My name is Marlene Peters and I teach secondary mathematics.  I was born and grew up in Homestead Florida.  My parents have been married fifty years and I fabulous younger sister.  I had a modest upbringing and have a small family dynamic.  I am a good mix of French, Irish, German and some Native American Indian but on paper I am Caucasian.  I have felt fortunate to be exposed to many different cultures growing up in South Florida.  I met my husband in South Florida and in our first year of marriage we moved to California because of an amazing job opportunity.  I have two children, a boy and girl, both of whom I am so proud of. 

The first week of school is the most important week to me.  During this week I will set the tone for the year.  I want students to feel welcomed and cared for when they enter the classroom.  Yes the class will be challenging, but I want them to know we will meet these challenges as a team and I will support them to the finish line. 

In the first week I will review classroom policies.  These policies are given out by the school and will discuss matters of bullying, social media, cell phone use and plagiarism.  I want the students to know these are rules that are for their protection and guidance. 

During the first week I will tell them I am the math teacher who embraces technology and looks forward not only using the calculator but applying the calculator and other technologies during the year. The class will be working on four group projects over the course of the year and small groups during class time. 

First homework assignment is to make a short video or a presentation of their choice answering the following questions:

What is your name?
What is your favorite subject?  Least favorite subject?
What is your favorite food? Favorite candy or treat?
Do you have any allergies?
Do you have a pet? What kind/how many?
What is your favorite song or band? 
What do you like to do in your free time?
Do you work/ play a sport(s)? 
Do you speak any other language(s)?
What is the farthest place from school you have traveled to and why?
How can I help you be successful in this class?
Anything else you would like me to know about yourself?
Tell me about your family:)

I believe this assignment will be engaging, fun and show the students I am interested in who they are inside and outside the classroom.  I want my students to know I care.  As the teacher I would also share a video I will make from questions the class will write down or email to me.  This allows the students to know me on a personal and professional level.  Of course I will not answer all of the questions and will have a few of my own, but this setting opens an interaction between the students and myself and sets a tone that the class is going to be more than boring math.  Questions I will address in my video for the students:

What is my name?
Discuss my family - married for twenty five years, two children one boy and one girl.
Share my dog Stanley
Wear my hockey jersey and say "Go Hawks"
Show my set of golf clubs
Share my rose garden
Share where I went to school

Now that the foundation is set, developing a positive environment in the classroom starts with the teacher - me.  Modeling behavior I want to see from my students is the best way to ensure a positive environment.  Enthusiasm is contagious and inspiring; this is how I want to engage my students daily.  Taking an "I don't know" response to "how can you find out?" moment is my method to taking the student to a positive "I can do this" attitude. 

Class time is precious but taking in and processing complicated information can be draining.  To maintain a classroom environment that is positive and energetic I would take the much needed brain break.  Brain breaks can be daily, twice daily or as needed.  Taking a brain break can be as simple as having the class just stand up and try to touch the ceiling and then reaching down to the group to fine motor skill exercises.  I believe having a period of time where as a community the class is doing something other than math reenergizes the class. 

The first week video assignment is useful in understanding the various cultures in my classroom.
Multicultural education is crucial for students to be successful in life.  Learning and understanding other cultures provides students with social and collaboration skills used in the real life situations.
Providing open communication with students and understanding that everyone is unique and special makes for a successful multicultural classroom.  Providing resources and examples from around the world, and demonstrating that mathematics is a subject that has been influence by men and women from all backgrounds.  I think it is important to embrace students cultures as each culture has a particular method of communicating and learning.  As a teacher it is my responsibility to embrace all the students needs and provide support during the learning process.

Making the students feel cared for and safe in the classroom means a bully free classroom.  Bullying is not acceptable in High School and most students (if not all) have heard about what to do if they witness bullying in school.  As a teacher I need to pay attention to any changes in a students participation, attitude and attendance as these are signs of a troubled student.  Open and honest communication that is caring and direct is the best way to address possible bullying situations.  Gentle reminders throughout the year will keep the topic open and refresh students awareness. 

Utilizing all the above actions will result in a classroom that is positive, welcoming, embraces all cultures and free from bullying.  Listening to students is key in understanding what is important and motivating in their environment.  For example if a majority of the students are discussing the National Debt, I have the ability to use this emotional situation and incorporate it into the classroom in some part of a lesson or just take time to converse about how the topic makes them feel.  Discussing topics of concern or major interest is how a teacher can address the emotional and social needs of their students. 

The classroom environment has a multitude of variables that the teacher has the ability to shape and model.  Variable like a welcome and caring environment, use of technology, multicultural classroom, bully free zone and addressing social and emotional concerns of students, all make up a dynamic and fascinating space where not only mathematics but real life takes place.