The Math Coach

This week I created a Google Form for use in my Algebra II class as we analyze graphs and determine how many real and imaginary solutions there are.  I don't want to share or add collaborators since I want to keep my original questions the same, but you are welcome to borrow/steal this idea for your own classroom.  Here is the quiz! Loading... I created this quiz using the new Desmos features added to Equatio, which I've written about in previous posts.  This quiz is self-grading by using Forms built in features, and it also has feedback for each question so that students can make sense of their answers.  With all of the new features, I plan on using Google Forms more often in my classroom this semester.  Now if only they collaborated with Geogebra so I can add Geometry images in my quizzes!! If you're interested in more information on Google Forms in the math classroom, I found this website  and the video below (sorry, it's 21 minutes but it has a ton...

This week I discovered Flashissue , a Gmail extension that provides templates for new e-mail messages.  You can also create your own templates that fit your needs!  This is great for any teacher that wants to improve their communication with parents because you can create great looking newsletters in seconds!  Once you get the template ready, it's easy as just sending an e-mail.  Here are some templates that I made this week.  They took me like 5 minutes each, which speaks to the simplicity of this extension.  Here are a couple more links to websites that show even more Gmail hacks you might not know about! https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/9-awesome-gmail-features-probably-dont-use/ https://www.buzzfeed.com/danoshinsky/8-gmail-hacks-that-will-change-the-way-you-use-email?utm_term=.ycrvLMYEwz#.byBQqNVv62 I learned a lot this week about Gmail and I hope you learn something new with this post as well!

If you are subscribed to Equatio's e-mail list, then this isn't news to you.  However, if you have not heard about Equatio, I've written about it in prior posts and encourage you to check it out.  It is a Google Extension that allows you to insert equations into Google Docs, Sheets, Forms, Slides, etc.  I was most excited about being able to insert math text into Google Forms because it made creating quizzes much easier.  You can also have students download it on their end so that they can submit answers in a short answer format by using the math text capabilities of Equatio. Anyway, back to the main topic at hand: Equatio and Desmos have teamed up to make this extension even better! Here is a screen capture of their website explaining the union.  And here is a link . I haven't had the chance to play around with this new feature yet due to basketball, but for this post, I went ahead and made a quick Google Form to showcase a potential use of Equat...

One cool thing that league schools do in my area is have a league-wide inservice where teachers can get together to share and collaborate on topics in their subject area.  This is great because, like myself, most other math teachers in the league are the only math teachers in the building.  We ARE the math department in each building.  So since we don't have people to talk with in our building, we get together once a year to discuss new trends and share ideas.  At the same time, my Baker class called for me to take inventory on technology in my school and classroom.  For an assignment, I created this Adobe Spark video highlighting some technology trends in today's classrooms. At the league-inservice, my fellow math teachers and I discussed at length how we're using technology in our classroom and the common theme among our answers was that technology allows us to create both a more in-depth and personal learning experience for each student.  Take graph...

This post will review a few videos and articles pertaining to 21st Century Skills that students need to be successful.  Take the time to watch the two videos and read the articles before scrolling down to my opinion on these resources. Preparing Students for Jobs That Don't Exist Yet My takeaway from these five resources is this: the educational model in which we grew up in and were taught in our undergraduate education courses is outdated when it comes to preparing students for the 21st century.  The central theme here is that schools need to be cultivating students so-called "soft skills", and technology can be a great tool at achieving this.  I agree with this theme and I want to be doing more to incorporate technology and 21st century skill building into my curriculum.  One way I incorporate these skill is by making all of my graphing topics more exploratory in nature using online graphing technology such as Desmos.  Students dis...

My goal is to continue with this blog even though my Connected Educator class has ended.  As we approach basketball season, I want to start adding coaching elements to my posts so that the name "The Math Coach" actually makes sense.  This class has fantastic and I have learned so much over the last seven weeks.  All of my classes so far from Baker have been applicable to my field but I feel like I've added the most to my educator toolbox from this class.  From tools such as Adobe Spark, to communication strategies through social media, The Connected Educator has really lived up to its name by connecting me to all of the resources out there for teachers in today's digital world.  For my final project this week, I decided to create a how-to video over one tool I found from this class, EquatIO.  Specifically, I focused on how Google Docs, Slides, Forms, and Sheets can all be paired with EquatIO to create new ways to practice math problems.  That video is ...

This week really challenged my beliefs on social media in the classroom.  I have always steered clear of using it both in my personal and professional life because I've seen some of the horror stories out there.  I've also seen some of the stories showing negative consequences of students being on social media, which is another reason I've stayed away from using it in my classroom.  However, I do recognize the potential benefits it could have in regards to communication with parents, students, and members of the community.  Also, many articles pointed out that it is our job as teachers to model appropriate social media use to our students.  Trying to keep an open mind, I looked up ways I could start doing this myself and for this weeks assignment I made an Adobe Spark video. I'm not sure how much social media I'll introduce into my classroom this semester, but I do realize it's something I need to be thinking about going forward.  For now, I'll continu...