Stack and Whack Blocks are done

Left side of the 12X9 Layout

Right side of the 12X9 Layout

 Finally Finished my stack and whack blocks.  I ended up with 118 of them. I'm still trying to decide what size to do.  I've put 108 of them up 12 by 9 on my design walls- it's wayyy to big so now I have to decide what to do with them

Speed Dating----- Not for me- for my math class

Here's another cool idea I found.  This would probably work great with my Pre AP Algebra 2 classes:
http://kellyoshea.wordpress.com/2012/01/22/whiteboard-speed-dating/

Scavenger Hunt with QR

I would probably have to get permission from an administrator, but this would be an awesome way to do a scavenger hunt and let the kids use their QR scanner on their phone: I might just have to try this.

http://classtools.net/QR/

Flipped Classroom

As I'm doing more searching on math things to do in my Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 classes, I came across this philosophy of a "flipped classroom"

You give the kids videos of a lecture that they can take notes on in a powerpoint, then they come into class to do the practice.  Its an interesting idea

here were several websites that I found I could create these lectures:
http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.html


http://www.techsmith.com/download/jing/win/thankyou.asp

http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/

I'll have to spend more time investigating this.  Who knows, maybe I'll try it.  I would need alot of technology Had anyone used this in their classroom?

This is not supposed to happen- I'm planning for the school year

Some of you may not know this  (my family and friends do, but people in the blog world might not) I am a high school math teacher.  For years- since high school, I always said that I didn't think during the summer.  Well- it's happened- I am.  I got sucked into a few websites the other night and found myself searching for 3 hours for ideas for my classes next year.

I've found a few cute ideas:
1.  Make a Bazinga Game  I found it on this website
2.  My room is only temporary so this would be a good way to decorate: Buy a puzzle from the dollar store that I can have students alter.  Give each student a puzzle piece or two and have them alter it- cover it with paper, color it, glitter it, etc to reflect themselves.  Put all the pieces back together and display in the classroom.
3.  My Algebra 1- Inclusion kids need more remediation.  I think at the beginning I'm going to make them redo the 12X12 multiplication table and put it in their notebook.  I'm amazed at how many times the students reach for a calculator to do simple math.  This is something that I don't think they know well enough and need to make these become second nature.
4.  Get a floor lamp near my desk and document camera.  Our classrooms have this horrible florescent light and in order for the kids to see on the screen, we have to turn one off- however these still give off a horrible glare.  But there is now way in h---- I am going to turn off both sets of lights in a class of teenagers.  Bad things happen when you do that. Some sort of light always needs to be on in the classroom.
5.  Use more foldables in the Algebra 1 notebooks.  I was really good with this at the beginning of the year but as the year went on I noticed I used less and less of them.
6.  Put stars on the board when students get A's on Tests.  I've used these for years and alot of the kids worked their butts off to get them.  Since my room this past year was temporary- although I'm in it for 1 more year apparently- I just didn't do it- and I kind of missed it.  So I'm going to put that back into action this year. 

Star Ribbon Block

Here are the latest blocks I'm working on using a Reunion jelly roll and coal Kona background.  These are a little tedious to make but I LOVE THEM.

Baby Quilts

It's been a while since I've posted anything.  I was making some baby quilts for my sister and my friend Crystal so I couldn't post them.

 This is one of the quilts I made for my friend Crystal

This is a quilt I made for my sister Laura.  The center of it can be used when the baby gets older for checkers.















I had another quilt for Crystal and a stroller quilt for Laura, but one of my "lovely" (I say that sarcastically) Double Block Algebra 1 students stole my camera and the pictures were on there.  Also on there was all my pictures from my sisters baby shower and from Crystals baby shower.  I didn't have a chance to upload them before it got stolen at school.  I had it at school to take pictures for a scrapbook I made each year and someone decided they would take it upon themselves to go through my desk and take my camera out of my camera bag. Lesson learned: download pictures after I take them !