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What a Difference

This past week, I was able to take a breath, step back, and observe my students at work. I was able to do this because the blended learning/flipped classroom is getting into a good groove, and it is starting to look like what I envisioned. However as I observed a lot this week, I saw some fantastic things my students were doing, that I did not envision happening, that made me so proud of them.
I observed all students taking ownership of their learning. They were using the Internet effectively to search for answers to their problems. They were engaged every day, every lesson, at every station. I saw student confidence rise, even in the students who thought they were "bad" at math at the beginning of the year. I heard the quiet "yes's" throughout the room as the students worked on and solved problems. I saw "I love math" notes around the room on the small dry-erase boards. Students were asking more engaging, specific questions. Formative assessment scores were up. And there were very few, if any, class disruptions.

What a difference a few weeks can make. What a difference making the class student-centered can make. What a difference technology can make. And what a difference one can make by trying new ideas. I am filled with excitement and hope for my students as the year goes on. I can only imagine where my students will be at the end of the year. Things are getting good.  
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