Tackling Math

I have decided to pursue my PhD. It is a goal that I set for myself when I was still working on my Bachelor's degree many years ago. I have found plenty of excuses to put off obtaining my doctorate, but I am done making excuses---it is time. I have applied to Texas A&M university. The application process was fairly easy to navigate--fill out the application, send your transcripts, write an essay, get a few references, take the GRE---wait, take the GRE????? That was the one requirement that caused a sudden rush of panic and my stomach to turn.
I remember taking the GRE for my Master's degree, but I don't remember the test. So, when I registered for the test, I downloaded the practice test and sample questions to refresh my memory. The GRE has been revised since I last took it, and the ELA section was manageable. I was an English major, and I still continue to read and write, so I thought, I can do this.
I then looked at the math. I had flashbacks to college Algebra where I sat in a classroom of 200 students and had no idea of what the professor was teaching. I panicked! I immediately found one of my 8th grade teachers (thank you Mr. Teal) to tutor me. I think he was surprised at how little I knew! The great thing about working with Mr. Teal is that he models the problem for me, then I practice it, and then he corrects me. He also gives me practice problems to work at home. After about a week, I took my first practice test. I only got 4 out of 20 problems correct! It was pretty dismal, and I finally understood how some of my students feel when they take a test! This past weekend, I bought a practice book---more explanations and more problems to solve. I promised myself that I would practice the book every day for at least one hour (most nights, it has been 2 hours.) It helps to have the practice book because once Mr. Teal explained the madness behind the math problem, I was able to refresh my memory with the explanations in the book as I practiced. So, after 3 days of studying and practicing, I took another practice test. This time I got 13/20 correct! I am seeing progress. It dawned on me that math is hard for me. I have to work at it to remember it---it isn't simple, clear, and logical the way my Algebra teacher in high school told me. Because I am challenged by math, I have to practice it everyday! I can't skip a day because then I forget some thing. This is the lesson I want our students to understand: math is challenging, but to get good at it, you have to pay attention to the teacher, take notes, practice it at home, and keep trying. I take the GRE in 2 weeks, and I know that no matter what my score is, I will be as ready as I possibly can be for the math portion. Afterall, education is a lesson in perseverance, and I will persevere through this crazy hard math test! :o)

It's autumn---SIKE!!!!

Okay, I am an 80s teenager, so the word "Sike" was used quite a bit when I was in school. It basically means that the previous statement was incorrect! So, last week when the weather was absolutely "perfectly" gorgeous with cool autumn temps in the morning, and pleasant late summer temps in the afternoon, I thought, "wow, we are in for an early fall." Sike! It was so not true--we are right back to triple digit temps this week, and it feels like the middle of July! You are probably wondering why I am talking about the weather when this is a reflective blog about working in a middle school. Well, this weather pattern is very similar to dealing with adolescent teenagers. They are often moody and inconsistent with their behavior. One day, they are "perfect" angels, and then the next, they are wild and crazy. It is like one day, they are the most pleasant people in the world, filled with wonder and happiness, and then the next day, they "sike you out" because they are like 2 year olds on a sugar rush! It absolutely blows my mind how teens can change so drastically from one day to the next! Well, at least I can say this--it keeps things interesting around school--there is never a dull moment. I am hoping that this autumn holds more perfect weather days rather than wild crazy summer temps---it is those perfect days which make school so much fun for everyone!