How mathematics has influenced Origami art‏

Very interesting TED talk, this guy is a former physicist, now Origami expert, who has used mathematical theory and geometry to help revolutionize Origami. He calls it "using dead people to help you do your work".  The

The students at my school did a huge origami event; to send paper cranes to Japan.  The ideas expressed in this video would be a neat way to integrate the cranes into math. 

Ipod Touch Reflection

After reflecting on my experience with my Ipod touch in the classroom, I have mixed feelings.  I really liked the opportunity to explore and test out new and fun ways to integrate the Ipod Touch in the classroom, but I found this harder than anticipated.  In a previous post, I had mentioned that I felt unsure how to utilize the Touch in older graders verses younger grades.  This opinion might be skewed though because of my experience with my own younger child and all the uses I have found for him. As a result, I have thought a lot about this, and realized that it might have been easier if I was told exactly how to use the Touch. I generally like the freedom to explore and find solutions without directions, but in this case I feel that I was unable to fully take advantage of this technology because I did not know how to integrate it into my 5^th grade classroom.  As a university class, we discussed some of the issues that arose for us, and someone brought the idea of using the Touch with only one student and not the other 25.  Our professor made the good point that many classrooms don’t always have class sets of each resource such as dictionaries; therefore, the argument of using this technology when not every student had access at the same time needs to be disregarded.   Overall, I still feel that I would have benefited from more instruction of best practices and uses for this amazing and potentially helpful form of technology.   

Reflection

             After reading through all my blog posts from the last quarter in addition to my own reflection over the last few months, I believe that I have gained a lot of useful ideas when working with children in mathematics.  I understand that as a class it would be impossible for us to cover the curriculum that is taught in the intermediate and middle school levels, therefore I appreciated the conversations that we have had in regards to dealing with teaching a diverse group of students.  What I have also come to internalize is that manipulatives MUST be used in the classroom.  Students need a concrete understanding of why a concept works, then students can move into the abstract; manipulatives offer students the concrete.

                This quarter I have also reflected on teaching by not merely telling students the answer or showing them short-cuts; real learning occurs when students are able to explain and make sense of their own ideas.  One of my favorite quotes from our readings this quarter stated; “my definition of a good teacher has changed from ‘one who explains things so well that students understand’ to ‘one whom gets students to explain things so well that they can be understood” (“Never Say Anything a Kid Can Say”).  I have interpreted this to mean that students need the opportunity to explore and discover the answers themselves allowing them to actively think and become engaged; therefore students are able to help each other and share their thinking.      

                The last big idea that I have reflected on this quarter is the use of technology in the classroom; technology can offer curriculum a fun and interactive way for students to learn. By engaging students into the world of  computers, students experience math virtually which then allows them the potential to enjoy exploring and playing with different concepts while they discover and make connections to their learning. 

              

               

Math Blog Feb. 28

In class tonight we were introduced to the online tool, Tinker Plots.  This tool allows students the ability to manipulate data on a graph and allows the user the ability to explore all the different attributes on a graph and how they can change when one variable is manipulated.  I love the idea of children making connections through their own exploration.  I know that as a student of math, I solve problems and understand equations at a pace different than many other people; in addition I enjoy learning on my own terms.  What I have learned from this is that by offering my students the tools that they need to explore a problem; chances are they are going to learn.  I have realized that math isn’t just standing in front the classroom telling students different concepts; it’s about group work, collaboration, exploration, and connecting to the real world.  I have also learned that teaching in this style is not easy and it takes a lot of planning and creative thinking on the teachers end, but I know as a student myself, this style of learning is much more fun and relatable to real life. 

The implications for this style of teaching in the classroom is huge.  Aside from student’s engagement through fun interactive means, I think that students will remember these concepts better.  One of my biggest struggles as a new teacher, is that I have never taught before, and aside from what I have been taught recently, my other frame of reference comes from my early schooling in math where there was a lot of plug and chug; as a result, I still struggle with the why question when students probe me for more.  Therefore, I have learned that it is important to educate students with the why explanation and through methods that allow students the ability to manipulate and explore new concepts introduced to them. 

Math Blog: Technology

1.  What did I learn?

Today was an exciting day!  We were introduced to some new technology that we could use in the classroom.  I love learning about the different ways to integrate technology into the class, I do not see it used a lot in my main placement, therefore the more I am exposed to it in other classes is great.   I am not afraid of technology, but if I am not familiar with how to apply it in the classroom, chances are that I will not, as a result even the minimal amount of exposure is helpful to me and my potential teaching strategies. 

For example, in my dyad placement I visited a neighboring 6^th grade math class several times; this particular math teacher loves technology and using it with his kids.  On one of my observations of his class, he told me about using the graphing calculators with temperature probes to go outside to take data sample of different things.  I did not get a chance to ask him specifically how it worked, but I got a better understanding after class on Monday.  If each student had his/her own graphing calculator along with a temperature probe, once the data is collected the calculators are connected into a computer and can be graphed comparing all students’ data! Amazing and so cool! 

2.  What do I still have questions about?

What are some good teaching resources for learning about different ways technology can be used in the classroom?

3.  What are the implications for classroom practice?

The implication for the use of technology in the classroom is huge!  Kids today are not strangers to technology, I am sure many of them could run circles around me in some areas.  So as a result, using technology with students will get them engaged and will allow them to use a tool that they are already familiar with to facilitate their learning in new areas.  I think that a lot of fear still exists regarding technology and how to “control” it, but if we allow our students the opportunity as well as the trust along with proper expectations, we can allow our students the ability to access so much more knowledge than one person can facilitate. 

Math: Feb. 7

1. What did I learn?

I enjoy our math class a lot; I never leave feeling overwhelmed…well maybe a little overwhelmed at the idea of the abundance of curriculum we will have to learn, but our professor does a great job telling us like it is.  I really appreciate her honestly as well as her ability to support us as new incoming teacher.  Our professor does a great job informing us about the areas where she believes teachers need to do a better job at teaching, in addition to the importance of making our lessons inquiry based.  I believe that as a new teacher I will be faced with many challenges, challenges that I never even prepared for, but if I can begin my career with the intentions of making math fun for my students, then I believe that I may make my life as a new teacher more manageable.    

2.  What do I still have questions about?

I wonder what a lesson of math would look like in your class.  How would you include a lesson about new material and at what point in the lesson would you facilitate this knowledge? And would the students all work on the assignments together? Would the assignments be turned in at the end of class?

3.  What are the implications for classroom practice?

I think that as a new teacher unafraid of technology, I will be able to challenge myself to find more interactive ways that my students can about mathematics.  I enjoy the idea of having the freedom to take what has already been created and modifying it for my purpose as well as my student’s needs.  I think that there are so many resources out in the world of education and through collaboration as well as workshops we can find more effective ways to teach our kids math.    

ITouch Update

Since my last post, in relation to technology in the classroom, I have yet been able to implement my ideas of using the Itouch in the classroom.   I have seen opportunities where the Itouch would be beneficial, but I am having a difficult time figuring out if timing is appropriate.  I also wonder would one student using the Itouch and the rest of the class using a worksheet be fair?  I almost feel that it would be better if I introduced the Itouch only to students whom I was working with independently…. I guess I am still unsure how to use one Itouch in a classroom of 25?

On the flipside, I have been given an amazing opportunity where I am teaching a science unit to a small group of 5^th graders.  The unit we have begun is food chemistry, and I have been brainstorming ways I could use the Itouch with them.  I have some strange circumstances, I have to teach in the hallway, and therefore I do not have any access to technology unless it is wireless, in the form of an Itouch or a laptop.  As a result, my first idea was to use the Itouch to show a YouTube Video on learning about sugar, or nutrition labels, but then I realized that the screen was going to be way too small for nine bodies to group around.  My most recent idea has been to obtain an app that provides information about the different food groups and allows users to look up food facts about different foods.  I could use this application to allow my students to have access to information and take that information and graph it or use it to explain to me more about their understanding of the different nutrients in foods… I will have to do a little research.