Pinterest Help!

Okay Middle School Math Blog Pinners... I have a question. How do I set up the photos on the blog so they will pin?

Made 4 Math Monday

I have really been enjoying all the Made For Math Monday posts (thanks @pamjwilson and @druinok)
I'm WAY behind. But here's what I got... For the past several years I've kept the supplies my students use every day in shoe boxes under their desk. They held up pretty good (I've replaced one or two each year), I can quickly see what supplies are missing and refill as needed. The down side is they are noisy (lots of training so the students can do it quietly) and the students also

use it for a trash bin (which, I guess it okay, but it gets gross after a while).

Before

This summer, my good friend and one of the amazing 8th grade science teachers at my school came up with the idea of using the notebook pencil pouches. The pencil pouch is attached to the bar section of the desk. Both versions contain the supplies we use most. Mine contain highlighters, tape, glue stick, and scissors.

After

I know as teachers we have to pick our battles. I don't mind lending pencils, but I do mind when I don't get them back and see them discarded in the hallways -- right after class and that makes me crazy. I saw a p

encil holder on Pinterest that I knew I needed.Here's my version:

Board and stickers from Hobby Lobby. I attached the clips with those staple things that keep cords attached to the wall(?). Found them at Home Depot. I also used laminate film under the sign to keep the pencils from marking up the wall.

Now, I can tell at a glance if all the pencils are returned. I get my pencils from Atlas Pen and Pencil Company, For Teacher's Only. I get the misprinted pencils for less than $8 a gross.

Whew! My first post with probably too many pictures. Can't wait for next week's Made 4 Math Monday's posts!

New Blogger Initiation..

How many times can I start posting?  I think the answer is somewhere close to infinity.

I've joined Sam Shah's invitation to join in the New Blogger Initiation to just do four posts.  As I have said before (I think) I'm a MAJOR lurker and I steal  use lots of ideas from all the blogs and pins on pinterest I follow.  We'll see.

And Once Again...

I want to keep up with this blog. I really do.  But you know things get in the way.

This summer, I'm stressing thinking about our new TEKS (learning objectives) that are scheduled to start during the school year of 2014/2015. I know it's two years away, but I also know that some of those items are going to make their way onto our state mandated test (STAAR). I AM kinda disappointed to see that scientific notation is still one of the objectives we need to teach. I can hear the student's questions already.."When are we EVER going to use this." It's an interesting little notation (to me), but I've NEVER used it except to teach it. I guess I need to do a little more research and see if there's any real life use (besides being a scientisit).

Working On
I'm working on notes for next year for my regular and Pre-AP Algebra I students.I want to do more foldables (sneak more info on one page) to free up room for vocabulary, reflections in their notebooks.

Anyone have a template already set up to type out and print a layered book?

Reading
Making Content Comprehensible for Secondary Enligh Learners, The SIOP Model by Jana Eschevarria, Mary Ellen Vogt, and Deborah J. Short
99 Ideas and Activities for Teaching English Learners with the SIOP Model by Jana Eschevarria, and Mary Ellen Vogt
The SIOP Model for Teaching Mathematics to English Learners  by Jana Eschevarria, Mary Ellen Vogt, and Deborah J. Short