Find a math lesson (on the web) that uses Excel or some other spreadsheet.
Write a blog post about it.
Include a link to the site where you found the lesson
Tell what math is taught in the lesson (and grade level if any)
What makes the technology piece better than a chalk board (if there is anything).
Today we’re going to explore Geogebra. This is a free program that does a lot of the things Geometers Sketchpad does (they both have nice features that the other doesn’t have, but most of the obvious features are ones they share).
Goals with Geogebra:
Our main goals for today are to learn how to use the commands in the Transform and Construct menus.
Class outline:
In the comments please give me feedback on this week: how much of the equation editor stuff was new for you? How much of the Sketchpad stuff is new for you? What can I do to make the introduction to these two tools more efficient and effective?
If you’re using equation editor a lot, you’ll want it on your task bar, so you don’t have to either copy and paste or go in through insert object to get an equation. This used to be easy, but it’s a little tricky in Word 2007. This web site will show you how. Finding a tutorial like this involves making sure you have the right key words in your google search. I used: Equation editor, task bar and Word 2007.
These are some of my favorite people to follow–they say insightful, thoughtful things about teaching math.
Kate Nowak teaches high school math in New York. She has a lot of good ideas for teaching math concepts well. Some of them use computers in a direct way, others don’t.
Dan Meyer is the star of the group. He used to teach high school math in California, but he’s is grad school full time right now. He started the What Can You Do With This? discussions. Here’s an example of Dan in action.
Sam Shah shares lots of good stuff he uses in his classroom, and he’ll also tell you why he blogs and twitters. It’s all about having a PLC/PLN (Personal Learning Community/Personal Learning Network).
Reilly Lark shares how he uses Geogebra. He also organized a virtual conference on soft skills last summer.
Maria Anderson teaches algebra and calculus in college. She has great math tech reviews and she may be the fastest math typist around (using, of course, MathType).
Where do you come in? There’s a lot you can learn from these teachers. There’s also a lot you can learn from each other. You’ll each become an author and contribute to this blog. Click on “register” on the bottom of the left column, and get started!
I really enjoyed the experience I had while in my placement. It was a lot of fun but I also learned a lot. I think that it is important for us as beginning teachers to experience many different classrooms and different teachers. I think Tony and I were lucky because we were able to observe other teachers, not just our own. In retrospect, I really think that the teachers we were placed with have a teaching style like our own; being able to see other teachers really broadened my horizon.
I am also glad that I was able to start my collection of lesson plans even if I wont have the same books that my co-op had in his class. I am also happy that I was able to get first hand experience at teaching before student teaching to see if this is really what I want to do…which it is =].
1. Give an example of a math topic that a computer demonstration would help teach, and describe how you would use the computer.
2. Explain how to get the exact value for sin(60 °).
3. Explain how to put (a random point I think of) into polar coordinates).
4. Explain the difference between a histogram and a bar graph.
5. Explain what the formula is for the volume of a prism, and why that formula makes sense.
EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE should watch this video!! This past weekend I saaw this on ABC news. It brings up some very valid points. I would like to agrue both sides: firing based on seniority and firing based on results.
For years firing has been mostly based on seniority, with the exceptions of some firing taking place in specific content areas and if a tenured teacher does something completely out of line. This is supported by teacher unions, probably because the main people who are in charge of the teachers union are tenured teachers. The tenured teachers have more experience in teaching and are usually well respected in the community. They have built connections over the years and some community members may get upset with then being let go. This also prevents schools from wrongfully or arbitrarily firing teachers who are close to retirement in order to save money and make the teacher lose out on money (unless of course the teacher did something completely out of line).
In the business world, if someone is not doing their job, no matter what their age, they risk being fired. So why not have the same policy in schools, don’t the students deserve the best teachers possible? I am not saying experienced teacher, especially those nearing retirement cannot be good teachers; I am saying when cuts are needed as well as other times only the best teachers should be retained. Many times the newest teachers have the best training and are making the most impact, yet are the first to be laid off. Many times the newest teachers are getting results, connecting with students and may be going the extra mile.
Watch the video and see what you think!
Looking back on my field eperience at St. Croix Central H.S. I am extremely greatful that I was placed with my cooperating teacher, Tricia Rogers. She had a very relaxed environment and was open to any ideas to help address the homework or unit content. I learned a lot about classroom management when doing a particular activity, the shadow activity, outside of the classroom. Not only was their preperation in the activity and corresponding worksheet, but there was time set aside to think about what doors we should enter/exit the school, when to hand back the quizzes from the previous day, and whether or not to use more than two people in a group.
The amount of time that Tricia put into thinking about a lesson astounded me; it was great experience for me to see that the homework and content knowledge is not the only think that needs to be prepared. I think it eventually becomes a natural tendency to think about these things as a teacher; however, this all comes with experience in the field.
Since our Field Experience practicum just ended, I spent some time earlier and thought about my observations at Meyer Middle School. Overall, I really enjoyed my cooperating teacher and many of the great things that she taught me/things that I learned just from watching, but one instance has stuck in the back of my mind ever since it happened. The situation occurred in a different room but with a teacher who is in Mrs. Tiedke’s hall, so I did not see it happen but here’s what I was told: The teacher stated that a specific student, who usually has problems focusing, paying attention, and doing their homework was playing Mad Gabs like they should have been, along with the rest of the class. I’m not quite sure how this game is played and why certain words would be read out loud, but the student supposedly read aloud at least 4 sexually graphic words/phrases that they came up with in front of the entire class. The teacher said that the student was immediately told to leave class, but I’m wondering how we all would react. Would you make a scene of it by telling him to leave? Or would you hold him until after class to talk to him then? I think we would all agree that something has to be done, but then to take it a step further, if you were the principal/asst principal, what would the consequences of something like this be? Are handbooks/school guidelines very clear on the consequences for things like this that are transmitted verbally?