Author Archives: JoAnn Sandford

As an educator, I have been very lucky.  I have been blessed with an abundance of game changing opportunities:  planning time with teachers of the same subject and grade built into my regular schedule, access to mentors and math coaches who have worked with me side-by-side in my classroom, and plenty of choices in accessingContinue reading “Planning for Discovery”

A few years ago I had my ideal teaching position.  My official assignment was Grade 7 and 8 Math but I also had the semi-official title of Math Leader in our biggish Grade 6-8 middle school.  In that role, I could share, guide, and wonder out loud from amongst the group – a slight butContinue reading “I meant to do that…”

Don’t get me wrong…I love being a teacher.  But during the third week in June an unbelievable exhaustion sets in.  At the end of the school year, teachers have report cards to complete, final grades to justify, transition notes to update, end of year celebrations to plan, materials to collect, classrooms to pack up, textbooksContinue reading “Surviving the Countdown”

Yesterday on Twitter The Modest Teacher asked:  “Veteran teachers, what is something you did your first year of teaching that makes you cringe when you think about it?” It got me thinking.  Well I had already been thinking…but it had me reflecting specifically on the challenges teachers are up against and how the management ofContinue reading “A Choice Engagement”

Teachers often ask me for lesson ideas, projects or warm-ups.  When you’ve been teaching as long as I have you start to accumulate lots of stuff.  I’ll get a text or email saying, “You have anything I could use to introduce operations with fractions?” or “Have something for the end of the polynomial unit?”  TheContinue reading “The Secret Ingredient”

This week I registered for my last two courses in my Masters of Arts in Teaching Mathematics, from Mount Holyoke College.  Realizing that this program was almost over brought up a lot of emotions.  Pride and satisfaction for sure but also disappointment – this amazing journey was coming to an end.  I miss Cohort 7Continue reading “Play…Persist…Prove”

Ok class, do you remember who this is?  “Mrs Sandford – the Math Challenge Lady!” the kiddos chant in singsong unison.Yup – that’s me.  I smile.  I wasn’t always the Math Challenge Lady but this has been a strange year for everyone.  For me, it has been different since I am in a new role asContinue reading “The Math Challenge Lady”

My mom was visiting this week and we got to reminiscing.  A math teacher herself, we always have a lot to chat about.  Today we were laughing about my first day as a “real” teacher.  Well maybe not a real teacher – I was reminded enough that first day that I was not, in fact,Continue reading “The Realy Teacher”