Brian Cohen
  • Making the Grade Blog
  • About Me
  • Tutoring
  • Press
  • Resources to Share

Photo-a-day 89: At the bar

1/29/2017

0 Comments

 
At the end of a long week of political fears and work at school it is important to be able to blow off steam with good colleagues over some good drinks. My coworkers and I went to Abilene's to take a break together, talk about work (or not), clinks glasses, and have some bites to eat. It was a very nice thing to do (especially after learning that my bike had a flat tire again! I am grateful to the place I work and those I work with.
Picture
0 Comments

Photo-a-day 88: Incomplete contracts

1/26/2017

0 Comments

 
It's this time of year (when grades are due for credits) that students, parents, teachers, and administrators are all stressing out. In my own case it is because so many students failed themselves and did not attain mastery of concepts in my class. Despite that, for some there is legitimate reason to allow for an incomplete to be provided for them as long as they have a contract to fulfill later on. Some of our students will have to come to tutoring sessions; others will need to take tests they missed; still others might have to complete community service time. It's a wonderful (and unfortunate) way of allowing kids to demonstrate mastery later. Sometimes it can be overused and abused - I just hope what I'm doing this year is not that way.
Picture
0 Comments

Photo-a-day 87: Energy use

1/26/2017

0 Comments

 
On Wednesday afternoon there were a few teachers tasked with watching the 6h grade students during a movie so that their grade team could have planning time for second semester. There were a number of energetic students involved, a lot of talking, some disrespect, and a lost iPhone. This student had so much energy he couldn't stay in his seat. So, my colleague took in outside the doors to run up and down the stairs for about five minutes. Here he is on lap #4. Incredible.
Picture
0 Comments

Photo-a-day 86: MfA Course Registration

1/24/2017

0 Comments

 
I am really excited to take part in two awesome courses this semester through Math For America, especially since they will seriously allow me to geek out on technology and pedagogy. I am particularly happy about this since I did not get to register for ANY of the classes I really wanted to go to last semester. This time I set multiple alarms and made sure I was in a specific location at the time I needed to be for this to work. I am so happy I will get to do this and spend time learning useful things!
Picture
0 Comments

Photo-a-day 85: Speak up at Staff Crew

1/24/2017

0 Comments

 
I missed the last staff Crew due to unforeseen circumstances so I was happy to learn that they had discussed how to interrupt and educate students (or adults) who use language that may not accurately represent their feelings and thoughts. We discussed how to go about combatting this language use and apparently there were some role plays that I missed (Darn!). Overall, I'm happy that we discuss this as a staff to make sure we all understand the importance of terminology and language in the classroom and the world.
Picture
0 Comments

Photo-a-day 84: Working together

1/24/2017

0 Comments

 
This is yet another great example of students working together eagerly. They were conversing about the work in front of them and asking each other prodding questions to get to a deeper level of understanding. It was truly gratifying to watch it happen!
Picture
0 Comments

Photo-a-day 83: M&M OCD

1/24/2017

0 Comments

 
The student who owns this notebook (and candies) is one that definitely pays attention more often than not and can come up with great solutions/conversations in her group. It just so happened that on this day she had some M&Ms and was displaying a bit of her desire for exact-ness in organizing them. I thought it was quite funny and sympathized with her desire to keep things in order.
Picture
0 Comments

Photo-a-day 81 & 82: Missing

1/24/2017

0 Comments

 
Unfortunately it does happen that I will miss a day or two. In this case it had to do with late nights at Emergency Rooms. All are okay right now but I was not at school and couldn't make up a photo.
0 Comments

Photo-a-day 80: Taking the seniors to see Fences

1/14/2017

0 Comments

 
All senior students today took part in a private screening of the film Fences that we organized at the local Cobble Hill Theater. Last year they had read the play in their ELA class and this year are reading another play from the same author. Even though we organized this event only 10 days ahead we probably had about 75% of students attend. They were mostly respectful throughout the film and definitely appreciated going. 

On the way there one of my students dropped his wallet and so we had to retrace our steps all the way back to school. After not finding it for 30 minutes despite asking each business owner along the way if anyone had returned it, calling our school, and calling the local precinct, I eventually found it on the way back next to a Christmas tree on the curb waiting for pickup. My student was incredibly happy and grateful and then we had a lovely time at the movies!
Picture
0 Comments

Photo-a-day 79: MfA Event - The Man Who Knew Infinity

1/14/2017

0 Comments

 
As part of the Math for America Master Teacher Fellowship I get access to all kinds of classes to attend on a regular basis. Unfortunately, this semester I registered too late and only signed up for one. Another activity I wanted to attend was the screening of the recent film, The Man Who Knew Infinity, which was shown at the Simons Foundation on Thursday night. It was a really interesting movie mostly because I've never heard of the Indian mathematician Rananujan before and his work has influenced so many. It was a lovely night with free dinner and some nice conversation. I can't wait to sign up for spring semester classes and take part in more.
Picture
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    I am a math teacher in the New York Department of Education. I infuse technology and real-world problems into my curriculum in order to prepare my students for the future. I would love for people across the country to recognize we teachers can't do it alone. If you don't believe me, come visit my classroom!

    Picture

    Contact Me

    Picture

    Email Updates

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Archives

    March 2022
    September 2021
    August 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.