys half of which are at a fourth/ fifth grade level. > As well an 8th grade algebra 1 (part 1) resource class for > a class of 6 boys. Could anyone share suggestions/ideas > on classroom management. I was thinking of teaching > each class using a rotation through math centers. Each > class is 70 minutes. I will have a smartboard. My > classroom is just big enough for 10-12 student desk. I > was thinking about incorporating interactive notebooks as > well as signing all the students up with mobymax.com. Is > anyone currently using either interactive student > notebooks or mobymax that could share some feedback. > Any advise that can be shared that would help make this > first year manageable would be great. > Thank you.

From past experience, this kind of assignment is challenging. I did several years of resource for 7th and 8th graders, although I did not have the luxury of the minuscule classes you have. The biggest problem is all the BS they teach you in teacher training. It barely works with regular classes and not at all with classes like this. These are kids with history of non-achievement and, usually, non-compliance. Teaching approaches which assume that these kids will be able to work independently are doomed, because they can't or won't. Don't worry about doing the latest and greatest (most of which is completely unproven). Worry about getting the kids to learn. You will be teaching them HOW to LEARN math as much as you will be teaching them math.

The next biggest problem is that at this point in their mathematical career the biggest thing these kids have "learned" is that they cannot learn math. It is not true, of course, but THAT is what their last 6 years in school has taught them. And you have to break down that wall before real learning will occur. Giving them more of the educational flavor of the month which, in large measure, is how they got this way, is going to do nothing for them.

Classroom management demands of a class like this are different than those of higher level classes. I've always found, both for myself and my colleagues, that the people who were most successful with this type of class were the ones who were very organized, very structured, and very encouraging. Lots of in-class practice because they will not, generally, do much HW. The only way to really learn math is to do problems.

Aug 22, 2014

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harpazo On 8/22/14, Tough assignment wrote: > On 8/21/14, First year wrote: >> >> Hello everyone, >> I will be teaching a 7th grade pre algebra resource class >> of 10 boys half of which are at a fourth/ fifth grade level. >> As well an 8th grade algebra 1 (part 1) resource class for >> a class of 6 boys. Could anyone...See MoreOn 8/22/14, Tough assignment wrote: > On 8/21/14, First year wrote: >> >> Hello everyone, >> I will be teaching a 7th grade pre algebra resource class >> of 10 boys half of which are at a fourth/ fifth grade level. >> As well an 8th grade algebra 1 (part 1) resource class for >> a class of 6 boys. Could anyone share suggestions/ideas >> on classroom management. I was thinking of teaching >> each class using a rotation through math centers. Each >> class is 70 minutes. I will have a smartboard. My >> classroom is just big enough for 10-12 student desk. I >> was thinking about incorporating interactive notebooks as >> well as signing all the students up with mobymax.com. Is >> anyone currently using either interactive student >> notebooks or mobymax that could share some feedback. >> Any advise that can be shared that would help make this >> first year manageable would be great. >> Thank you. > > From past experience, this kind of assignment is challenging. > I did several years of resource for 7th and 8th graders, > although I did not have the luxury of the minuscule classes > you have. The biggest problem is all the BS they teach you in > teacher training. It barely works with regular classes and > not at all with classes like this. These are kids with > history of non-achievement and, usually, non-compliance. > Teaching approaches which assume that these kids will be able > to work independently are doomed, because they can't or won't. > Don't worry about doing the latest and greatest (most of which > is completely unproven). Worry about getting the kids to > learn. You will be teaching them HOW to LEARN math as much as > you will be teaching them math. > > The next biggest problem is that at this point in their > mathematical career the biggest thing these kids have > "learned" is that they cannot learn math. It is not true, of > course, but THAT is what their last 6 years in school has > taught them. And you have to break down that wall before real > learning will occur. Giving them more of the educational > flavor of the month which, in large measure, is how they got > this way, is going to do nothing for them. > > Classroom management demands of a class like this are > different than those of higher level classes. I've always > found, both for myself and my colleagues, that the people who > were most successful with this type of class were the ones who > were very organized, very structured, and very encouraging. > Lots of in-class practice because they will not, generally, do > much HW. The only way to really learn math is to do problems.

I find that classroom management cannot be learned in school. Managing students is not the same at all levels. However, it all depends on your interactions with students. Personality plays a big role when it comes to classroom management.

Aug 25, 2014

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