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All Teachers Can Change Lives By Connecting to Their Students – Office Depot & Adopt-A-Teacher Program

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Why did I want to become a teacher?

Yes, I Wanted to Be A Teacher As Far Back As I Can Remember...

Yes, I Wanted to Be A Teacher As Far Back As I Can Remember…

I have been asked this many times over the years.   And even though I have been out of the education system being a stay at home and also now a work at home mom, too for the last few years.   When I decided to become a middle school math teacher, one thing was certain, I wanted to teach my students math, but by using certain aspects of their lives that they could indeed relate to the math topics at hand, but now drone on about concepts and rules without bringing it to them in a more entertaining and interesting fashion.    Quite simply, I strived with many of my lessons to know my audience, pre-teen middle class kids from suburbia.  I asked myself time and again one question, when planning my math lessons.  

What do these kids enjoy?

Fact remains most of them, will tell you they would rather be anywhere but math class.  

So how could I reach these kids and keep them learning the actual skills and topics they needed to learn to stay to stay on track the curriculum set forth by the state and federal governments?

By simply getting to know what interested and even excited them by break down certain mathematics lessons using these topics.  It boiled down to using real world applications to teach math to my own middle school students.

Math Can Indeed Be Fun!

Math Can Indeed Be Fun!

How did I do this?

I taught simple budgeting by using the book series, Harry Potter, which many have read or watched the movies.   I also used the idea of buying a well sought after item, such as an iPod Touch using percent discounts and calculating sales tax to find the final price that they would pay to buy an iPod for themselves.   I used favorite foods, such as Apple Pie and Cherry Pies to teach circumference and and area of a circle.   And even made friendship bracelets with my students to illustrate learning factors to my math students, as well.   These are just some of the ways, I tried to reach my middle school math students and make the math more realistic to them and their lives.  

So, when I was recently asked by Clever Girls Collective and Office Depot to share their newest initiative on how teacher’s indeed can and have changed their students lives, the educator in me was seriously humbled and honored to be able to share this here with all my readers.

Office Depot has created this campaign to showcase some current teachers, who have indeed changed their students live to help them by asking all that can indeed support these teachers by donating and adopting a classroom or even rester your own classroom (if you are a current teacher) by clicking here and following the steps there.   classroom  

See the heart of the matter is that in order to connect to your own students, teachers have to spend money every year out of their own pocket, especially in underfunded areas.  I always loved hearing that we teachers are over paid, however no one takes into account how much money we do put out of our own pocket to create these student centered types of lesson plans.  So, Adopt-A-Classroom definitely takes this into account and is a nonprofit organization that helps connect donors with teachers to enhance the learning environment for students by raising awareness about teachers, and all that they do in the lives of their students.  

Take for instance, Chris Emdin, who is a science educator in the Bronx. He incorporates hip hop into the classroom material to help students see science in a different way. Chris gives his students new possibilities for life, and something to look forward to.  

 

You can donate to Chris, who is highlighted in the video (I honestly love how he used hip hop to get his students to indeed learn certain science concepts that were indeed on task and topic for his students to need to learn), or even to a teacher in your local community.   I truly hope you will take the time to help out and do your part on this and again very proud to be able to showcase this program here today for all my readers.   I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.  

Disclosure Final

Please Check Out My Lovely Sponsor of the Month…  

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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About Janine

Janine is a published author of the books, The Mother of All Meltdowns and Only Trollops Shave Above the Knee. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, Mamapedia, Today Parenting Team and SheKnows. She also runs her own graphic design company at J9 Designs.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Janine Huldie says

      Totally do miss it and thank you Melanie for your kind words. Enjoy your day, too 🙂

  4. katherine says

    You are a rock star teacher my friend. You mold the minds and encourage the future of our young ones. I admire you and respect your choice to teach. Smooches!

  5. Billybuc says

    Obviously I like this one. It would take far too long to explain why I became a teacher…..but I loved it.

    Have a great Monday, Janine.

  6. spiritedlife says

    Just because you aren't in a classroom doesn't mean that you aren't a teacher! You teach us and your children every day! Love ya girl!

