Pedagogy

= Pedagogy = toc Please explore this part of my website to find out more about great methods of math instruction.

Bell Work

 * Remember Bell Work serves as a Minds On, it is a way to get the class focused before class starts. You want to pique your students interest. Get them wondering "Hmmm…".
 * Some examples of Bell Work:
 * How can you write out this sentence using math: "You have one ice cube in your hand. What happens if you triple the number of ice cubes in your hand? How can you use math to express this?"
 * Put up a multiplication table at the front of the class that ranges from -10 to 10. Ask students to fill in as much of it as they can. Ask the class, what part do they not know how to fill in.
 * Ask students, how would YOU multiply (-1 x -1), and see what answers they give you. Give them one example and ask them to do it themselves. Then ask them HOW they got their answer and discuss the different strategies they took. You can always ask them to try it themselves, let them guess up front how to solve a question and then discuss - ask them HOW they got their answer.
 * Give students a series of numbers and they can decide what rules they can use - what order they can use to add them all together. And show all the different answers you get. This shows the students the dangers of not having math rules. By showing the dangers of not having the rules, you can then demonstrate the importance of not having those rules.
 * Nets (geometry): Give each student a single piece of paper and ask them; "How can you make a house or building by folding a single piece of paper.

Transitions

 * A key element of classroom management for teachers is to plan well ahead of time.
 * When planning the key is to be detailed. You are co-coordinating the actions of 30+ independent bodies.
 * Unless the instructions are clear and specific, you will have chaos.
 * Key elements to consider for each transition:
 * Have the materials ready ahead of time.
 * How will you get the materials out to students?
 * Determine time limits for specific steps.
 * How will you get the materials back from students?

How Can You Make Math Relevant?

 * FERMI Problems **
 * Review from Math Camp.

Manipulatives are a great way to engage students. The OAME provides many useful tips about how to use manipulatives.
 * Manipulatives **


 * Linking Cubes **
 * Check OAME Manipulative handout.
 * Geo Boards **
 * Check OAME Manipulative handout.
 * Patterning Blocks **
 * Check OAME Manipulative handout.
 * Algebra Tiles **
 * Great interactive online algebra tiles can be found here.
 * Great interactive online algebra tiles can be found here.

Of course! Here are some great math stories and math story ideas:
 * Can We Use Stories In Math? **
 * " Tell Me a Story: Narrative and Intelligence" by Roger Schank (Author), Gary Saul Morson (Foreword).
 * "Math Curse" by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. Eddie's Opinion: This is a great book to show students how important math is.
 * "A Tangled Tale" by Lewis Caroll
 * "Science Verse" by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
 * A list of math stories with suggested lessons can be found here.
 * Make students create their own math stories!

Of course we can! If in doubt, check out some of the work of Alex Kajitani!
 * Can We Use Music In Math? **


 * Can We Use Drama in Math? **
 * Create a 1-2 minute skit about what the world would be like without:
 * 1) circles
 * 2) cylinders
 * 3) triangles
 * 4) decimals
 * 5) integers
 * 6) percent
 * Imagine This!
 * Math and Science Performance Festival

= Assessment =

Assessment is NOT evaluation! It is not testing students! Assessment is about learning about your students and how effective your instruction has been.


 * Assessment Techniques **
 * Mini white boards.
 * Student journals in which they write what they have learned each day.

= Consolidation =


 * Ideas for Consolidating a Lesson **
 * Think Literacy Document (TLD) – Resource for Ideas.
 * Typically lasts 5-15 minutes depending on the length of the class and the complexity of the concepts.


 * Specific Consolidation Strategies **
 * 1) Traditional. Ask 3-4 questions about key points that were covered in lesson. Students may use organizer (sheet with blanks to fill in) to fill in key ideas.
 * 2) Brief PowerPoint Review. Offer 3-4 slide that review key concepts. Best if you have students fill out information in journal or organizer while you to this. OR they could record key points in journal.
 * 3) Journal Entry (see p37-38 in TLD). Have regular entry for key concepts covered in class. Students should keep a summary journal/notebook.
 * 4) Cooperative Summary. Give group of 3-4 students 5 minute to summarize 3-4 key points covered in the class. All students must write key points in their journal. Call on each group to give one key point. OR one group could be responsible for the summary and have to put it on the board.
 * 5) Round Robin. Each student in a group of 4 is given a piece of paper. When the teacher says go, they neatly write down one thing they learned in the class. After 30 seconds, pass the paper to the next student. This process is repeated 3-4 four times. Take up results with the class. Students are required to enter key topics covered in their journals.
 * 6) Concept Circles (p. 32 in TLD). Construct a series of concept circle to find out if students understood the key concepts covered.
 * 7) Happy Face Chart. Have student circle a sad, neutral or happy face beside key concepts covered in the class (on a sheet of paper you hand out). This is handed back into the teacher.
 * 8) Frayer Model (p. 24 in TLD). In groups of 2-4, have students create a Frayer model for the concept just covered in class. After, you can create one big Frayer model as a class.
 * 9) Venn Diagram (p. 33 in TLD). Have students create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting 2 different concepts or procedures.
 * 10) KWL Chart (p. 54 in TLD). Fill in what they Know, and Wonder about at the beginning of class AND then fill in what they Learned at the end of class
 * 11) Mini-Quiz. You can give students a brief 1-3 question quiz (no grade) to hand in to make sure they understand what has been taught. This could be done on a PowerPoint with the class too. The class could solve the question together.
 * 12) Clickers. Great tool for getting feedback at the beginning, middle and end of the class. Students will love this method and they will love the challenge.
 * 13) Stop-Start-Continue. If you want feedback about your teaching methods or suggestions from the class, this is a great tool to use every 3-4 weeks or so. The way Stop-Start-Continue works is that students will tell you (through a medium of your choice): something you should "stop" doing, something you should "start" doing, and something you should "continue" doing.
 * 14) Student Created Questions. Students work in pairs. They each create a question for their partner based on the lesson. They give the question to the partner and grade it.
 * 15) Real-World Applications. Ask student about real world applications, then follow up with a PowerPoint pictures of real world relevance.
 * 16) Learning Objects. There are a number of learning objects that could be used to summarize or illustrate key math concepts. You can view these as a class through an LCD projector.
 * 17) Student Presentations. This works well after an activity-based lesson where student.


 * Additional Ideas **
 * 1) Student Written Questions At Home. Have students write questions at home, and then use these questions in your class the next day. Or use these questions for a review.