Math Dilemma

I just had a math vertical team meeting today.  Every time we talk it we always seem to bang heads on one specific topic: tracked math classes.  Many math people on our staff feel that we should teach math differently than our other classes and track them.  They think we should have a separate algebra class and geometry class for some kids and then have regular math classes.  Our principal feels that this is not the direction to go in since he believes that we can reach all learners within a differentiated classroom.  It seems like we keep coming across this because faculty believe the only way to service students who need a "harder" math class is by pulling them out.

To me, this goes against middle level philosophy.  I do not recall reading (or listening) about tracked math classes in our exemplary middle schools project.  Am I forgetting any?  Anyway, I was just wondering what your schools do for math and how successful you feel it is - keeping in mind what our principal keeps coming back to:  you may feel that you are meeting the needs of the higher end students but you are making the struggling math students feel inferior.

As a little extra background info for you last year the 5th grade started tracking their math classes (without discussing this with us which I believe is an issue since we do not run our math program that way).  This year, I have students who are surprised that they are doing so well in math since last year they were in the "low" or "dumb" math class.  I also have students whose parents are absolutely irate to think that their child will not have a pull out math class with the one gifted and talented teacher we have for our whole school.  Anyway, your thoughts and some ways that you feel math works for your kids is greatly appreciated!  

Merit Pay

After reading some of the Teaching in Maine blog tonight I was reflecting upon merit pay.  There were several articles in there saying that although there needs to be more research done, merit pay did not bring about higher test scores.  This got me thinking about the current situation at our school where we are beginning NECAPs this week (due to recent NWEA testing we wanted to give kids a break before they had to take another test).  We are on year 2 of our CIPs plan and the principal keeps saying he really wants us to do our best to get off of CIPs.  Of course, it is not as though we have not been trying to.  He mentioned there being some sort of incentive for teachers whose students do well but wants to make sure that he does not pit people against each other.  To me, this is a horrible idea.  We all work hard and who is not trying to help our students learn more?  I do not want to become a teacher who only teaches to the test and that is what the push of the nation feels like right now with merit pay and Race to the Top.  What I am wondering if the research shows merit pay does not make a difference why are we talking of going in that direction?  Why promote competition in the school instead of collaboration?

The Things you Unexpectedly Learn...

Chewonki came into our classes today for an owl presentation.  The kids have been talking about  adaptations in science and have been reading about owls to start reading the class book Owls in the Family in their LA class.

First of all, the presenter was a great-kid friendly presenter and the kids were so well behaved when they learned that the owls would get scared and we would not be able to stay if they got out of hand.  Not only did the kids stay engaged but they shared their knowledge and asked great questions and were able to get a close up look at the owls (so beautiful and one talked to us) because they were so quiet in the voices and body language - of course in a regular class day they are rather boisterous and squirmy!  I guess it just reinforces the interest level in hands on activities.  A definite presentation to look into if you teach anything about owls.

Anyway, what I wanted to share that I had not known a lot about snowy owls.  When she briefly described the snowy owl she showed a male and female I learned that they nest on the ground.  The female actually has quite a bit of brown all over her body to blend in with the nest - the male is mostly solid white.  Well, being the Harry Potter freak that I am, I was mortified: the lovely bird who "plays" Hedwig in the movies who is female in the books must be a male.  Sheesh!

Restorative practices circles

Life had gotten hectic and I had not done a community building circle for awhile.  I decided that I needed some input on our Camp Jordan experience from the kiddos so we did a circle.  Two weeks ago, our team went away on a two-day overnight at Camp Jordan.  Students participated in team building and science activities while hanging out at Branch Lake.  Then, we finalized our team name and the winner was...Team Fox.  Yes, this year we get to be foxes instead of cougars - yay!  The whole cougar thing when you are a teacher just does not feel right...

Anyway, students went around and it was so good to see that they loved it, wish it was longer, and want to go back.  Their favorite activity was the Ropes Course and close behind was the night hike.  Another favorite was finding the porcupine in the tree.  Watching the grins on their faces and hearing their laughter as they remembered things that happened was priceless.  Even though I was remembering parts where I was ready to pull my hair out, when I heard their responses I remembered why it is so important to provide these extreme team building experiences to my kids:  we bond and build our community in a way that no one can take away.  We become a family as we eat together, clean up together, learn together, tell stories at night around the campfire, and deal with the snoring.  Then, we reflect upon our learning and experiences with a circle.  I love the circles because everyone has a voice and is heard and it reminds me of a family having a conversation around the supper table.  I got some great data down about the trip as the students shared.  I will use some of the quotes as we share our experiences in newsletter.   Other quotes I will use for reasons to support continuing to go on the trip each year.