Annie Forest

Update: I'm not deleting this post, instead editing it. I have learned that using the word "tribe" to describe a group or community is invoking some racist and stereotypical ideas of Indigenous people. I'm embarrassed that I have this post on my blog and regret using the word "tribe." I'm sorry and promise to do better.  You can read more about this topic from Dr. Debbie Reese here. https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2018/09/some-thoughts-on-use-of-word-tribe-by.html What does it mean to find your tribe ? To me, it means finding like-minded people to walk along with on a journey. In my work life, I am so happy that I have found people that are passionate educators that care about kids and being the best teacher they can be. By connecting with these people in real life, at school, or online via blogs and Twitter, I feel supported and also motivated to continue working hard. Being a teacher can be difficult. There is t...

I previously blogged about how I created a Google Form with character limits to collect "tweets" from my students. I then read and curate the responses and copy/paste tweets into the actual account, @6Amath . The next thing I wanted to do, was create a way for my sixth grade students to see what is being tweeted. The age of my students presents a challenge because technically they can't create a Twitter account because they are under the age of 13. To overcome this problem, I started thinking about my own blog and how I have a Twitter feed on the side showing my own tweets. I thought, "what if I create a new blog and embed the Twitter feed for the class Twitter account?! So, I did just that. I created a blog to share the Twitter feed . Now, I just share this link with my students and they can see (updated in real time) their own tweets and tweets of classmates! I learned how to add a Twitter feed in Blogger by following this tutorial from "The Learnin...

After reading Cult of Pedagogy's blog post about teaching practices she is "kicking to the curb," I was inspired to write a post in the same style and address practices that I don't do anymore. Putting a Grade at the Top of the Paper In the past, I might spend hours grading a test, giving comments in the margin, and then carefully counting up correct answers and putting a grade at the top of the paper. If I was feeling extra nice, I might even put a sticker. Then, when I passed back the papers, I would be so annoyed that students just looked at the grade, ripped the sticker off, and I found most tests in the recycling bin at the end of class. Even my attempts to get students to save the tests in their "portfolio" were lacking in authenticity, because I knew students had only looked at the "grade" and not what they had gotten wrong or any of my comments. Two years ago, I started grading using a  color coding system  and NO GRADE. Whoa, ...

Originally, I was going to teach 8th graders this year. I had plans to have them using Twitter to reflect about what we were doing in math class. I had the same students as 7th graders and we were blogging, but was excited for them to all cross the threshold of age 13, so they could use Twitter. Towards the end of the summer, it was determined that I would be teaching 6th grade. There are many things that I absolutely LOVE about 6th graders, but I was a little disappointed that their age would prevent me from asking students to create Twitter accounts. I read a post by Alice Keeler that suggested using a google form to collect responses from students, and explained you could limit the number of characters, similar to how Twitter limits characters. This inspired me to try it! If I could have students submit "tweets" to me, I could curate them and add to a class twitter page. I've been trying it and it works great! Here is how I do it: 1. Create a twitter accou...

I have a new role this year. In addition to teaching middle school math (this year I have 6th graders), I am also doing some instructional coaching. This really is a dream combo for me because I still love being in the classroom, but I've been wanting to try math coaching as well. So, I'm teaching four periods, have a personal plan, a team plan, lunch, and two periods to dedicate to coaching. I am so grateful to the teachers that have been receptive to me popping in their rooms and how open they have been to feedback. But, it got me thinking, that if I want teachers to be okay with me coming in their rooms, I need to make myself open to that as well. So, I've invited everyone in the school to come to my room any day, any period I teach. Do I have some periods that have better behavior, or some periods will less challenges, sure! But I think it is important to be vulnerable myself and make sure I'm not just presenting a polished version of myself and my teaching....

I don't post an objective on the board. No "I Can" Statement either. Not only do I not do it, I won't do it. Does this mean I don't have a clear plan for learning that day? Do my students feel there is no purpose in my class? Is it a free-for-all? Nope! I do post an agenda, but no objective. While I certainly have a learning objective each day, I choose not to post it. Here is why: What if you went to see a movie and you saw this posted: "At the end of this movie you will find out that the neighbor is the bad guy."   or  "Today you will watch a love story of two people that will break-up but ultimately realize they are in love and get back together at the end." Can you imagine the ending being ruined before you even start? Certainly the writer/director of the movie knew where the story was going. They planned it. They took you on a journey, got you invested in the story, revealed things as it went along. You had moment...

Natalie as a newborn... awww! Last year, I returned from maternity leave carrying my school bag and another bag... in that bag was a breast pump. I am taking a slight departure from my normal blog content. Today I'm writing about being a new mom and a teacher at the same time. I wanted to take a moment to blog about my experiences trying to work full time and breastfeed my daughter because I think it could help anyone that works in a school that might: -be a new mom that is nursing her child -work with a new nursing mom Being a full-time working mom has challenges, but you can do it! I'm defining my audience up front, because I think it's important for everyone to understand and be aware of what it is like to be a teacher going back to work, worrying about feeding her child, and trying to be super-mom and super-teacher at the same time. I'm going to break this post up into two parts. My advice for "New Mom Teacher" and for "Co-Worker...