I have to start somewhere

I have been teaching math since 1995, but my students haven't really been learning math until 2009.  Quite a difference in time I might add here.  I used to be the typical stand in the front of the room, expect all my students to understand by the time the bell rang, grade homework with no feedback, and thought I had it all figured out high school math teacher.  Well, I did.  But I clearly didn't.

There are several people I really need to thank.  I won't mention them here to save their spouses from a summer of ultra-puffed egos.  But I genuinely and sincerely appreciate the push in the right direction and occasionally a shove or two.

I have learned so much in the past several years.  I have really learned a lot in the last year.  And to help me sort through all the info out there, I needed a place to put my thoughts.  I want to share my success and failures.  I want to grow as a teacher.  I want to make a difference in my school.

This summer I have been like a sponge.  My summer reading includes isn't filled with the fiction I so used to cling to, but rather to professional development.  And yes, I highlight in my books and write notes to myself in them.  I have followed multiple bloggers and flooded myself with following others on Twitter.  I now need a place to share what I am learning.  I am a math nerd and always will be.  I look for the math in everything, which may be annoying to my husband at times.  My seven year old may think we are playing "McDonald's" when he actually learning about place value and number comparison.

I am a mother of four boys.  Yup, God does have a sense of humor.  When asked if I will have any more children to try for a girl, I politely say no and give the following explanation.  I love math so much that I even have my children in a famous sequence.  1, 1, 2.  The next number is 3 and I don't want to risk having triplets right after having twins.  I mean when I have a 75% chance of having at least one girl when I was having twins only to have 2 more boys...  See, math nerd.

So.  It was time.  I needed to start my blog.  I have to start somewhere.  And here seemed like a pretty good place to start.