Mrvaudrey

Tag: DearClaire

  • This is Fun! I have no idea what we’re doing in this class.

    Dear Claire,

    The title of this post is two real things that were written in students’ name tents this week. I saved them all, so you can learn a bit about your students when you return.

    The first week went off without a hitchb& mostly. The issue that I relayed to you over the phone has already been repeated enough by me. I’m bugging myself that I’m so quick to share that negative story, so I’ll keep it out of print here and focus on the positive:

    Students are beginning to understand that:
    A)B High school math is different and
    B) They will have to talk to each other in class. Quite a bit.

    "Now class, you may mumble, 'Fascinating!' as you return to your seats. In rows. No talking!"
    “Now class, you may mumble, ‘Fascinating!’ as you return to your seats. In rows. No talking!”

    I think I have done aB satisfactory job of framing the class as yours, with me as the long-term substitute. You are such a Classroom Chef, you will have no issueB taking over and adaptingB the class culture and routine to fit what you want.

    And it’s a mark of your own risk-taking nature that you’re willing to let another cook in the kitchen. Well done.

    Even after one week, the students begin to sort themselves based on the expectations of previous math teachers. Using the name tent, students were able to share information about their past math experience with me discreetly. I also got some great data from the math attitude survey, but I will save that for my talk at the CMC SouthB in November.

    Here's a hint.
    Here’s a hint.

     

    This week, I’m hoping to get students’ math notebooks started, begin a math journal (Fridays, maybe), and try the Double Clothesline for solving equations.

    This will be the first of hopefully many lessons that will either surpass my expectations or fail grandly with someone watching. Either way, yee-haw! Taking a risk!

     

    Unrelated: Since I’m still an instructional coach in addition to this sub gig, I got to walk classes the first week of school. After witnessing a classroom that’sB sure to make students hate school, I unloaded on Kris.

    In her usual composed, empathetic way, she patted my hand and encouraged me to “pick the battles worth fighting.”

    “But, but,” I stammered. “Like, you see and hear about bad teaching more often than I do, plus you sent two of your own kids through school! How do you not burn the classB down in frustration?” I pleaded.

    She grinned. “Sometimes, I do.”

    I love my department.

    ~Matt “Long-Term Sub, Long-Term Coach” Vaudrey

  • First Day of School 2016

    Teaching two periods of Integrated Math I while Claire Verti takesB maternity leave, these are my public letters to her, as part of a 12-week series. Hopefully, she starts a blog when she returns.

    Dear Claire,

    I’m sweaty. The air conditioning went out around lunch, so the temperature soared pastB 80B0 for sixth and seventh periods.

    My voice hurts. Leading a classroom based on discussion is stillB a lot of work.B It’s a lot of talkingB to do in the first day of school; even with only two periods, my teacher voice is a little horse.

    I’m busy. I’m wondering how I will be able to stay on top of the prep and still be out the door with time to play with my kids. That wasB kinda one of the conditions my wife laid out before we started this. It’s the same amount of prep for not much fudge.

    I’m a team player. I found out that our classroom is being used for fifth period, which is fine; it’s a great class and it shouldn’t sit empty half the day.B The bummer is that I only found this out when students began to line up at the door after fourth period. I had planned to use that time, instead I helpedB that teacher make a seating chart based on my desk arrangement, which you can see here.

    I’m annoyed. Adriana and I are still not listed as co-teachers for your class, which means we can’t take attendance or post grades. I think I just got an email from the IT guy. Hopefully there is some good news there.

    I’m giddy.

    I’m excited. Both classes took a survey on their math ability today. There were three or four students in each class that didn’t have a smart phone with them, which means (if I supplement with Chromebook and stuff) it should be encouraging when we try to do entry and exit checks later this year. The data from that math attitude survey will (hopefully) show growth when I re-survey them in late October.

    (I really hope it shows growth. I’m kinda presenting on that very thing at CMC-South the following week.)

    I’m pleased with myself. An enormousB freshman in seventh period was wrestling with the Open Middle problem, and he blurted, “This is harder than Pre-Calculus!” Now, there is no way heB could know that, but it felt good it just the same*.

    I’m feeling more and more confidentB in the classroom we’re constructing; itB shouldB be handed to you seamlessly in early November when you return. I’m figuring out ways to smoothly sample all students, use musical cues, and maintain a focus on the process of mathematics, not the result of the process.

    Andrea told me this weekend, “I am really glad you are not in the classroom full-time anymore. In the last two weeks, I’ve heardB you frustrated by a lot by things teachers can’t control. It’s one of many reasons I’m glad you’re a coach, where you have greater influence toB help kids learn.”
    She gets me.
    These next 12 weeks might shove me into in school administration credential yearsB soonerB than I expected.

    In all, you have 72 delightful students that should be trained well in the process of risk-taking, explaining their thinking, and working as a group.

    And a lot of them are white! My schools in MoVal and Pomona had a 6% white population; I am not accustomed to so many students named Madison or Jacob.

