Another Blog? Am I Crazy?

I am totally crazy! But first, let me introduce myself ...

I am Cat. I have been teaching high school math for 13 years (with a 2 year break somewhere in the middle). For the last two years, I have taught in a very rural county in North Carolina. NC adopted the Common Core, made us teach to it for a few years, changed curriculums, mixed up classes, and then this year decided against Common Core. I have to teach one more year with the standards until NC can come up with their own. Needless to say, we teachers here are wore out.

At the beginning of last year, my county switched from Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II to Math I, Math II, Math III. I taught Algebra II last year and am teaching Math III this year. Technically they are the same plus or minus a few topics so I'm not too worried about having a "new prep."

My teaching style is very traditional ... which I have come to realize is not so good. It totally stresses me out when my students don't do "what they are supposed to do." Homework is a fight every year. Apathy drives me nuts. I just don't understand why they don't care. Many of my students are happy with their 'D' in math just so they can get out of high school. Instead of being miserable in a career I want to love, I decided that I need to make a few changes.

Right around December 2013, I found two things that I have become totally obsessed about; Interactive Student Notebooks and Standards Based Grading. How is it that I never knew of these things before? As I began researching ISN's and SBG, I decided to try both of these things this upcoming year with my Math III classes. And what better way to document my journey than with a blog!

Again, I am totally crazy! This should be an interesting year!

 >^..^<