Walking in Math

To my students, Tomorrow is the BIG DAY. It’s a day. A good day. You will take a state assessment that is going to “measure your growth this year.” It is ONLY a test. But, you are more than a test. I know who you are. I have seen growth that a test cannot measure. I have seen you master skills you thought were too hard. I have seen you make friends with people so totally different from you. I have seen you learn to control your anger, celebrate other’s successes and even laugh at yourself. I have seen you learn to have the courage to mess up, learn from your mistakes and ask for help. I have seen you answer questions out loud in class, volunteer to work problems on the board and yes, even finally remember to do your homework. This is growth. This is growth that no test can measure, but matters in life. Tomorrow’s test won’t see or show all this and that’s ok. I know YOU! I also know you are ready. I know you can do hard things. I know you are smarter then you think. I have seen it! So, tackle that test with the mindset that, “My teacher believes in me!” Know that regardless of the outcome I will still believe in you, love you and be proud of all you have accomplished this year. Give your best and then a little more. Now, is your opportunity. I’m
cheering you on, but more then that I’m covering you in prayer. Love you- Mrs. Walker.

The left side is how students keep on track their class averages and how many points they need to pass for the year. Our students are required to have a 59.5 in the 4 main courses to pass to 8th grade. That is 238 points in each class. Each nine weeks they fill in their class average and subtract it from 238. Students then know how many points they have to earn in order to pass for the year. The muscle arm are the POWER STANDARDS. These are standards that I have pulled from all the MS STANDARDS for students to focus on if they are struggling ( SPED). Most of our standards are very broad but these are very specific so students know they need to find area of a circle, know supplementary angles, opposite numbers equal zero, you cannot divide by zero etc. If students can master those skills, students can show growth on their state assessment. Finally, the last page is the state reference page that students are given on the state assessment day. I give it to my students before I stayer teaching so they will have it all year to refer to. I want them to know it backwards and forwards. Then, we start oir TABLE OF CONTENTS. from
Here on out every journal is different. We skill 5 pages for the TOC. Students are to update as we go.

These two share a page one is taped on the left and the other is taped on the right. They are both folded in the middle. I print on the front and back as much as I can in my class. The self evaluation is pretty self explanatory. Students evaluate themselves at the start of the school year and then at the end of each nine weeks. My goal to to help students take ownership of their learning, their growth in math and their progress. The next sheet is how we track our progress on diagnostic testing. I meet with each student privately after testing and we set goals. Those goals are listed between the circles on the arrows. I also list the students 6th grade star math scores and where we want to end in 7th grade. My students are aware of what grade level they are working on the math. They know how many points they need to grow to get to the next level on the state assessment. We talk data constantly in my class and we know our goal is to always show growth. The purple sheet is my contract goals with my district. The students have one that they sign and place in their journal but it comes from their handbook. Finally the last page is a get to know me page. We do this on a day that I am conferencing with students about state test goals. It has following direction skills and is just for fun.

On the very first notebook page students get their first assignment! The left is usually the back of the cover where they put the ZOOM INFO card! This is my favorite page in the entire journal. One this page students are given this assignment, “ Using any medium you pick- colors, markers, coloring sheets, pictures, computer printouts, Song lyrics, poetry, Bible verses, quotes, etc I don’t care design this page so that when I pick it up and look at it I can tell that it is yours!” I go on to tell the students that I will be able to tell how they will do on this class based on this page! ( This is true). Students who put in lots of effort on the page will be my hard workers all year, students who turn in no effort do that all year. This is a grade - this is the only bonus grade or “none math grade” all nine weeks. It is a 100 or 0! You either do it or don’t! I let students go back over the nine weeks and finish it to get that grade. You will also see that I tape in the days I request to be put. My journal holds everything for the whole year. I even have my evaluations, contract taped in here. I know where everything is for 22-23 school year.

The inside cover of my notebook is usually different from my students’. I use it as a place to tape artwork they give me! But on the inside cover of their notebook each student tapes in a colorful card stock piece of paper with our class information. This includes or ZOOM info, REMIND, and will include any other info that might need to be added this year.

Every student who comes in my math class is given a composition notebook. I buy myself a hardback one each summer! I spen ALL summer looking for THE notebook!

“ What would you be if you were not a teacher?” I would be lost! All my life I knew I would be a teacher. I was created for this job. Every one of my God given gifts and talents aligns for me to be a teacher. It is my calling. I absolutely love it. I would not want to do anything else. Because of this I look forward to going to school every day. I have enjoyed every aspect of school. I love to learn. I want to soak up as much knowledge as I possibly can before I get to Heaven. I love being a student, a teacher and I love sharing knowledge as well. But, I also know I still have a lot to learn. I am creating this page after many people have asked to see my math journals that my 7th graders use each years. (I keep and make a new journal each year as well!). This method has worked for my students. They love it and take ownership of their learning. Is it perfect- heck no. But, we have seen lots of growth academically, emotionally and self consciously and those are huge in my eyes. Our math scores rise every year and that makes me proud of my students. I am sharing because I want you to see what we are doing but you may have some positive ideas too. I don’t believe in destroying others. This world has enough negativity! I am not for that. If it can help share but if it is hateful or cruel I’m not interested! What’s mine is yours. I am all about is helping any child grow and feel more confident in any way possible. In the end THEY are what matters most to me.

I am FINALLY starting!