Playing with Math

I was pretty good in math when I was in school. I was able to answer the problems correctly and my SAT score for math was considerably higher than my verbal score. That was many, many years ago, and unfortunately, I don’t recall much about the math I took back then.

When I became a teacher,  I tried to make math more meaningful. We had lots of manipulatives for students to use - math tiles, base ten blocks, Cuisenaire rods, tangrams, link cubes, pattern blocks,  pentominoes - and we learned new concepts using these concrete materials first before going to the representational and abstract in mathematics. We did “number of the day” and students were encouraged to do mental math as they came up with pretty awesome equations.  I learned about problem-solving and having students discuss how they got their answers, and students were able to share their strategies and discuss the reasonableness of an answer. As a teacher, I did my best to stay away from misconceptions that might be a barrier for my students’ math understanding later on in their schooling. But the more I read blogs by mathematicians like Sunil Singh and books about math like Mathematical Mindsets by Jo Boaler, the more I realize that I fell short as an educator and as a parent. In fact, as the graphic below shows, math should be about exploring and discovering as opposed to just learning specific skills and formulas to solve problems or to pass a test. I decided that during this time where staying-at-home is necessary, I would “play” with math and include my grandsons in the process.

I saw a tweet and a screenshot by Sunil Singh about the Is This Prime? game, and I was hooked. I shared the link with my grandsons and my son since they live on the mainland. I challenged them to beat their high score. I found myself frustrated at making the same mistakes so I decided to make a list of prime and not-prime numbers, looking for patterns. I got up to 201. Then I asked myself why it was important to learn about prime numbers and did a search. Here’s a great article, supposedly written for children, about why prime numbers are exciting and important. I also realized that I could have used a hundreds chart to determine all the prime numbers from 1-100, but that’s okay because writing down factors helped me to see patterns. I know that won’t help me to beat my son’s top score (62) or Sunil’s top score (66), but that’s okay. I was exploring and discovering something about mathematics that I didn’t know before.

One of my friends posted a “Crack the Code” game on Facebook. It was another fun math activity; I’ll admit that my first try was wrong, but I realized what my mistake was. Making mistakes and having math stamina (aka not giving up) is something I need to accept as part of playing with math. Can you crack the code?

Then I saw a video on Twitter and was fascinated by it; I shared it with my grandsons. Does it really work? I had to find out; it did! Then I saw that my son had posted a photo on his Facebook page with this caption: Day 13 of quarantine... Grandma has the boys playing with a cardboard box. My son explained that he knew this would work because that’s what they did when he helped with packing and moving households as part of his job for several summers. However, he wanted his boys to see this for themselves. I think they were as pleasantly surprised as I was that it actually worked. Then we had a little discussion via text about which box had the greater volume. Hands on, relevant math.

Now my grandsons and I are going to play a modified version of “24” which might be a bit of a challenge since we’re not in the same room. Hopefully, though, the problems will make all of us think more creatively about math operations. 

Check out this video from the International Day of Mathematics. There is so much more for me to explore and discover as a mathematician; after all mathematics is everywhere! 

Falling Behind . . .

I’ve learned a lot since I retired as a school principal. I wrote a book, created a website, and was slowly gaining more confidence as a speaker. (This continues to be a real challenge for me.) 

This COVID-19 lockdown has been quite an experience for educators. I follow teachers on social media here in Hawaii and across the nation who are scrambling to create distance learning lessons and assignments for their students. I see photos of groups meeting virtually to plan professional development or lesson plans. I watch teachers figure out ways to connect and share with their students socially and emotionally as well as academically. And l realize that I have fallen behind. Could I do what they are doing? Probably not without a lot of assistance and support.

This was made so apparent to me last night. I was invited to join a Hawaii Educators W-rite session which would be held virtually for the first time. Back in July 2019, I spoke to this group of educators who were committed to support each other through writing, and since then, their group has grown in number and expanded to two other islands. This would be a great time to reconnect with these educators and continue my learning and commitment to writing.

I was ready at 6:30, the start time for the virtual meeting. I had my iPad ready with my earphones plugged in. I had logged on to the site. Unfortunately, no one could hear me as I was asked to introduce myself. Wait, let me unmute my microphone. Hmm. . . They still couldn’t hear me. I plugged and unplugged my earphones. Still nothing. Someone suggested I use the microphone on my computer. (Where is it on my iPad?) Oh, well, by then, everyone was busy writing so I decided to get working on my blog. (Truth: I deleted what I wrote last night and started this blog instead.)

The last half hour of every W-rite session is set aside for a guest speaker. I ended up using my phone to connect to the virtual meeting so I could hear Nanea Kalani, the guest speaker for this session. She has written for several newspapers and is now with the Department’s Communications Office. Nanea was informative; I wish I’d written down her four main points because I’m sure they will be helpful IF I decide to write another book and as I continue to blog.

When I was a principal, I knew that I had support from our tech team if I ever encountered a problem. Now that I am retired and at home, I am aware that learning on my own is a reality but that there are lots of resources and people who can help me to navigate this new way of meeting. I’m thinking that I might want to try Zoom or another similar app just to see how I might be able to use it in the future. 

