Setting the tone

Good Morning Master Teachers...

After our brief post-Academy hiatus, it's time to get blogging again!  The momentum gained during that first week surpassed my expectations and I have been 'singing' your praises all over town.  As the year unfolds it will be fun to watch that sharing habit grow.  We will all be the richer for it.

In thinking about strategies to manage the posts / comments in a way that won't overload you but will still be significant, I have settled on the suggestion made during our Academy week (rotating groups A,B,C,D: with a slight modification).  We'll try it for a while to see how that works out.  Feedback is always welcomed and appreciated.  

This week's posts will be done by groups A and B.  Groups C, D will comment.  Remember that this is the minimum.  Additional posts and comments are strongly encouraged.  If sharing is to become a habit it has to ultimately become something we are motivated to do because we find it valuable (not simply a requirement).  At some point in our year, as evidence of a sharing habit is clearly seen, I would like to phase out the assigned groupings and simply offer articles/topic suggestions/etc.  as starters and let the sharing continue on its own.  Sounds good in theory... let's see how it goes!

Suggested Blogging Topic For the Week:  Creating a Math Climate:  Posting by Groups A, B

As you wind up for your new year, the Summer Academy fresh in your mind, what thinking have you done about establishing a 'good math climate' in your classroom?  What specific strategies will you try (or have you tried) to make your math class a place that all of your students look forward to?  Please finish your post with a good question that will invite comments from your colleagues.  Remember that asking brings at least as much learning as telling.  

When you are finished composing your post, please remember to 'label' it.  There is a white box at the bottom where you need to type the label: Math Climate.  That way, our posts can be grouped by topic (label) and easy to find.  Also, BE SURE to title your post in a way that gives us a clue about the content - again, for easier searching.  Thanks.

We are all looking forward to what you have to say.

Cheers! 

Maggie