Meagan Bubulka:
1. Why did you want to flip your math class?
I hated the constant feeling of not being able to reach every student every day! I needed to see them feel the success without the fear of asking questions! Flipping my classroom is my way of making math accessible to all levels of students while still encouraging them to become life long learners.
2. What was the most difficult part of planning?
The most difficult part of planning is finding all the amazing resources I get to use now! Before flipping I would struggle to keep to the timeline and testing schedule so my classroom looked like a traditional class because there was hardly time to interject an activity or project. Now I get to spend more time on finding or making the good lessons that make math more interesting and helps my students learn more effectively and to a mastery level. If that is the hardest part, then I welcome the stress!
3. What were some of your fears/worries before you flipped?
The biggest fear I had was getting the students to buy in to the idea. I knew that because it was different they might like it at first, but it has been seeing the change in them as they become self advocates for themselves. I also had worries about convincing other teachers. When I started - I was on my own island and now I have a few friends!
4. What are some benefits you have seen from flipping?
The biggest benefit for the teacher is being able to reach every student every day. The biggest benefit for the student is they become self motivated and personal advocates. Seeing my students grow and achieve is rewarding and I get to see them do this at their pace with no judgement! We have put the power to learn in their hands and said - go!
5. What are still some challenges of flipping?
The challenges I still face are knowing how long things will take and finding the best resources for each unit. It still seems that we are trying to "get by", but eventually we want to be able to enhance and perfect the units we make so that they become our course maps for students!
6. What is the best part about flipping?
The best part is the feeling like my students are focused most of the time on their work and therefore making me run around the classroom to talk with each of them as they progress. This is a good thing. I feel like I am accomplishing something rather than staring at the front the entire time and staring at them as they sit there and take notes/stare at me.
7. How has student learning changed since flipping?
Learning is now student centered. Each student can work at their own pace through units and therefore they are more comfortable asking questions. Sometimes that also means telling them I can't help them -" what does it say in the video or on the paper?" We are breaking the chains from those students who CONSTANTLY wait for the teacher to tell them how to do something and we force them to use their resources and peers first. I feel like we are breaking some of their bad learning habits. They are also learning to mastery because we are okay with whatever pace works for each student! Why force and push learning if the student is not ready to learn it!
8. Have you gotten any parent feedback from flipping?
I have not heard directly from many parents, but I feel that many of them that I have told about this like the idea, but it is confusing for them. They are unsure how it works since they/us were never taught that way.
9. How have students responded to flipping?
Most students are slowly getting better at the process. I feel most like the process of learning at their own pace with videos for many reasons. For my learners who pick up topics quickly, it allows them to work through units faster and then help their peers or work on extension activities. For my students who struggle this type of learning gives them the opportunity to ask questions for frequently, allows me to check in with them more frequently, gives them more activities to master the skill versus just practicing many problems. The one hold up for some of the students is the pacing. There are a few students who struggle with the free time and struggle with open deadlines.
10. Do you have any other comments?
Flipping my classroom has given my students more possibilities and given me the opportunity to find those possibilities. In education the biggest gift we give our students is possibility. The possibility to be better in school, be better learners, be better human beings. Watching my students become all of these things is the gift from them they never know I am getting!
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