I’ve got a lot of catching up to do!

Rays of Light During this Lockdown

We are all feeling it. Our lives have changed with the COVID-19 pandemic. It is our new normal, and thus far, most of us are complying with social distancing, washing our hands more often, and staying on lockdown until further notice, going out only when necessary.

Social media has given me hope that people have taken the pandemic seriously. I’ve seen photos of parents spending quality family time with their children doing things like playing board games, reading books, gardening, cooking, doing art or music or fitness activities. I smile when I see the joy on everyone’s faces. I know it’s early in the lockdown, but hopefully, this family time will become the norm.

Teachers across the nation and the world are using social media to communicate with each other. Just this past weekend, a virtual 808Unconference was held here in Hawaii on Twitter with nearly 100 educators logging on to share, converse, and learn together. They were asking questions and discussing  concerns and were already preparing for virtual learning while they were technically on Spring Break. So many resources have been shared for teachers and students, and many of them are free. There are videos of authors sharing their books, or artists demonstrating a technique or getting students to draw or paint. There are free virtual tours of museums or national parks or places of historical significance. This is a time when teachers can explore and discover new online resources that they can use in their classrooms, not just now, but in the future as well.

Life goes on during this pandemic. Our nephew and his wife had a baby earlier this year, and one positive outcome of this lockdown, according to our nephew, is that he gets to spend more time with his little boy. I am happy for him; new dads don’t always get that opportunity.

Last week, we were supposed to attend a wedding of a dear friend’s grandson. We got the message that the event would be cancelled due to social distancing and crowds of ten or fewer people. Yesterday, my friend posted a photo on Facebook of the newlyweds with their immediate family. I commented that in the future, the happy couple would have quite a story to share with their children about their wedding day. The following picture was then posted:

Isn’t that what life is about? Making memories, having a sense of humor, and sharing special moments with those we love. This pandemic is not over, and we continue to be in lockdown for a few more weeks. I hope we can all remember to look for rays of light and to share those moments with others. Take care, everyone. 😊

A New Way of Teaching and Learning

The coronavirus pandemic is changing teaching and learning for schools across the country. Tomorrow, Hawaii public school teachers will be back at work to plan instruction for their students. They’ll be working remotely from home and meeting virtually with administrators and their colleagues.

A few years ago, our school received a grant to pilot blended learning with about 25 fourth and fifth graders. Students attended class 3 days a week and accessed their curriculum at home for the other 2 days. Projects and assignments were all submitted on-line. Through this blended learning pilot program, we learned lessons which teachers can consider when they begin planning for virtual learning for their students.

• According to studies, on-line teachers can burn out more quickly than those who teach in face-to-face environments. This is something we want to avoid. Our blended learning teachers were not available 24/7; they had “office hours” when students could contact them to ask questions. They learned not to respond when a student contacted them after-hours whether it was an email, a comment on the website, or a phone call. 
• Designing lessons to be placed on-line is challenging, especially if a teacher has not had experience or training. Directions need to be clear and not too lengthy or students may be confused. Teachers need to determine how they will teach a new lesson or a new concept or how they will encourage discussion amongst students. It might be easy for some teachers, but for others, it will be a struggle. 
• In order to be successful in a virtual classroom, students need to be self-directed. As teachers, we have control over our classrooms. Students are told when to listen and when to talk, when to work, when and where to turn in their assignments, etc. There may be few opportunities for students to learn to organize or manage their time or to have choices in their assignments or even how to share their learning. Our successful blended learning students learned to prioritize, to be organized so they could check what they completed and what they needed to do next. They learned to ask for help, not just from their teacher, but also from their classmates or from tutorials which the teacher created as a resource. They were able to choose their own projects and to determine the best way to share what they learned. This didn’t happen overnight; like any classroom, some students were self-directed from the beginning while others took awhile to get going. Hopefully, since we are in the fourth quarter, students know what is expected of them, and teachers can check in on those students who may need more assistance. Checking-in is imperative to avoid students falling behind. 
• This is an opportunity for teachers to begin integrating technology seamlessly into their classrooms. Some teachers will have no problem making the transition to a virtual classroom; other teachers will need more support.  In the best possible world, professional development and coaching would have been provided so that teachers are already using blended learning strategies and activities with their students. With this short timeline to prepare a curriculum for students, it might be wiser for some teachers to prepare packets of assignments while also scheduling time to check in with their students via a phone call or a videoconferencing app. Low-tech may be preferable especially for younger students or for teachers who are not yet comfortable with virtual learning.
• Our kids are much more comfortable with technology than we are as adults. I was amazed that students in the blended learning classroom were able to creatively share their learning using apps that they found on their own.  I remember a second grade teacher sharing PSAs that her students created; a few students figured out how to use an app and taught the rest of their classmates how to use it. Give students some flexibility to share what they’ve learned, and they may surprise you!

This coronavirus pandemic has changed how we live our lives. This is an unprecedented time in history, and students are undoubtedly feeling a range of emotions just as we adults are. They need to write, to document what they’re thinking, what questions they have, what their fears are. They can share those journal entries with you, or they may choose to keep it personal. Dave Wee, my Twitter friend, writes “So . . . I’ve been trying to convince teachers that the one assignment I think every kid doing remote learning in America should be doing is to journal or blog THEIR HISTORIES of this important moment in history and their lives.” I agree with Dave, and I would add that I hope teachers make the time to document about their experiences and their feelings, too. 

