Mathalicious

Since we started using our blogs in class, I have been finding many different blogs and websites that may be useful to the math content. I have found this blog,Math in the Middle that has many different mathematical ideas that can be shared amongst teachers. There are a number of links, videos, pictures, etc. that this teacher has shared on her blog. They also included other blogs that they use and have found over the years. I clicked on a couple of her links and found another cite that would be useful to many teachers. I attended the Green Lake Math conference last Spring and watched a presentation about a new way to teach math. I actually forgot that I have seen this guy present about this topic and new phenomenon called Mathalicious. Watching and experiencing this new math first hand really made me want to try out some of the lessons. The real world applications and applying them to actual real life problems was very impressive.

Splashtop Desktop

Ever since I attended the Wisconsin Math Conference, I saw some one of the best ways to utilize technology in a classroom. I saw several presentors at the conference using their portable devices (iPhone, iPad,etc.) to change slides on Power Point, play/pause movies, and a variety of other actions while walking around the conference room. Well after some searching around, trying out various apps, and spending a few dollars, I have found the Splashtop Desktop Remote. This app for the iPad, as well as, the installed program (Mac or PC approved) allows for a wireless connection between the two.This amazing app is like having an interactive whiteboard at the tips of your fingers. Teachers can write, draw, add, delete every thing from their iPad as if they were sitting right at the computer. It allows for for audio and video that would normally be heard and seen on a computer. One of my sisters (a current 8th grader) told me that her Science teacher used an app like this in class the other day. She said "it was awesome. Everyone in the class loved it. You need to do this so you're class isn't boring." I am going to take her advice. I still have a few kinks and glitches that I need to work out before actually presenting this to a class. My goal one day is to run my classroom exclusively through this amazing app. 

On Second Thought...

Over the past several class periods, I am realizing how important it is to incorporate literacy into a classroom.  By giving the students the opportunity to enhance their background knowledge through literacy seems to be an essential part of a becoming an effective and quality teacher. Giving students a variety of resources and incorporating different comprehension strategies are also good ways to enhance their background knowledge. Making lessons meaningful and that support the content are important, but applying different techniques and strategies seem to get students more involved and are willing to share their ideas. This also helps prevent the small old, boring lectures that all students dread. After doing the evaluations and starting on my print resources, I am starting to see the value that is being stressed on the quality of the extra materials. There is so much material online that can lead to misinterpretations of information for students. As teachers, we need to make sure we are providing knowledge and information that is credible and academically accurate. I often hear the phrase "it's quality over quantity" and this phrase should be emphasized in all literacy, in all classrooms.

While researching my print resources for the Thematic Unit, I went into the Polk Library here on campus. I was having trouble finding a couple books for the unit. I eventually sucked up my pride and went to talk to a librarian at the circulation desk in the EMC (Educational Materials Center). This is located on the first floor of the library. The people at the desk are very helpful and are very willing to help with this assignment! The librarian that worked with me was able to help me find a picture and chapter book. Who knew spending a little time in the library, doing a few searches, and asking for help could be so beneficial!?
 

Literacy in my Classroom

When I first thought about literacy, I thought mainly about reading and writing. I wasn't sure how I could possibly incorporate these two things into a math classroom. I would normally try to shy away from literacy, especially reading and writing, since I am not very strong in either area. However, learning that there are other forms of literacy, I now want to make this a bigger and more important part of my classroom. The first thing that I would like to incorporate more is the use of technology. I feel that technology gives students many chances to interact and participate in a lesson and give them an authentic experience to learn. By giving them websites, videos, podcasts, etc. they are given the opportunity to reread, re-watch, and revisit many of these things as they need to. I want to be able to give the each student the opportunity to enjoy their learning experience and give them as many opportunuties as possible to learn. I also want to include writing assignments for students. Math is a subject where writing gets overlooked a majority of the time. For some students, writing out a process or steps can help them solve a variety of math problems. Another writing assignment I would also like to include is a journal. Journals will give me insight as to where students are in their learning process. Journals can also give the students the opportunity to ask me questions that they may not want to ask out loud in class. 

I'm still not sure on how to incorporate more reading into a mathematics classroom. I did very little reading in my experiences in math and am still having trouble finding books (other than textbooks) that help promote reading of mathematics. I hope over the next several weeks and through various assignments, I will find better ideas and material to incorporate reading more. Overall, my attitudes towards literacy are slowly, but surely, changing for the better.