New Year, New Game!

That's right! We're going to play some games. Below is a link to a new website called Manga High.
Sometimes playing games can challenge you and motivate you to learn. Let's give it a try over the next few weeks to see how we like it.

I'll give you your login information in class the week we return and we'll go through how it all works. I'm excited! Are you?

Next Payment for CIMI due this Friday, December 16!

Don't forget that your second Catalina Payment is due this Friday, $69. You can pay more if you wish. Make check payable to: Santa Ynez School.

Friday is a minimum day.

New Trimester, New Attitude

This week we start our second trimester. If you did well the first trimester, then keep up the good work! If not, now is the time to commit to your learning and to make some changes in your attitude and motivation. If there's anything I can do to help you be successful this second trimester then please come a talk to me. I want you all to succeed and would be happy to support you in your goals to be successful this trimester.

Here are some things you can do be have a successful trimester:

• Talk to your teachers.
• If you don't know what you are responsible for, ask.
• If you need clarification or help with something, ask.
• Look over your class notes every day
• Do you understand what was presented in the last class?
• Is there any homework or other work due?
• Do you have questions about the last class that you want to ask this class?
• Think about your learning
• How do you learn best?
• What would help you learn something better?
• Be an active, responsible learner
• Don't wait for teacher to tell you what is do, ask.
• Participate in class
• TRY to figure things out before asking the teacher
• Ask questions

I look forward to helping you learn and succeed this trimester. 

What Math Education Should REALLY do!!

Thomas Suarez is a 6th grade student at a middle school in Southern California.

Catalina Island

There is a Student/Parent Meeting about our Catalina Island field trip this coming Tuesday, November 15 at 6pm  in room 10. We will go over details of the trip and answer any questions you might have. Please show up promptly so we can keep this meeting short.

There is an information page on this blog. Just click on the Catalina page on the right. 

New!!! Videos of Lessons

I'm now recording my lessons and putting them on the classroom blog. There's a page for Algebra and Pre-Algebra. If you are absent or want to review a particular lesson, you can go to the appropriate page and watch the lesson.


I'll do my best to keep up with what we do in class so you should be able to catch up if you miss a class or just need a little more help.


Let me know what you think!

Keeping Track of What's Happening In Our Class

Hopefully by now you have this page bookmarked in your browser. This should be one of the first places you go to when at school. If you have questions about what your responsibilities are for my class, you can most likely find the answers here.

Here are somethings you should check out:

1. Homework Page - This page will tell you what your homework is, when it's due and how it should be done.
2. Khan Academy Page - Here, you'll find the exercises you need to complete in Khan Academy.
3. Extra Credit Page - I've explained how to raise your test scores should you do poorly on a test or quiz.
4. School Calendar - This is a calendar about our school's schedule: days off, vacations, minimum days, etc.

Before you come to me with questions about our class, you should check here first. You are responsible for your education and you, alone, must take the initiative to make sure you are meeting your responsibilities.

Edison, Ford, Jobs

As most everyone has heard by now, Steve Jobs has passed away. Here is the commencement speech he gave at Stanford in 2005. His words are those to live and die by.

Great Explanation of a Flipped Classroom

Created by Knewton and Column Five Media

We're just a couple of weeks away from starting school!

The beginning of school is just around the corner. Teachers return on Monday, August 22 and students come back for a half day on Friday, August 26. Starting the next Monday, August 24 we'll get into the new school at full throttle!

I'm spending some time this week planning for a great year. I've spent a good part of the summer break working with other teachers to discover how we can make this coming year exciting and fruitful. I'm really looking forward to helping my students have a great, productive year.

One of the teachers I worked with found this very interesting video. If you get a chance, take a look at it. If you want to earn some extra credit points, watch the video. Then, write a short reflection in Google Docs about what you think of the video and how it might relate to the coming school year. I'm not looking for anything special, just what your thoughts are about the video.

We are going to have an absolutely GREAT year. I can't wait to see you all again.

Thanks to Mr. Miller for this motivating video:

LEARN from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.