    We have four of each in our two classes.

    ~Matt “Another White Name” Vaudrey

    *I later found out, he’s a Junior, so… never mind.

  • Setting Someone Else’s Table

    Dear Claire,

    Yesterday was great. I had forgotten how fantastic it feels to put on some loud music and move furniture.

    That’s not to say that I’mB glad your entire class was boxed up and moved to the middle of the room; that was… not ideal. But it made our conversation necessary; weB had to ask the question, “What’sB the best setup to help kids learn?” Your attention to setting the table makes me smile, since we both know what a big deal it is for freshman on the first day of school. For your/our class to be a place where risks can happen, we have work to do before students arrive on Monday.

    And, thanks to the magic of FaceTime, you could give me directions from the comfort of your own home, comforting a squalling infant while I ditched the T.A. desk in the corner and moved the Algeblocks into cabinets.

    Oh… and the power went out

    Power Out Bub

    Yeah. Right in the middle of Principal Bub’s Welcome Back address, just BEEoooooo. Darkness. He rolled with it, though. The School Resource Officer (why do we have cops in schools?) had to leave to direct traffic, since the entire city of LaVerne lost power.

    Anyway, the real reason I’m writing is to reiterate what I mentioned briefly on the phone.

    I’m so stoked that we agreed on everything.

    It would have been awkward if you insisted on the desks in rows and plenty of counter space for worksheets. Absolutely, it’s your class and I’m just the long-term sub for the next 12 weeks, so I will do what you want. But it’s so much easier when you say, “Yeah, if we move that file cabinet, there’s more room for whiteboard walls.”

    If it wasn’t a FaceTime call, I could have hugged you. I’m so glad you recognize the need for the class to be an inviting place for students to learn, and even more excited you’re willing to sacrifice that tiny, black table whichB you’ve had forever in order to get there.

    Anyway, here’s the before and after for Day One. I had some help from Mr. Eckler, a fridge-sized ASB student named Logan, and Kendrick Lamar.
    IMG_4865

    IMG_4876

    I’ll let you know how the rest of the organization goes on Friday. Oh, and I haven’t even touched the syllabus yet; I’ve been so excited to set the table for your/my learners on Day One.

    Tomorrow will be colorful paper and positive-attitude phrases like “Be Sincere” and “Take a Risk.”

    More to come later as we get our kitchen ready. I’m getting hungry and Monday is getting closer.

    ~Matt “We Gon’ Be Alright” Vaudrey

  • Weak Teaching Muscles

    Dear Claire,

    Thank you for being so willing to let me be your long-term sub while you’re out on Maternity leave. Of course, I’ll work closely with Adriana to keep our lessons and class culture consistent, something that you can swiftly absorb when you return in November.

    I gotta be honest. I’m equal parts thrilled and terrified.

    Thrilled

    Two and a half years ago, I left the classroom in March to become a P.D. Specialist. Since then, I’ve found ways to stay connected to classes and get student contact several times a week.

    But.

    It’s just not the same.

    Don’t get me wrong; I love my job. I have the freedom to do whatever teachers need done, to travel through the 13 schools in Bonita USD as often as needed, and to write blogs and prep workshops on the clock. I love being a tech coach and getting home before 5:00 every day with emotional energy left for my family.

    And.

    I really miss the high highs and low lows of teaching. YoubClairebhave asked me if I like coaching more than teaching. There’s no comparison; teaching is the best and hardestB job in the world.

    As a coach I have less days that are 10s, but I also have less days that are terrible.

    Black points are teaching days, orange are coaching days.
    Black points are teaching days, orange are coaching days.

    I miss those high highs a lot.

    But

    Terrified

    I’ve been out of the game for 30 months. In the time since I’ve left the classroom,

    • One Direction lost a member
    • Pokemon GO has been invented
    • The Pauly D haircut has phased out in favor of the Macklemore haircut
    • #blacklivesmatter has given voice to the oppressed around the world
    • I’ve had two more kids
    • I’ve written a book and given a few dozen workshops to teachers across the country
    • Donald Trump has become a viable candidate for President
    • #mtbos has grown to be an educational powerhouse

    Shortly after college, the captain of my college Ultimate team called me. “There’s a beach Ultimate tournament in January. Wanna play?”

    ultimatefrisbee

    The whole team was “wicked stoked.”B We got together in the early morning to warm up, high-fiving and spinning discs in the sand.

    Six minutes later, half the team was wheezing and begged the captain to slow down. “Dude, you might still be in shape,” an accountant from San Jose huffed. “But the rest of us aren’t as fit as we were in 2007.”

    I haven’t had a parent conference, offered a test retake, or debated the fairness of aB senior’s grade in years.

    Is this quarter in my class going to be a beach Ultimate tournament? How much have my teaching musclesB atrophied in the last 30 months?

    Claire, I’ll have an answer for you by September.

    ~Matt “Pulled a hammie” Vaudrey