21 Century Learners...

Do you want to know if you're a student in the 21st Century? Today's students have access to an abundance of information right at their fingertips. The 21st Century Student knows how to think for themselves. They are problem-solvers, not just in the classroom, but throughout their lives. They challenge themselves to think beyond the given academic material, and apply their knowledge to real-world experiences. Qualities of a 21st Century learner include: good citizenship, digitally literate, responsible, critical and creative thinkers, and willing to collaborate with others.

When you want to elevate the conversation with students, don't ask: "What did you do today?". Ask them: "What did you learn today?".

My Beliefs and Expectations:

Success is just on the other side of Struggle... don't give up.

My goal is to helps students embrace the concept of the Growth Mindset. For those of you who are new to this, congratulations! You're going to love it! Here's the reason why: The Growth Mindset is based on a student's belief that they are capable of learning anything. As long as they can accept the premise that making mistakes is FINE! Yep, I said it: MAKING MISTAKES IS GOOD! IT'S AWESOME! IT'S EXPECTED! IT'S HOW WE LEARN!! This is especially true when it comes to Mathematics. Do NOT be afraid to make mistakes - I make dozens of them... daily!

A "fixed mindset" sees things as winning and losing. A growth mindset sees things as winning and learning - and when you learn, you win!

Own your mistakes

We've all heard it before: "Nobody is perfect". As much as we know this is true, it is still difficult to admit when we are WRONG. Society places so much emphasis on being right, and doing things correctly, that it causes students to feel anxious or embarrassed when they're wrong. If you have ever felt that way, then you are normal. No one wakes up each day with the thought of, "I wonder how I can embarrass myself, or make myself feel worthless today?", at least I hope not. Mistakes are opportunities to learn, plain and simple. Owning your mistakes shows that you are accountable, and this leads to responsible behavior and growth. Remember, everyone makes mistakes! The best thing about owning your mistakes is when you make the correction, you get to own 100% of the credit. Be the first to say, "... my bad", then get to work on the correction.

Two Last Things

There are 2 things that I expect students to have when they come to class. You won't find it in your backpack, or in your lunchbox. Don't try to find it on sale at Target, or Wal-Mart. These are two things you should always have - and it'll cost you nothing to own. They are: a positive attitude, and your best effort. These are two things that you have complete control over, remember that. They are complimentary because they can influence one another - your positive attitude can dictate your effort, and your effort can reflect a positive attitude. Control over these two things will lead to all of your future successes. Attitude and effort. Sometimes having a positive attitude takes some effort, but it's worth it.

"Do what is difficult so your life will be easy. When you do what is easy, your life will be difficult."

-Ancient Proverb

If you've ever felt Anxious about Math, watch this:

My Desmos Creations / Collaborations:

Desmos is the best resource for interacting with students. There are activities, assessments, and lessons that are customizable so any teacher can create lessons that are suitable for their class. Here are a few lessons that were created using the Desmos platform: