Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
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Mathematics Technology
- The Chicken Farmers Egg
- Mathematics Formative Assessment
- Smartboard Mathematics Games
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Areas of Interest
- Integration of Mathematics in Other Subjects
Math & Literacy
Math & Science
Math & The Arts
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Baldwin, Mark. Teaming with Nature: Turning a square kilometer around your school
into an outdoor classroom. Teaching Green: The Elementary Years. (6180)
This article discusses the idea of taking our students outside and using the world
around us as a natural classroom. The article discusses a program called
Teaming
With Nature, where they learn how to use the real world and
integrate it with their
curriculum outcomes.
I think this article is important to open up the idea of getting outside with our
students. I think an important part of a young childs education should be
in the
outside world. Students should learn the reality of the skills they are
learning, and
how and why we use them in our everyday world. Taking our
students outside
allows for major hands on learning, engagement of all
students and the inquiry
into the world around them.
Cavazos, Rebecca R. (2014) WOW! Mathematics Convention: A Community Connection.
Teaching Children Mathematics. (Vol. 21, No.3)
This article focuses on community involvement in the classroom, and the
enrichment it can bring to our students. The article discusses the use of
STEM in
classroom and the multi benefits it can bring for students who
struggle with Math
or education as a whole.
The classroom allows for inquiry based learning, as well as hands on lessons that
allow for the students to get completely involved in their learning as well
as feel
the safety and comfortable nature of a growing academic environment that
allows
room for question, failure, and retry. I think this is very important in the
classroom so that the students can see that these lessons are
valuable within the
community they live in, and how they relate to the real
world around them.
Empson, Susan B., Kent, Laura B., Nielsen, Lynn. (2015) The Richness of Childrens
Fraction Strategies. Teaching Children Mathematics. (Vol. 22, No. 2)
This article discusses a new technique to do fractions, this idea, is a helpful way
to incorporate hands on tools to teach a subject of much confusion. This
article
allows for students to see fractions within the real world use and see why
these
math skills are important and can be applied later in life.
I chose this article because I like the idea of the use of hot chocolate to explain
fractions. Fractions are a tricky subject in math and something students
sometimes have a hard time to understand, the use of fractions is
important and
can be a very valuable strategy to have in our minds. Allowing for
students to
fully engage in their learning, both mindfully and kinaesthetically,
allows for
them to form ideas and questions, as well as see the results and
realties of how a
math equation actually works.
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This article discussed the idea of Project Based Learning, allowing for students
to tackle real world problems and find solutions that work in todays
society. The
article is focused around a class of kindergarten students, building
birdhouses to
find which design attracts the most birds. The students were
involved in the
designing, constructing and evaluation of their own bird
feeders.
I think Project Based Learning and Inquiry Based Learning should go hand in
hand. Students should always have the opportunity to be involved in hands
on
learning. I think a key to engagement is to allow students to get involved
and
feel the learning process in order to actually understand how things work.
Sometimes our 2D lessons can be very lacking in understanding to
many students.
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Snap cubes are a great tool for students to use. From early years and on, snap cubes can evolve
with students and act as a hands on, 3D number line. Snap cubes can be used for any math
technique, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division as well. Snap cubes can
initially be introduced in Kindergarten for simple math strategies such as sorting, color
differentiation, counting, grouping, and small addition. Moving up academically snap cubes can
be used for students to continue to learning math techniques and ensure students are really
understanding what the numbers actually mean. In my practicum placement students really loved
the snap cubes, and the solid manipulatives, and options of colors really helped with their
addition and subtraction tables.
Two-Colour Counters
Two color counters are a simple math manipulative that every classroom should have. I found
these particularly useful in my practicum when students were working with their 10s charts and
addition sentences that equalled 10. Students access to the basic manipulative that showed them
very clearly one color versus the other color, made their math sentences very clear for them to
work with. I also found these two color counters to be a mess free accessible manipulative that
students can keep in their desk in a small baggie or container, which they can have immediate
access to at any time, which I think is very important when building the foundations for math
skills.
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Number Chart
A number chart is a math manipulative that I think should always be visible in the classroom. A
number chart with a clear counting system of 0-100 should be present for students to easily
access and manipulate as they need to while working. During K-2 students should have these
numbers visible in order to instill their confidence and familiarity with these numbers, from these
numbers they will base the majority of their math skills for the rest of their lives, so it is really
important that they get comfortable with them and fully understand the way the numbers work in
our world. I also believe a number chart with moveable or manipulative numbers, such as the
picture shown above, is important and very beneficial when working with addition, skip counting
or basic counting forwards and backwards.