Educating Kids in this COVID-19 Era

“When things are in turmoil, lead from the front. 

When things are going well, lead from the back.”

Unknown

Our world is in turmoil right now. This COVID-19 pandemic is impacting our lives in ways we would not have expected. This is a time when our leaders need to step up and lead from the front.

Unfortunately, I don’t feel our government is inspiring confidence right now. We don’t have enough tests or supplies, and our health care system is unable to handle all of the testing required. The number of people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 increases at an alarming rate, and the constant news is depressing. Most of us are following the advice of health experts by social distancing or sheltering-in-place to avoid contact with others to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Restaurants are take-out or delivery only, events are being postponed or cancelled, and our daily lives have changed as we follow the instructions of the doctors and health care professionals.

I am concerned about COVID-19’s impact on everyone. As a retired educator, one of my major concerns is with our schools. School is where students can learn new things, where they can discover what they are passionate about, where they can make new friends and learn how to work with others. Teachers chose to be educators; they love working with kids, and they create lessons that meet the needs of their students. Teachers work tirelessly, and positive memories can last long after a student leaves the classroom.

Schools have been impacted by this pandemic. Students, teachers, and communities are uncertain about when or whether schools will reopen and whether they will be safe. We want to ensure that students are ready for the next step in their educational journey. However, questions about health and safety in this coronavirus era will linger especially with the number of new cases being identified every day. Many schools and districts have opted to go to distance learning, but that can be challenging for students as well as teachers.

I read a post by a teacher friend on social media who teaches in another state; she is using flexible learning with her elementary school students. She wrote, “Being ‘on-call’ is tiring. Waking up by 8am, answering questions from parents and students all morning through night, while interacting with students through Google classroom with texting and messaging, and providing daily ‘Check for Understanding’ question threads. Along with countless correcting/editing their daily journal entries, math, and checking their iReady responses and their progress. I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE WEEKEND!” Other teachers shared that they were similarly exhausted with this new way of teaching. Fortunately, these teachers are able to continue teaching their students from home via flexible learning; this can be challenging!

I agree that learning needs to continue during this COVID-19 pandemic. I also agree that the health and safety of our school personnel needs to be taken into consideration. This is the time for school leaders to lead from the front, to get feedback from their teachers about what they feel is best for their students, and to let teachers drive teaching and learning in this new social distancing environment. I think this is an opportunity for professional growth, for sharing ideas that work, and for thinking outside the box to engage and empower students in their own learning.

Sometimes, it takes something major to make changes in how we do things. This is one of those times. School leaders can use this time of turmoil to lead from the front. Teachers will have an opportunity to be creative and to try new ways of teaching, and students will be the beneficiaries of this collaboration.

Uncertain Times

Well, the coronavirus has certainly had an impact on my husband and me. We cancelled our trip in April to see our son and grandsons; we specifically planned this trip for their Spring Break because we don’t get to see our grandsons much if we travel when they’re in school. I was in ‘mourning’ as I cancelled our flight and our hotel, but as older people, we just couldn’t take the chance. Then my book talk was cancelled as were two events my husband and I had volunteered for. A benefit dinner for my husband’s high school alumni association was cancelled, and we’re waiting to hear about the Party Convention at the end of May.

The 24-7 news about COVID-19 is depressing. Hearing the increase in the number of cases worldwide as well as nationally is alarming. The number of confirmed cases in Hawaii went from two to seven over the weekend, and it’s sure to go up. This coming week is Spring Break for Hawaii schools, and the break will be extended for an additional week. After that, who knows what will happen? There are so many issues that need to be addressed; I am hopeful that decisions will be made that best benefit our students, teachers, and the school communities. There are no easy answers as each school is so different.

Let’s hope things get better quickly. Until then, we’ll be spending more time at home.

Take care, everyone!

Reading for Pleasure

When I was working, I primarily read professional articles, blogs, magazines, or books related to my profession as an educator. This is why I looked forward to the breaks when I’d binge-read books for pleasure. There’s nothing quite like being completely immersed in a good book!

Since my retirement, I’ve found distinct pleasure in reading new books as well as old favorites. Randy and I anxiously await the release date of new books by authors such as David Baldacci, Michael Connelly, James Rollins, or Lee Child. We peruse the shelves at Barnes & Noble to search for books that look interesting. We both like reading actual books, not e-books. There’s something about physically turning the pages until there are no more pages to turn.

The three most recent books I’ve read are Molokai and Daughter of Molokai by Alan Brennert and a book I received prior to its release date, Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn.  All have roots in Hawaii, and all are powerful novels; I couldn’t put them down. Despite the fact that I’ve lived in Hawaii all my life, these books made me question what I really know about this place, our history, and the people who make up our multicultural state.

I look forward to discovering new authors and books as I continue to partake in one of my favorite pastimes - reading. Let me know if there’s a book you would recommend for me 😊