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Looking Back to 2018: Growth Mindset

Looking Back to 2018: Growth Mindset

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Last year I spoke at over a dozen conferences, and at most of them I got to talk about incorporating growth mindsets in math. The rough outline was Definition of the fixed mindset and the growth mindset Differences between the two mindsets in various scenarios Strategies for making students aware of the growth mindset and how it can help math students, including specific activities Messages that we send students Summary of the benefits of the growth mindset The topic was…

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New Exam Strategy

New Exam Strategy

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With the implementation of AB705 coming in Fall 2019, I am currently teaching elementary algebra for the last time. I am using a flipped classroom approach, and I am really proud of how hard my students are working. (I’ll blog more about that in the near future.) This is a short-term class, and the plan was to teach new material for three weeks, then devote the fourth week to the midterm exam. I was going to review on Tuesday and…

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Math Mindsets at Hilton Head, SC

Math Mindsets at Hilton Head, SC

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Had a great time sharing my experiences with helping students to develop a growth mindset today. If you are looking for a quick entry to the subject, check out the following videos. Carol Dweck on Mindsets YouTube video – Dweck Jo Boaler on Math Mindsets YouTube video – Boaler I’ll be sharing more on Mindsets in the upcoming week.

TBT – Encourage Creativity

TBT – Encourage Creativity

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Unfortunately, many of today’s students view mathematics as a non-creative field. They’ve been told that there is only one way to solve a problem. Rather than search for solutions, they have become conditioned to waiting on their instructor to tell them what to do and how to do it. First, students need to dispel that myth that there is only one way to solve a problem. This week I was introducing the general addition formula for finding the probability of…

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Wildcard Wednesday – Sending the Right Messages

Wildcard Wednesday – Sending the Right Messages

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In all of my classes I have been focusing on sending the right messages to my students. I have become more aware of the importance of this through Jo Boaler (Mathematical Mindsets) and Carol Dweck (Mindsets). Here are the messages I have been stressing. Speed is not important. Math takes time, and you want to work at a pace that leads to your understanding. Praise effort, not ability. For example, I told my statistics class how proud I was of how…

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TeachBetterTuesday (TBT) – Involving Students in Discovery

TeachBetterTuesday (TBT) – Involving Students in Discovery

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Yesterday was the first day for my intermediate algebra class, which meets for a 2-hour block. Students spent the first hour solving linear equations (a review topic) with no instruction. We followed up with a class discussion regarding which problems they struggled with, and got students to offer their advice for those problems. It was a great start – students being responsible, communication, positive classroom atmosphere. I also had opportunities to sneak in some growth mindset ideas: speed is not…

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TeachBetterTuesday (TBT) – First Day of Class

TeachBetterTuesday (TBT) – First Day of Class

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This semester on the blog Tuesday will be “TeachBetterTuesday” or TBT. I will be posting articles focused on getting the most out of your teaching by focusing on new approaches and student-centered instruction, as well as looking for areas to improve my own teaching. I’ll begin this series by sharing my approach to the most important day of the semester: the first day of class. On the first day of class, especially in a developmental math class, our students are…

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Day One Activities – Focus on Math Anxiety

Day One Activities – Focus on Math Anxiety

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At the developmental level it should be no surprise that many of the students have feelings of anxiety related to math. Here are a few of the things I do on the first day of class to help students deal with these feelings. “Heads Down, Hands Up” After I take roll on the first day of class, I ask the students to put their heads on their desk with their eyes closed. I then ask students to raise their hands…

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My 3 R’s and Mindset

My 3 R’s and Mindset

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I took last semester off (bank leave), so Monday will be the first day teaching students in about eight months. What did I do during that time? I worked on the three R’s: resting, reading, and redesigning my classes. Resting I have taught a full load of classes every semester (and nearly every summer) since I started at College of Sequoias back in 1994. I did not think I needed a break because I did not feel the burnout that…

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