Comments on: What I’m Working on the Day After the Election

By: Sharon Friedman

Sharon Friedman — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 17:31:42 +0000

Dan,
Like others, I thank you for this. One of the thoughts that made me so distraught on T Day two nights ago was that my life’s work in teaching has been a waste because it makes no difference. Teaching is by nature a profession of optimists. And for teachers, making a difference is pretty much our main reward. One of my fears, on T Day + 2, is that the brewing leadership forces will create a misguided perfect storm to intentionally wipe out the math shift toward thinking. I don’t want to be in the position of reacting and defending. How can we be politically pro-active?

By: Wendy Menard

Wendy Menard — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 14:49:42 +0000

Dan, thank you for this. I was beside myself yesterday morning, and reached out on Twitter for support, and as always, found it. Spent the day allowing my students to my classes about the election results. I was still upset at the end of the day, but having them share and exploring their fears (and trying to dispel the ones I could) was a big help to all of us.

By: Julie McNamara

Julie McNamara — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 14:18:25 +0000

Thanks, Dan.

By: Ayanna Ramsey

Ayanna Ramsey — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 02:27:27 +0000

I too was not in the mental space to do anything that appeared traditional/typical today. I just had a question that related to mathematics/economics and let the kids take it where it needed to go. This was an in the moment creation and it allowed students and I to discuss this uncertainty that comes with our newly elected president but with a mathematical/financial literacy lens. It was the best I could do today.

As I woke up and heard how the market was effected by the results of the election, it sparked a social justice/financial literacy idea for me to explore with my 8th grade students. The learning goal was: How does change or uncertainty impact the stock market and the economy? We discussed briefly the types of events that create change or uncertainty in our world. Students were challenged to share their “wonderings” related this goal and do 10-15 minutes of online research sparked by their curiosities. Some wonderings were straight forward such as “what is the stock market?” while others were more far reaching pertaining to the impact on foreign trade and trade limits. As they researched, more questions and wonder arose. I then asked students to group themselves and take a position on if they would invest in the stock market and why. Very few said yes, some said no and many said they weren’t sure: each group with valid reasons. Lastly, regardless of their decision to invest or not, I gave them “$500” to invest. Some students created investment teams while others chose to stay independent with their investment decisions. As students watch their stocks, it will be fun to see who changes their position on if now (after a presidential election) is a good time to invest. Tomorrow we will circle back to the learning goal as students make their own connections.

By: Joy Holloway

Joy Holloway — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 02:10:14 +0000

Thanks.

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 01:22:46 +0000

Look, I’m here. I have nothing. But I showed up.

By: Pam Rawson

Pam Rawson — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 23:27:19 +0000

Thanks for this, Dan.

By: Wwndtd

Wwndtd — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 23:05:49 +0000

Honored that my ramblings make your list! Just trying to take care of myself and my students.

By: Barb Blanke

Barb Blanke — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 22:57:24 +0000

Wisdom from Dr. Meyer, for all of us to use to create a future for our students and get them to be nontraditional cognitive thinkers.

By: Kathi Cook

Kathi Cook — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 22:08:09 +0000

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.