First Day of year 5
Hello pi learners,I am Elyse Carmack, an eighth-grade mathematics teacher, and today was my first day back to school! Wow, was I nervous! You would think going into year five would make me feel less stressed, but it truly does not.
I have started each year a little differently. Some years I had assigned seats I placed, other years it was a free for all, some was on zoom, and this year I wanted to have students grow outside of their comfort zone and go through a “weekly random table”. All students walk in with their groups on the board. They get a chance to work with “new” people that are not in their norm. This seemed to work great with the new students. When you work in a school that students have been in since kindergarten, it can be intimidating for first year students.
I have 60 minutes of entertainment with each class a day, so we went right to work! Students started by creating a nametag while looking for math patterns in their names. They were told to write their name repeatedly horizontally and after, color each letter of their name a different color and continue that color pattern until the end on a 7 x 4 grid lines. After about 5 minutes, I had the students answer a few questions.
1. Write the meaning of your name or why you were named this name.
2. Describe the pattern that was created when you colored your name.
I also told them that if they do not know the answer to number one they could literally write “idk”, but if they did, they had some homework to investigate that night the meaning behind their name.
This will be my first circle meeting with each group to talk about the meaning behind their name. Students will have a chance to ask their families and find out more to share.
Next, I went into their FIRST QUIZ! I told them it was extremely important and I hope they studied over the summer. The student’s eyes widened. “ON THE FIRST DAY?!” “Is this a grade?”
I respond, “Yes! I hope you are ready!”
As they opened the document, they saw ALL the questions were multiple choice about me. They all start to laugh. Then, it becomes a competition to see who knows the “most” from just meeting me 10 minutes ago. Some still get 10/10 and I love to give them a sticker and question how they know me SO well.
After, I say it is only fair if they give me a quiz on the most important facts about them. Each student writes a few multiple-choice questions for me. They always love telling me that the teacher got a 0/10 on their quiz! I will say, it makes my day when I get a random 10/10 and they are SO surprised! (Just like I am.) I know it sounds like a lot on the first day to take 120 quizzes, but they LOVE grading you the next day and sharing the facts about themselves. It’s worth the 30 minutes it takes to read the questions.
The last activity I work on is the “Let’s Make Squares”, which I found on Math=Love. The game got my students to think outside the square…I mean box. 😂
One of my groups had an extra 30 minutes, so they ended with the “All about_______” activity I have provided. Students will write equations to describe themselves. They include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
All in all, such a great day and I am so hopeful for the rest of the year to come. ❤
Love,Ms. Carmack