Domino Sets
Dominoes are not something I have seen in use in the classroom as of yet, but are something I
frequently use at home while working with my children on math. Dominoes are a fun
manipulative that can teach students to not only add or subtract, but also to play with math and
show students the fun side of a sometimes tedious subject. Dominoes are a solid manipulative
that can build confidents in students, showing them to have fun, and build on what they already
know, to practice and refine skills.
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Base 10 Blocks
Base 10 Blocks are a fundamental manipulative to have within the classroom. I see students
sometimes who struggle to understand their number sense. I believe Base 10 Blocks can
really help students who are struggling, put an image to the number. As students work their
way into larger numbers, having a visual representation of what double digits actually
represents can be a difficult concept to grasp. Base 10 Blocks are a solid foundation to work
with that can be easily and clearly represented in a number of different ways.
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Mathematics Technology
Technology is a huge part of our society, as it is growing in society, it is also growing in
the classroom. Although I am partially old fashioned, I am also a supporter of the benefits
technology can bring to the classroom. The biggest benefit with technology is the accessibility.
Students can easily become very engaged with the click of a mouse and the turn of a volume
button. I think this is a great form to connect with students who may daze away from hearing a
teachers voice all day long every day. Another great benefit to having a technology rich
classroom is the aspect of parent involvement. I think it is important to promote parent
involvement with students learning, and with technology parents can easily access our lessons,
our outcomes, and our techniques used in the classroom.
The Chicken Farmers Eggs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOzXmr5EAsc&feature=youtu.be
The Chicken Farmers Eggs is a video that is meant to be used as an introduction to skip
counting. Before students can begin to skip count they must understand the basic
counting skills and number sense of individual numbers. This video gives students the
opportunity to see skip counting basics (skip counting by 2s) with the option of pausing
the video to allow the students to guess how many eggs Farmer Joe will have in total
after collecting 2 more eggs. I think this is a good visual to introduce skip counting to
young children and build a solid foundation on number sense.
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This video is an idea to show parents how to formatively assess their students. Although I am not
a huge believer or supporter of homework, I do believe students should have the opportunity to
practice at home. I want to give parents an insight on how I will assess their children in order to
ensure the maximum progress occurs at all times. I want parents to know the importance of
going through a students assignments with them, and show them how to positively encourage,
while still giving critical feedback that will help the students improve their learning and skills.
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During my practicum placements we spent math time broken up into three categories, teach it,
practice together, and try it on your own. Briefly going over a new idea or math concept is
essential, all students need an introduction to what they are about to be learning, and for some
students that may be all they need to fully grasp and move right into the doing stages, for other
students, they need a practice period, a time for error and retry, a time for learning as a team and
figuring out exactly how something works. Although these games may seem simple, they are
great practice for a student, and students love getting to interact with the smartboard! Students
were very engaged and intrigued to play these games as a class. Generally we played, teacher VS
students, the students taking turns, and raising their hand if they wanted the opportunity to help
me on my turn as well. Smartboard games are a great tool to engage students, especially busy
students who may not have much interest in math, but are a slight bit competitive and also very
interested in touching the smartboard!
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Areas of Interest
Although Math is not my strength academically, I have gained much interest in it over my year in
the B.Ed. Program. I have learned unique ways to teach math, making a subject that was once
boring and confusing to myself, interesting and engaging. As a teacher my main area of interest
in math will be integrating math with other subjects, or making math fun by using hands on, real
world tools to teach the foundations of math that students will go on throughout their education.
Integration of Mathematics in Other Subjects
Math & Literacy
If you have spent any time in a K-2 classroom, you will quickly learn, children love a good read
aloud story! Children love the time to gather on the mat, when learning becomes more than a
lesson, and an adventure they are welcome to join in on! Students love to use their imagination to
learn and why should we ever stop that from happening. Incorporating math and literature into
story time, is a great way to engage students and make the math fun! Students can dive into the
math ideas without ever even thinking they are learning about math concepts. The amount of
literature that is out there for students and math is so large at this point, a teacher has the
resources to find absolutely any topic, and if not in hard copy, there may even be a you-tube
video of it. Students deserve the chance to engage in the learning anyway possible, and I believe
literacy and math are a basic foundation that should strongly intertwine throughout a students
learning experience.
