Hooray for the 10th of October

Today in Doris M. Johnson High School in Baltimore MD some students learned some Algebra. And they had fun while they did it. There were some students in the same class who didn't learn Algebra and might not have had as much fun as the rest of us. But if they've got something more important to talk about who am I to stop them?
Today went great. I don't know what I did. Maybe it was just that we were finally doing something different. Several students whose attention I don't normally get paid attention today. As usual several students did not. Some still needed to be put out of my classroom. But the rest of us we had fun. We played a game where I pick some sort of rule like adding three. The students give me numbers, I'll add three and give them answers. (If a student said '4' I would respond with '7') We ha a lot of fun. I made the game get progressively harder. In one class I gave extra credit to anyone who could come up with one I couldn't solve. We'll see how they did tomorrow.
I still need to find ways to get my classroom under control. Sooner or later they're gonna realize that some of the notes I have them copy down are a bit of a sham. If I put things on the overhead and tell them to copy it down they will. Even the kids who don't pay attention to anything else. I need some other way to get these kids to pay attention.

I need ideas

I am exhausted. I think one of the parts of my job that I am lacking in is coming up with creative engaging ideas for my classes. I need to take some time to sit down and come up with some good things for this next chapter I start in Algebra next week. We are actually starting Algebra. The first thing I need to do is introduce variables and the concept of equations and substitutions. Any ideas anyone has would be great.
Also I teach a course called Freshmen Seminar. This class is supposed to help kids adjust to high school and help them get team building skills and things along those lines. I've pretty much been making this class up as I go. Sometimes we play games. We can go outside. We can do a lot of things. I feel like if I didn't teach three sections of algebra I could teach the hell out of this. Instead I come up with lackluster ideas that the students don't want to do. If you have any ideas of team building games you played at camp or fun lessons to teach kids that would be great.

Talkin First Week of October Blues

So I skipped school today. It was the first time since.... well actually since last year that I've done this. I guess habits die hard. This morning though, I don't know why. I just couldn't get myself out of bed to go to school. This job is hard. Its not like there has been anything traumatic happen to me or anything super tough. It is just a lot of weight on my shoulders. After spending a day wasting time and complaining about my job nothing seemed any better. Luckily for me and for a whole bunch of ninth graders I called my mom. I love my mom. She is great. I don't know what she said, but whatever it was I have a completly different frame of mind now.
As far as Algebra is concerned The first unit test is this Friday. There is a test that the City handed out with the curriculum. It's hard. Not because the kids don't have the skills. Most of them wil likely be lost on reading the problems. I am going to make changes to the test keep some problems replace others. I need to take the time to teach my students how to read these problems. The problems are written the same way as the problems on the HSA will.
Alas I am still struggling to make math meaningful for them an me. I am going to email someone from the Algebra Project and see if he can help me out. If you aren't familiar with the Algebra Project check them out. They are great.