Category: Two cents

For each school day of the 2020-21 school year, I will be writing two sentences to capture some of the impressions, feelings, experiences, or thoughts I had that day. This is the 32nd post in the series.

Monday (May 24)
I threw around the idea of accepting (and even encouraging) both English and Spanish responses next year in class. I asked my students how they would feel about it and they were encouraging.

Tuesday (May 25)
Debuted the Math Olympics — the fun and games we will end the year with. Received affirmation and inspiration from one of the Spanish teachers on my “Spanish in math class” idea for next year.

Wednesday (May 26)
Balanced seven books on my head in eighth period. It could have been eight, and the goal was ten, but a book about the Maya just wouldn’t stay put.

Thursday (May 27)
Disappointed at the end of the day when I removed a few students who were non-responsive to my attempts to engage them. I was frustrated based on the lack of engagement from the previous class and didn’t lead with compassion.

Friday (May 28)
My cogen finalized our plans for the Math Olympics, which starts next week. My school’s modified “reimagine” plan for for the fall was unveiled and it was overwhelming.

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For each school day of the 2020-21 school year, I will be writing two sentences to capture some of the impressions, feelings, experiences, or thoughts I had that day. This is the 31st post in the series.

Monday (May 17)
In 8th period, we shared a cool moment of connection when a student, who is remote but was in school for one day, visited the smears I created in the hallway which represent our figurative children. It’s crazy to think about the levels I’ve gone to to engage my students this year.

Tuesday (May 18)
One student who is in person (but still learning remotely because all of our classes are on Zoom), set up his camera and took a shot with a paper ball at the garbage can — he made it on the 2nd try. I did 360 degree jumping jacks in 9th period because of the all the positive energy I received.

Wednesday (May 19)
Myself along with six other staff members went to visit the grave of Malcolm X after school at Ferncliff Cemetery. After reading his autobiography with them in February, paying homage to him on his birthday was powerful; it created a unique moment of community amongst our team as well as the others who were present at Ferncliff.

Thursday (May 20)
I felt sadness reflecting on my students’ “Your Year in Math Class” drawings. So many of them struggled this year; their hardships were illustrated in lots of different ways.

Friday (May 21)
As we explored microaggressions as a staff, there was a charged moment of open conflict at the racial and social justice workshop this afternoon. It was a moment of becoming for our school community that needed to happen.

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For each school day of the 2020-21 school year, I will be writing two sentences to capture some of the impressions, feelings, experiences, or thoughts I had that day. This is the 30th post in the series.

Monday (May 10)
In first period D-I came on the mic out when she entered Zoom and uttered a pleasant “good morning”; it changed the mood of not only our class, but my entire day. Out of no where, smack in the middle of 5th period, I picked up my laptop, sat next to one of my students in an adjacent room, and co-taught the class with him via Zoom.

Tuesday (May 11)
In 5th period we created a short story with each person typing one word in the chat. It was full improv and hilarious; it was about a Cheeto failing off a bed that was eaten by Shrek who thought it tasted like rainbows.

Wednesday (May 12)
It wasn’t until the end of first period that I realized we don’t have school tomorrow; for the rest of the day I felt like I had superpowers. Did another one-word story in 5th period; I had some fun 9th period with a random ant named Louie.

Thursday (May 13)
No classes — Eid

Friday (May 14)
My cogen and I have been planning an end-of-year math olympics for a few weeks now. Today we spoke about which events (games) there will be; it’s exciting to think about the year in a positive way.


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For each school day of the 2020-21 school year, I will be writing two sentences to capture some of the impressions, feelings, experiences, or thoughts I had that day. This is the 29th post in the series.

Monday (May 3)
Had a wonderful basketball + lunch session with many kids; I was on fire from three and got really excited (probably too excited). For a moment, in joshing with my students about the score, in riding the wave of a made three pointer, in immersing ourselves in a state of flow on the court, life actually felt normal.

Tuesday (May 4)
Battled though several long bouts of silence in my classes today; it’s clear that the kids are feeling the strain. The day ended with one of the lowlights of the year: an in-person student (who was sitting in the same room as me) left our online class five minutes before the end of the period and didn’t feel bad about it at all…already struggling to engage the class and keep up my energy, I could barely contain myself.

Wednesday (May 5)
Stepped into the day clean, with renewed energy to avoid the pitfalls of yesterday. I ate up answers in the chat and didn’t mandate responses over the mic; I kept everyone in the waiting room as I caught with a student before class during fifth period; I used my signature call and response throughout the day to promote engagement.

Thursday (May 6)
Handed out copies of the Mathematical Voices Vol. 2 manuscript to colleagues to proofread and edit for me. Stayed on unusually long for office hours after school to help students with this week’s Turn In.

Friday (May 7)
Despite grades being due on Monday and several meetings peppered throughout the day, I used my spare time to do push ups in my empty classroom while listening to some inspiring excerpts of Chris Emdin. Had a rough end to the day.

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