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I believe the integration of math and science should be a given in the elementary classroom. Very
often we hear the time constraints on teachers, based on the amount of the curriculum outcomes
needed to be covered. Science is something that is often placed on the back burner, which is a
sad truth, because many students, in particular students who benefit from differentiation would
highly profit from the integration of math and science, found in STEM lesson plans. Students in
particular, who are very busy, and have a hard time keeping engaged deserve the right to be
taught something that genuinely peaks their interest. I think with the amount of resources at our
fingertips it is our jobs as teachers to search for lessons that include not only math concepts but
also scientific experiments that allow for hands on learning and building in order to fully engage
and include students in all lessons.
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(Stock photo)
A strong interest of mine is getting students outside and involved in nature. I strongly believe
students benefit educationally when they are outside of a classroom. Sometimes, simply being in
a classroom can give a student anxiety and reluctance to learn. I think getting students outside
and teaching them math in nature is a huge bonus. Math and science are something that
gardening relies on. I think intertwining these subjects and taking the students outdoors, or
setting up an actual greenhouse/garden centre within our classroom will get students really
thinking and engaged in math and science related to the real world.
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Music, Art and Physical Education are subjects that are not always thought of as essential
learnings in the elementary classroom. My plan is to include these valuable courses in with the
essential classes of math and literacy. Allowing room for art, music and phys ed within math
class, allows for students to not only acquire different learning styles, but also to experiment with
math and numbers in a way that basic math lessons cannot provide.
Art is a great way for students to practice many different math concepts such as measurement,
geometry, space, as well as 3D art and the practical uses of math concepts.
Music is a great way to introduce math concepts and practice. There are so many different
musical mathematical instructional videos, and students really engage and memorize them,
which helps students to remember their strategies in a permanent way, without them ever
realizing they are studying.
Phys Ed is also a great way to incorporate math. Teaching students to get up and use their
physical space and their bodies to figure out math ideas is a great way to teach students that no
matter where they may find themselves, they always have the best manipulative accessible to
them. (Their bodies!)
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Engagement
Teacher:
-Teacher will display pictures of
different barns on the smart board
-Teacher will discuss the benefits
to different barn shapes
-Teacher will show students a
video on YouTube of the building
a barn video, and how barns are
built in certain ways, facing
certain directions and on certain
terrains
Exploration
Teacher:
-Teacher will display tools, and
vehicles used in making barns
-Teacher will explore and explain
different tools and vehicles (listed
in materials)
-Teacher will display pictures as
well as models of barns made out
of popsicle sticks
-Teacher will discuss with students
the different shapes found in
common barn designs
-Teacher will discuss with students
how to measure with their rulers,
to ensure all sides are the
measurement they want, even or
odd, and the way we use
measurements while building
Explanation
Teacher:
-Teacher will play the video on
building a barn out of popsicle
sticks
-Teacher will ask students what
kind of things will be needed to
build a solid barn that will
withstand the weather, and will
have a solid foundation, walls and
roof, as well as entrance and exits
sizeable for large farm animals
-As students are giving examples,
Reflection
Students:
-Students will observe pictures of
different barns on the smartboard
-Students will engage in
conversation of different barn
shapes
-Students will observe video of
barns being built and gain basic
knowledge of the concept
Reflection
Students:
-Students will observe tools and
vehicles used in barn building
-Students will hold and pass
around different tools and vehicles
(which are safe) and discuss what
these objects purpose in barn
building may be
-Students will observe pictures of
barns made of popsicle sticks
-Students will engage in
conversation about different
shapes found in barns
-Students will listen to basics of
how to use rulers to their benefit
when building barns
Reflection
Students:
-Students will watch the video of
a barn being built with popsicle
sticks
-Students will give ideas on what
a barn needs to be built solid and
structurally sound
-Students will discuss all of the
parts needed for the barn
-Students will listen to directions
to begin their draft
-Students will observe images of
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Reflection
Students:
-Students will observe teachers
ideas on what a solid foundation
would look like
-Students will give ideas on
different ways to build a solid
foundation
-Students will build their barns,
following their sketches as much
as they want, they are welcome to
differ as they go, but must keep
track of it as they change
-Students can build independently
or as a team, whichever they
prefer
Reflection
Students:
-Students will finish up and clean
up their building materials
-Students will show off their barns
and explain why they chose the
structure they did and how they
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Ideal Checklist
Stud
ents
Names
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Knowledge
and Underst
anding of
Shapes
Measure
ment and
Effectiven
ess of
Planning
Fine
Moto
r
Skills
Conversatio
nal Skills and
Ideas
Suppor
t
Needed
Enrichmen
t Needed
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