Thomas+W

// An Action Plan is a plan for making a teaching change that will enhance your students understanding of mathematics. // Name TJ Wolsborn School Entiat High School Teaching assignment High School Math Describe your student population (approximate number, ethnicity, language, etc) I've got several classes ranging from 4 to 25 kids with topics anywhere from Algebra to Pre-Calc. I'll be using 2 curricula (Holt for Algebra I and Pre-Calc, CORE Plus for everything else). We're roughly 1/3 Hispanic overall and our students are at about 60% free and reduced lunch.
 * Action Plan **
 * Describe your teaching situation **

What teaching change (instruction, assessment, materials) you like to improve? Explain how your teaching change will improve your students’ ability to learn mathematics. Also, describe possible ways that technology might assist you in making your teaching change. I would like to have a little better access to some technologies and utilize their flexibility. The whole digital native thing, while debateable (spelling?), makes sense and it also makes sense that I be able to work with them at least close to their level. If students don't have to try and fit into a system that they aren't comfortable with all the time, perhaps I could reach more of them. i.e. utilization of cell phones and similar technology to help students let me know their thoughts, concerns, questions, etc. Identify at least two teaching goals (measurable accomplishment that if met would enable your students to learn mathematics more effectively). One (and it's a huge, nearly impossible one) would be to have a classroom set of lap tops with wireless connections that would run the minimal (web browser, office documents, fathom for example) that the kids could use during lessons. I would like to become more proficient at the uses of various technologies available (twitter, blogging, etc) so that I can be more connected to the ways my students operate. I would like to strengthen my content knowledge. Describe at least two things you are going to do as a teacher to accomplish your teaching goals. These actions may or may not use technology but if they do not use technology, explain why technology is or is not the best teaching tool for your teaching change. Research/exploration would be one that seems to be pretty paramount. I need to continue to work with the things that I've been introduced to throughout this class. Practice would be another. I'm not going to be able to work this into my teaching effectively without trying it as I go. constant adjustments to attempts seem to be an inescapeable fact of life. Identify how you are going to assess each of your teaching goals (simple method of collecting information to see if your teach goals was met). I guess that the main way to do this would be by student achievement. If the methods I'm using are working, then their math knowledge, skills and attitudes should get better. Outline a general timeline that identifies when you are going to use your actions, collect your assessment data Throughout the year. It takes time to first create a plan. Then it needs to be piloted, adjusted, tested, adjusted, etc. Evaluation will probably take place via actual mathematics as well as survey to get both knowledge as well as attitude. Write a reflection on the results of your action plan. What was difficult? What worked well? How did your students react to the changes you made? What was the impact on student learning?
 * Describe your teaching change **
 * Set Teaching Goals **
 * Describe Teaching Actions **
 * Assess Teaching Goals **
 * Timeline **
 * Reflection **