A little disappointed.

I am a little disappointed in myself. Not that this isn't a great place to work but that I took myself, a lot of my Algebra 2 kids, my principle, our counselor, and another teacher to figure out that not all of my students were taught how to graph. Not only that but what a table looks like or why we have equations. I was struggling to figure out why my top students all of the sudden dropped in their grades. Now I know. Their Algebra 2 teacher never taught them how to graph or write equations let alone use a t-chart.  It was all due to the book they used. I had no idea. And because of this my top students started to hate math and doubt their skills with math and themselves. I have sense started to fix the problem but I am worried that I have done some harm to my students that might not be fixable. I had to do a lot of back teaching but I now am confident that they can recognize a table goes with at graph, equation and word problem and what a benefit it is to know the difference between them all. I was scared when they only new how to play around with an equation. Now they are having a better time with tables and using tables and graphs together and switching things around. The writing of equations is a little tricky to them but every day I am coming up with new problems in the world where they can write equations and equations that they can write word problems with. I just wish that I had caught it earlier.

Sugar!!!!

It was so interesting to be able to see what the trends of sugar consumption and income. I think it is soooo cool. This was a great idea to have the kids be interested in information. I loved the idea of having the kids look up why the trends are the way they are. It was also great to see other uses for geogebra than what I have been using. Keri did a great job. Thanks. Just a little help on the worksheet is to give a little more on labeling the different extras correctly. I was a little confused why it couldn't do what I was wanting it to do. Thanks for the ideas of the dealing with the lack of computers.; It has been a lot of help. As soon as I get my projector working with my computer I plan on using geogebra with teaching systems of equations and how they work. Thanks for the great weekend. I love getting help with math and technology but also help with teaching vocabulary to my kids. This has been a great help to me with teaching all of the new vocabulary to my Geometry and Algebra 2.

We're Back!

It was so great to be back at the technology training. I am so excited to be able to learn more to make me a better if not well informed teacher. I really liked how today we were challenged to make a lesson plan without our books to help. I also loved the different math problems. I can definitely see how I can apply this to my classes this year. I also feel better about not being the only one with limited technology. I like how the I-POD can be used in the classroom. This should help considering we have graphing calculators that our new probes will not work with. It is great that they work with the new tech.

The end of the fun....for now.

I am really happy that we were able to see a couple of new technology sites that are free. I guess I am going to be forced to have a Face book now. I am so amazed by how fab the instructors are. You guys rock. Thanks for the great ideas. I definitely know that I need to talk to the science teachers. I will try to have the science lab Incorporated at least twice this school year.

Those darn peanuts!

Today was great except for those peanuts. I have no idea why they would not cooperate. Oh well. I really liked how the fact that people have troubles using the data that they are given or even knowing what to do with it. I know that I am guilty of just using nice pretty data and parameters that tell me what to do with them. I know that this might frighten my students but in the long run it will help them. I do think that I can use a lab by showing the correlation between the write up and a proof is important. I know that the Washington State exit exam in going to have proofs on them so working with science a bit and showing the relationship will be goo. I do feel I need a few more places besides what we have already been given of places to pull off data or ideas for gathering data in a math classroom.

Science Camp

Today was a lot of fun being the scientist (even though I am soooo a mathematician) and collecting all of the data.  I was very happy to be able to use Prezzie. Thank you so much Keri for the help posting the Prezzie project onto the voice threads. I defiantly need more work with the voice threads before I feel comfortable with them. But I think if I was gone I could do a voice thread and have the sub play it for my students. Or if I know that the kids will have some difficulty post them on the school website or some site they can reach and have a description of how to do one problem. Then post more problems and let them comment on the problems.

remembering how to do science labs

Today was a lot of fun remembering how to do some of the science labs. It has been so long since I have done some of them that it was almost a new experience. I loved the other probes that we got to learn how to use them. I think it will be fun for my kids to use. As for questions on regard to content I wounder if I will feel confident with teaching messy math. I know that I will not have a lot of access to graphing calculators but I do want them to see the connections. I was wondering if there is a way to have the data already on the calculators without them doing the lab so that they can apply the math. I do hope that I will be more open to messy data this coming school year.  That way the kids will have richer discussions and more ownership of the lessons.

Merging Science with Math

Today was a productive day. It is great that they are showing how science and math can work together. It was a little weird to have the my partner do the math part and me do the science part. It was nice though. It has been a little while since doing a science lab. It was also so much fun learning how to sodder. I think that it will be fun to have some of my advanced classes maybe do it. I do have a question on how the science labs can be used in Math class or if the science part is done in science class and we back them up in that days math class. If that could be clarified more I think it will help. As for using the Fathom and a graphing calculator in my classroom it will be so much easier. Especially since I am teaching Geometry and Algebra 2 this year. I think the students will have fun with the information and applying it to what they are learning.