A survery for high school teachers...

[College Student 08]

Preferably high school mathematic teachers, but any high school teacher will do.

I need you teachers to fill out this survey for an essay I'm doing. Thanks!

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Questions:
1) How much reading do you do per day on the job?
2) Do you read all of the text book that you assign? Do you read it all at once or throughout the school year?
3) How do you decide what homework to do? And how many equations per assignment?
4) How long does it take to grade tests, and do you ever "put it off"?
5) In what ways has your personal reading improved your profession?
6) Two favorite books? Why those?
7) What kind of material should a neophyte (beginner) in your career read?

And please add your first name to it, and your last name (or make up a last name).

[Unregistered]

Questions:
1) How much reading do you do per day on the job?
Daily reading on the job consists of reading text to prepare for future lessons in my Algebra and Geometry classes. This takes place intermittenly throughout the day. I never sit down and just read--except twice a week we have Silent Sustained Reading when the entire high school is reading for 20 minutes. Sometimes I read a novel, other times I read the text!

2) Do you read all of the text book that you assign? Do you read it all at once or throughout the school year?

With a new text book (Algebra 1, for instance), I usually sit down and page through the book, reading through the examples and getting a feel for the format. I decide what I will cover and what I will leave out.
When I am preparing for a lesson, I usually read that portion of the book thouroughly so I'll be prepared for any questions that may arise from the text.

3) How do you decide what homework to do? And how many equations per assignment?

On the day I present a new concept, I usually assign 25 - 40 problems depending on the concept. I do not require these as homework if I assign them on the day I present the concept (however if they choose to take it home they can). I spend the next class period as a "work day" assigning more problems if necessary. This way, I am available to walk around and answer questions and monitor the progress of the class. My homework assignments are practice assignments on a concept that I feel the students can complete on their own without having to seek out help from a parent/brother/sister which isn't always possible. My feeling is that homework is for practice on something they already understand fairly well.

4) How long does it take to grade tests, and do you ever "put it off"?

Tests--I teach 4 Algebra courses and 2 Geometry courses. I try to stagger the tests so that I am not grading them all at once. A normal chapter test contains 20 - 25 questions and can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the content, to grade one class. I make it a rule (for myself) never to put off grading because I feel that the faster the feedback, the more meaningful it is to the student. If I don't hand back a test for a week or more, they've already forgotten about it! I find it convenient to grade the tests as they hand them in. Sometimes I can have the tests graded before they leave my class.

5) In what ways has your personal reading improved your profession?

I must confess I am not an avid reader, though I LOVE to read and I really love learning new words! Ciphering through a math text book isn't always easy. Having well developed reading skills is very necessary for my job. Personal reading only improves my ability to teach.

6) Two favorite books? Why those?

First The Bible--because it is amazing and I believe it and read it nearly every day :) Second--I really like Jan Karon's Mitford Series. But I really couldn't pick a favorite.

7) What kind of material should a neophyte (beginner) in your career read?

I have read several informational/inspirational books for math teachers, though not one comes to mind at the moment. I did read them early in my career (12 years ago). I think a beginner should seek out books that are written by other people who have been in the field of teaching, whether math or not. We give each other inspiration.

My name is Beth Grover from Missouri



And please add your first name to it, and your last name (or make up a last name).