Self-evaluation

     I am an 8th grade math teacher at the Troy Middle School.  That is in Pennsylvania, not Ohio.  I feel that I can relate to the students well.  I try to teach so they can relate to what is being taught.  I always tell them how they can use it in everyday life.  I feel that I do a good job.  I stay after everyday for 1 hour for any student who wants to spend time after school to work.  It doesn't have to be on Math.  We are trying to work on raising our math PSSA scores.  Aren't we all.  I also teach a Math Lab for the lowest math scores on a test that we give throughout the year.  The kids like to come because I teach them things that have not been taught to the higher classes yet.  They get so excited to know that they are learning  things that the highest Algebra classes do not know yet.  I believe that any student can learn if they are taught.  ( of course, if they want to learn).  I am only allowed to have 10 students in a lab at a time.  I always allow anyone who wants to come and learn, with the understanding that if the principal comes in they are to casually get up and leave.  ( Dumb rule anyway! Something about some grant or something.)  I love math and I love kids. 

What do I Need To Do To Make Myself A Better Teacher?

     There is always room for improvement and I have lots of ways that I could improve.  I do not have much patience with children who are not very bright.  I do not do well with the inclusion kids.  I feel that that's what the special classes are for.  I need to work on patience with them.  Another thing that I definately need to work on is thinking before I open my mouth.  I often say what comes to mind instead of what a teacher should say to a student. Another one is trying to relate better to the students who refuse to work.  I know that most of them have reasons for this and it is probably that something is going on in their homelife.  I wish that they could just leave that at home and come to my class ready and willing to learn.  But, I know that this is not a realistic wish.  I have a multi-media projector in my room and didn't even know what it was called.  I need to learn to use it.  The only thing that I use it for is to show sites on the web that I want them to see.  I want to learn to use the turning point that is available with it.  I really think it would be very valuable.  I am basically computer illiterate.  (If you have not noticed).  Math is a field which can and will involve more and more technology.  I need to keep up!