ECST Mathematics Department
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My Appologies
My Appologies
I missed the newsletter last week. You understand how it happens - you wake up on Monday and then it is already Wednesday. This week's newsletter will take away some of that disappointment, I hope. ;)
After this newsletter there are only 5 more to go. The end is near and it is a good thing because we could all use a bit of a break.
With Deep Appreciation
With Deep Appreciation
Almost 14 months ago, many of us gathered at Payne Tech for an inservice workshop. The day was originally to be a 2-hour inservice on NJSLA, but on March 12th the day was switched to a full-day planning and preparation for 2 weeks of online asynchronous instruction. We gathered in planning groups and agreed upon common assignments (like eMath Instruction) to post on Google Classroom. I still have over 120 Google Classroom pages where I am a co-teacher. Lol! On March 13, 2020, many of you had never heard of Zoom. Before March 13, 2020, some of you had never been on Google Classroom. Wow! Looking back at that day, we really didn't have a clue how to best prepare, yet we did our best.
Here we are after 14 months of asynchronous/synchronous/hybrid instruction - definitely MORE EXPERIENCED and WISER. I have mentioned to a few of you that the student "learning loss" that we have been reading about is not measuring all that the students HAVE learned: time management, resiliency, family responsibilities, and multi-tasking to name a few. As a team, we too have learned measurable and not-so-measurable skills. Our professional development alone has put us in an elite crowd. The professionalism, unselfishness and resourcefulness that you all have exhibited during this past year is astounding! Some may look back at this past year in a negative light, but I do not. This past year afforded me the time to get to know many of your hidden talents. There is a reason why we all traveled through this together - and I can't imagine this journey with any other group of people. The ECST Math Department is a true definition of a TEAM.
As I read all the emails from the principals and vice-principals about the festivities planned for Teacher Appreciation Week, I though it best if WE celebrated the following week when we gather for the department meeting on May 12th. I have a few things planned so I hope all of you can join us in the park. We will practice social distancing and wear masks so that all of us will feel comfortable and secure in joining together in the park. I have also invited a few people to celebrate with us: Marianne Cavallo, Eileen Shinn, Miriam Diaz, and Rosanna Braden. They are going to try their best to join us. I hope you all will too.
It's A Secret! Math Dept Secret Spirit Week
It's A Secret! Math Dept Secret Spirit Week
Why should the students have all the fun? lol!
You are invited to participate in the 1st ECST Math Department Secret Spirit Week. Please join us by participating in one or all of the themed days the week of May 10-14. Oh, and one extra day on May 20th! Here are the details:
High Five Day
May 10
Celebrate the accomplishments of your colleagues all day with AIR HIGH FIVES. Maybe touch elbows or send a virtual high five. Just don't tell others who are not in the math department that it is part of the spirit week celebration.
"Take 5" Day
May 11
Take 5 minutes today and either go for a walk or play a game with a math department colleague (in-person or virtual). If it extends beyond 5 minutes, that is fine too!
Department Meeting in the Park
May 12 at 2PM
Bring a chair and your lunch. There will be a few housekeeping items and then a celebration of the 2020-2021 school year and Teacher Appreciation Day. We will park in the lot next to the Branch Brook Park Cherry Blossom Center. More information will follow about the exact location.
Off Season Celebrations
May 13
Pick a holiday and celebrate it on May 13th. Dress the part, decorate the space, change your Zoom background... and spread the joy of that holiday. I am wearing a tiara and a button that says "it's my birthday". What is your favorite holiday? Remember, it is a math department secret until that day.
Scavenger Hunt
May 14
Individuals from the math department will have the opportunity to participate in a scavenger hunt that will begin at 8AM and ends at 3PM. The information that is collected will be used in a newsletter before June 18th. The winner has bragging rights!
And finally... May 20th
And finally... May 20th
On May 20th you have the option to participate in a swap of classes with a colleague in the math department. Don't tell the students in advance - just swap! They will be surprised on that day. Because we will be virtual the whole week, it shouldn't be too challenging of a task. Of course, you will have to find a colleague in the math department to swap with and make arrangement in advance. Begin your Zoom session and then turn over the hosting duties to your colleague. You are creative and resourceful. Make sure student attendance is taken accurately and recorded within the required timeframe. This could be a good day to plan a review with a game. Don't make it too much fun, the students may not want you back!
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