Tough Crowd

Today's math class was tough. Not because of the content but because of the way I chose to present the topic.

It was quadratics, in particular graphing using y = a(x-p)^2 + q.  I tried to show them how to do it from the base function (y = x^2) but they just flipped out. It wasn't until I did the shortened version did it go better but man alive, what a tough class.  It makes my heart sink when I deliver something poorly when they are like, "I don't get it."

That situation did become a nice learning opportunity, at least for the way we will be working as a class.  We had a chat about comments like, "I don't get it."  I had to remind them that I don't know how to help them unless their questions were specific questions. Automatically, they started to give me really good questions that really helped.

I have to make sure to thank them for rising up to that task and asking for specific help rather than just complaining (because that really is what "I don't get it" is).

On a positive note, I found this really great site called remind101. It has the capability of sending a mass text/email out to students from the teacher to remind them about stuff (math stuff, etc). It will be interested to try it in my math class.

One more day in the week. Then sweet, sweet weekend.