On to High School...

So getting back into the high school grove makes me miss middle school. I thought I would never really miss it. I just don't feel like I am making connections and relationships with students here at high school like I did in middle school. This might be because they are more subdued and ask less questions. However recently I did get talking to some students about my thesis on the average number of turns it takes to complete the game of candy land. I will have to share this fun fact when I introduce myself since it grabs students interest.

However I am really excited to teach two sections of Algebra Concepts next semester. That class has some of my favorite stuff in algebra included into the curriculum. Graphing equations, solving a system of equations, graphing inequalities, and graphing a system of inequalities. I loved graphing a system of inequalities because I always used different colors to shade the graph. I am going to bring in lots of color into my graphs for my students and make sure they use colored pencils as well.

However my other supervising teacher is still getting his teaching schedule rearranged. There is only one 47 minute period of calculus scheduled next semester. The students wanted more time to work with the difficult concepts and they are looking to add another period. So I will need to take one math class from him once his schedule is set. It will most likely be some basic algebra class which is cool with me because I love algebra. Hopefully I can bring in some Abstract algebra into the class as well. I am a little worried I will not have enough time to plan for this class since I won't have time to work with the curriculum and textbook until January 3rd.

I will also be working with the calculus class some once I have graduated and they have finished with the AP test. I am thinking of teaching them how to work with LaTeX and have them type up test corrections using it. LaTeX is used by professional mathematicians and almost every math textbook is written using the program. I think using it would allow students to understand how to problem solve when using technology and review math concepts. I think they will still be reviewing math problems as they type up old problems, but it will not be the focus of the activity. I think that they would love to spend some time in the computer lab learning something new after the test, but we will see. I will have to keep a vigilant eye on the use of facebook. I think I may introduce another math program that I used in my undergraduate program, but I am not sure what I would include just yet. I think I will have to talk to my professors and become more of an expert at the program. However playing around on the computers with math related programs that are used in college level math courses is something I hope the students will find interesting and will be able to learn from.

It seems that January 31st is drawing closer. I will become even more of a teacher after that time. I will be teaching three math classes for a whole semester. I think it will be a very different experience. It is also something I have dreamed of doing for over ten years. I am much more excited to work with the faculty, work in this high school, and teach this curriculum. Algebra is much more exciting and cool then stupid decimals. Now I just hope that I can show my students how exciting and cool algebra can be. I hope that I find my place and calling at the high school level.