Blogtoberfest, Day 18: Paul Brice

How have connections with other professionals improved your practice?  Today's entry is from Paul Brice, Math Teacher at San Dieguito Academy:

During the 2012-2013 school year, I had the honor of working with other high school math teachers throughout North County on a project initiated by a professor at Cal-State San Marcos. The teachers were to be groomed into leaders of implementing the Common Core math standards in their respective districts. The group had an initial meeting during the summer of 2012 and then met on Saturdays every few months throughout the school year. How did this group of professionals improve my practice? Let me count the ways… 

1. I view teaching a lesson like perfecting a recipe. With a recipe there always seems to be an adjustment to ingredients, preparation, and cooking time and temperature to yield a wonderful result. Lessons need these adjustments and what better way to get ideas than to meet with other educators at neighboring districts. I learned a tremendous amount from the other members of our leadership group – I am a big fan of borrowing ideas from elsewhere and not spending time reinventing the wheel.

2. As a professional group, we were tasked with reading professional articles and recent publications, completing well-selected math problems, and sharing our ideas on implementing the Common Core. As a teacher it is easy to stay behind closed doors and not explore where the profession is heading. By working with the professor, we were afforded time to be professionals and get current with research and techniques on effective math instruction. 

Two things. That’s what I counted up to. These two things are enough for us all – work with other teachers (not just from our site or district) and seek out higher education for ideas and support. There is a wealth of knowledge close by – just ask and create that tasty treat – a well-crafted lesson.