  7. Rosey says

    I love the fun ways you integrated into your math class to help make learning fun. Great teachers are a great blessing. We're lucky to have had so many good ones in our lives with our kiddos!
    My recent post Winner Announcement

  8. Kerri says

    Can you come over and tutor Abby for math 🙂 I think you must've been an awesome teacher and will do the kids in your area a tremendous service when you are able to transition back to the class. The parents alone will rejoice 🙂

    You do crack me up though, recently when Abby was asked her favorite subject she said "recess"
    My recent post Parent Teacher Conferences According To Abby

    • Janine Huldie says

      Kerri, I would totally tutor Abby if we lived closer and would be my absolute honor! Seriously though thank you so much for your kind words and I do very much hope someday to get to teach math my own way and on my own terms someday soon again 🙂

  9. day-with-kt.com says

    I can tell you were an incredible teacher – do you think you will go back to it when the girls are older?
    I loved being in the classroom but all of the rest of the stuff I didn't enjoy as much and don't think I will ever teach again.
    Love the Office Depot program – will have to see if any local teachers are part of the program.
    My recent post Failing Is Just one Step on the Way to Success

    • Janine Huldie says

      Kim, you pretty much summed up how I feel about teaching now. I loved the teaching and being in the classroom, but the actual political drama behind the scenes did very much turn me off, but I guess never say never, but still I do love what I am doing now, too. So, I will say it would have to work for all of us (the girls included now), if I were ever to return.

  10. vitatrain4life says

    Oh how I wish my teachers had used hip hop (or anything relatable) in my math classes! Teaching has come such a long way and, thanks to teachers like the one you were (and still are in so many ways!) kids are learning more and are actually interested in learning more. Love it!!
    My recent post The Rundown: Just the Facts

    • Janine Huldie says

      Thank you so much Allie and I seriously hated teachers who couldn't try to expand their teaching to reach the kids they were teaching. I wasn't perfect by any means, but I just tried my best with this 🙂

  11. stephanie2006 says

    Wow, you're a math teacher and couldn't quite get a good job after having kids?? I swear, in Germany, you would have gotten ten offers!! Love the initiative though! It's sad to see that teachers oftentimes aren't provided with the means to teach properly. I hope that initiatives like that will be a change! Have a great new week!
    My recent post Hubby's Monday Surprise

    • Janine Huldie says

      Stephanie, maybe I should come b your neighbor and teach math. That would so much fun, but seriously I know crazy that I can't get a math teaching job here to save my life. I am not kidding when I say even if you get a job there is no job security either with the economy and job cuts yearly (last in, first out).

  12. lovingmarshall says

    My parents were both public school teachers, and the commitment–physically, emotionally, and financially–is impossible to calculate. They invested so much of themselves, and it's heartwarming to see a program honoring these deserving educators. Thanks for taking time to highlight this!
    My recent post Biscuits and My Bucket List

  17. christyb says

    I admire you for being a Math teacher and for the creative ways you taught your students! Thanks for all you have done for your students of the past!

  18. gigigirl says

    You are a very creative and dedicated teacher….even if you're not working at it. That's too bad because I think that's where you belong. And maybe some day you'll get back into the classroom. The cause is a good one to support the teachers. There is hope for the future! xxoo

  19. theseanamethod says

    I think it is a universal truth that people who care about anything they are a part of often end up spending money from their own pocket to help make things better. Hats off to the terrific teachers out there, and to Office Depot for organizing this initiative to support them. And sounds like your students were lucky to have a math teacher like you!
    My recent post Feeling Underwater

    • Janine Huldie says

      Thanks Seana and you are so right I think when you are enjoying what you do, you tend to spend more out of pocket to make things just so and as perfect as can be for all involved. 🙂

  20. lisang@expandng.com says

    What a great partnership Office Depot is doing with classrooms. I've never been a teacher, but know many, and certainly your out of pocket expenses is high but also truly appreciated. I love your creative ideas to teach math to children. I'll be sure to keep this program in mind when my boy starts kindergarten.
    My recent post We are totally legit backpackers {photos}

  21. another jennifer says

    First of all, that photo at the beginning of the post is priceless! I love your approach to teaching, Janine. The best teachers come up with creative ways to reach their students. They also put many hours and their own money into their teaching. This program sounds really amazing. Thanks for sharing!

  23. pfchico says

    I actually loved math. I thought it was fun. Your kids are lucky to have you teaching them. You have some great ways to make teaching fun. I love the old school pic of you. Awesome!

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