Stuck In the Middle
@stuckinthemiddle.bsky.social
Teaching online longer than most of my students have been alive. Algebra, w/a side of geography and astronomy. Books: How to Homeschool the Kids You Have, Teaching Online Handbook. Past: Kitchen Table Homeschool Podcast All opinions are my own.
enjoyed this post from @dylanpkane.bsky.social about the problem of insufficient practice. h/t to @michaelt1979.bsky.social 's server for alerting me to it. This is one reason why I like using tech, for that unlimited practice. Another option is to buy supplemental curriculum, which I do.
The Problem of Practice
Inadequate curriculum, supplementing, and generative AI
fivetwelvethirteen.substack.com
I'm having fun teaching my pre-algebra students how to calculate square roots by hand. Why are we doing this? It's good number sense! In case you don't know how, here are the steps:
In Morgantown, Courtney Ostaff pays about $100 a month for cable-based internet service. But, she still worries about outages, impacting her remote job. mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/01/25/b...
These West Virginians are still waiting for high-speed internet
West Virginia is set to receive millions for broadband, but residents say reliable internet still hasn’t reached them.
mountainstatespotlight.org
I asked my oldest students to do a project of their choice to explore a concept from the semester as their final assessment. I got some thoughtful, amazing art and research in response! I have the best students!
One of the neat things about teaching is that I get to explain lots of things. For example, today I am explaining the CNO process in nuclear fusion in the heart of stars, how to create the three basic shapes through geometric construction, and the concept of scientific notation.
I have so much fun with my classes. This morning, my astro lab students calculated the mass of the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy. So cool!
Did the Unit 2 test (integers, exponents (pos, neg, etc)) and got 80% of students passing with an 80% or better, and that is DEEPLY satisfying.
I get to talk about the theory of special relativity this week and class and honestly it's my favorite topic all week!
One of the parts of teaching I most enjoy is a weekly selection of an example of the excellent work that my students are doing and asking parental permission to share it. Reminds me that my work matters, and that I can share that joy with my students and their parents.
Love to show off my students’ work: www.wtmacademy.com/student-show...
| Well-Trained Mind Academy
Week 3 in World Geography for the Logic Stage is all about using an index in an atlas, interpreting map symbols and legends, and locating the continents. For their weekly assignment, students were ask...
wtmacademy.com
Enjoyed this from Michele Caracappa during my morning coffee: michelecaracappa.substack.com/p/a-new-scho...
First day of class! No matter how many times I’ve done this, I always get a few jitters!
I've got some space left. Take care of next school year's math now and enjoy your summer break without having to think about it. I say this every year, but it's true—I have the kindest, hardest working students. Have your student join them and get ready for Algebra!
If we leave the acquisition of morphological knowledge to children's reading, what information is there in books to be acquired? @kathyrastle.bsky.social has answers (open). www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Wrote about my problems with that World Bank "ai tutoring" study. pershmail.substack.com/p/ai-is-mayb...
AI is Maybe Sometimes Better than Nothing
Reporting on that World Bank Nigeria paper
pershmail.substack.com
Running my end of year stats for my largest math class, and I'm feeling pretty good: - 80%+ made an 80% or above - 89% completion ratio - for the first time ever, every single student who stuck with it passed the class
WTMA is a WV HOPE Scholarship vendor! Have your student come learn with me: we go from decimals, fractions, and percents all the way to the Pythagorean theorem. Only five seats left for the August start.
Took my youngest to the Ramp and Rails festival (the indigenous allium and a tourist train ride in Elkins, WV), and snagged the last couple of seats on the train.
Courtesy of @pepsmccrea.bsky.social I saw this paper this morning: “ comparing the impact of in-person versus remote tutoring” “we find no statistically significant differences in students’ literacy outcomes by instructional modality” edworkingpapers.com/ai25-1176?ut...
Experimental Evidence on the Impact of Tutoring Format and Tutors: Findings from an Early Literacy Tutoring Program
This study presents the first within-program, within-tutor experimental evidence comparing the impact of in-person versus remote tutoring. Based on results from an early literacy tutoring initiative d...
edworkingpapers.com
Got my students excited about uses for box and whisker plots today. #winning
Just a few spots left in one of my all-time favorite courses! With a college-level textbook and other supplemental resources, we'll study astronomy ranging from the shape of the universe to magnetic fields! Add Monday to your schedule and make it a full-year lab course, as well!
Kicking it old school today: teaching students to find square roots by hand. Does great things for conceptual understanding of roots.
@palan57.bsky.social ‘s latest includes a point I agree with wholeheartedly: “Content knowledge matters. This is so basic to education, and tech shortcuts do not change it. All aspects of learning rest on Knowing Stuff.” open.substack.com/pub/curmudgu...
Content Knowledge Is Still Necessary
A couple of decades ago, we started hearing people say "You don't have to teach students that stuff.
open.substack.com
My teen just got her SAT scores back—she earned a tuition and fee scholarship for undergraduate at our local university. A celebration day at our house!
I'm teaching math fundamentals next school year, and I have seats available! Come join me as we go from long division to the Pythagorean Theorem!
We're hiring a Head of Professional Development. We've got BIG plans to help teachers to improve their practice - this is your chance to lead that work while working with a lovely and supportive team. Join us! uk.indeed.com/job/head-pro...
Head of Professional Development - Remote - Indeed.com
Carousel Learning Ltd
uk.indeed.com
