Great Teacher Quotes and other stuff from Various Skyview Teachers

Laura D - 7th Grade Regular and 8th Grade regular (A207)

"I should hear some discussion between you and your pair"

Note on wall - "Keep these items in your locker: gum, cell phone, hats, ipods/MP3's, all electronics, backpacks, food & drink

As students give answers to homework "is she/he right?"

"If you got these right, good for you. If you did not, I hope you are following along to learn from them."

Word Wall with math terms - quotient, sum, difference, ratio, scale factor, similar, integer

"SHOW YOUR WORK" posted all over room.

"That's a good extension for those of you who want to get a little more..."

"use the cover-up method" - when talking about equations (i.e. 8-.2x=6 ; cover up the -.2x and say what should it equal approximately)




Bill S -

"Basic skill of the week was what?"

"Talk me through your process..." "Tell me the process"

"You just talked yourself into the right answer."

"Next time you're out" - warning to student who kept talking out of turn. Later he said he would have sent him out to the hall had he continued.

Had several math t-shirts on hangers all along the back wall.

Homework process - had 8 different students go to places on teh board to write answers. He set them up for success - he let them chose the problem they wanted to write. While they were writing - he went around to others to see where they had a hard time on homework.

"Your process looks much better, I don't think the answer is correct, but the process is improved."

"how is your work compared to those in your group?". A way to review homework.

"Are some of you still looking, is that why your hands are not up?"

"When your group has the answer raise your hand and I will come and tell you if you are right."

Used a bell to get the attention of the class - when he rang the bell, the class was instantly silent.



Kristen J

"I want to thank you all for sharing your answers on that, going out on a limb. That really let me know where you are all at."



Chris H
"I don't want you worried about your grade right now, I want you worried about your learning." This was to an honors student who was overly concerned with grades.

"When you come to a mathmetical contradiction (i.e. solve equations and get statement 4=0), there is no solution."

"Let's go back to our words" - talking about undefined, always the same, etc - mathmatical definitions

Ideas for doing things other than asking kids - "does that make sense?"
- everyone show thumbs up, thumbs down
- who got a different answer
- are you kind of shakey or feeling good?
- raise your hand if you agree

"You gotta read the problem. I know it's a four letter word, but you gotta do it."

His requirement is that when doing homework you are never to skip a problem or just put a question mark. If you do not understand it - you must write a question. Start the dialogue. A skip or ? is incomplete.



Josh W -
"Eyes front, y'all"

Used a rolling cart to put his stuff at the front of the room.

Had the teacher guide all broken apart and each page separate in a 3 ring binder. - could add extra sheets or insert other handouts...



Julie S - Per 1 and 2 8th grade regular

"It doesn't look like you guys have the same answers. Why don't you talk that over" - discuss work in their groups. All students in groups of 4.

"All 3 of you have different answers - that will be a great discussion."
"Figure you what you are doing wrong or what she is doing wrong."

Group ownership and pride - take some pride in your group. If I ask anyone in the group you will all give the same answer.

"Listen to the man who got it right and see if you can understand his reasoning."

Answer A - raise your hands
AnswerB - raise your hands (let's teacher see who is thinking what)
"Wow, there's some conflict here - that's exciting!"

"Isn't that pretty cool - I know I thought it was cool when I first learned about that."

"Raise your hand if you agree."

"This is new, I haven't shown this to you guys yet, so I will show you."

"Raise your hand if you got 12 out of 12? 11 out of 12? 10 out of 12? We do need some more practice on this." A great way to do a quick assessment of who is getting it and who is not. Used after the student's corrected their own homework.

Have the kids raise their hands at the level they think they are 'getting it'. A five means could teach the class. A one means they couldn't teach a worm. Use some humor in this.

To set up expectations for the class at teh beginning of the year - put an easy question up. Have them raise their hands if they know it. If not all up - leave the room. Have them talk so that all get the answer. When come back in - all hands should be up. If not - leave room again. Talk to neighbor if need help. Continue until all are participating.



Tanya S

Analogy - explain why line up decimals to add using dimes (.10) and add to pennies (.01). Need to line up or meaningless.

When discuss how to know what to do first when solve equations - need to do reverse PEMDAS. Analogy is wrapping present. When wrap - first put gift in box, close box, tap shut, wrap with paper, finish with ribbon. When receiver open present - must first take off ribbon, unwrap, untape, open box, remove gift.


"Raise your hand if you get that - I get it!"