http://www.teachscienceandmath.com/category/math/
This blog is for Science and Math Teachers with posts describing different ideas that teachers can use in their classroom. There are several postings with ideas about interactive math and science websites, mapping tools, problem solving strategies and virtual online conferences for eduactors.
I read an interesting article about using Twitter in Math class. I am not too familiar with Twitter, but from my understanding, I thought it was a universal blog where subscribers updated their information regularly. I initially thought that the idea of Twitter was unnecessary, as I thought it was more of a social tool, so I was interested to see how this might be used in the Mathematics classroom.
In this article, the author describes how teachers are often lost in their own words, rarely having time to collaborate with other teachers. With Twitter, teachers can collaborate with eachother across the United States as well as internationally. This article also describes how students can use Twitter to do geomatric spatial analyses of their classroom and compare them with other student classroom to determine which room has the most square footage.
Overall, I had a very good experience looking at Educational Blogs. I did not find the blogs that discussed Educational research as relevant to me as the blogs which discussed ideas that you could directly apply in the classroom. For these blogs (ones that discussed class activities), I was able to use these strategies in the classroom. Not only can you use the activities suggested, but the blogs can supply links to other websites and blogs which lead you to even more ideas you can use in the classroom. For example, one of the first blogs I read and wrote about was authored by a math teacher named Mr. Bill Lombard. I now check his website often and use many of his ideas and projects found on his website.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Classroom 2.0
http://www.classroom20.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=2.0
This weblog is an excellent resource for teachers who are interested in using Web 2.0 tools and technology in the classroom. Most postings to the blog discuss different ways in which teachers are using Web 2.0 tools in the classroom and their experiences.
I read an interesting blog titled "Math Pedagogy - Are we giving credit for what students can do?" I found this particulary interesting because I am now teaching integrated algebra to an advanced 8th grade class and sometimes I feel that the advanced learners are slowing down. I try to have extra problems for the early finishers to work on, but still feel that I can be pushing the advanced learners more. After speaking with other seasoned, advanced teachers they have all advised that learning how to juggle differentiated instruction is something that comes along with experience.
I was surprised to read that many teachers agreed with the title of the blog, saying that most teachers do "slow down" the advanced learner. The author of the blog references an article titled "Lebanon Schools turn Algebra in Child's Play" which describes how schools in Oregon are doing better on Math state assessment tests compared to other states with similar demographics. They described how students rarely use worksheets and how they are taught more visually using manipulatives.
Although I agree that manipulatives are easier for students to learn, I feel that as a first year teacher, I am more concentrated on the delivery of my lesson. When I feel comfortable with the flow of my lesson, I will then introduce more manipulatives.
This weblog is an excellent resource for teachers who are interested in using Web 2.0 tools and technology in the classroom. Most postings to the blog discuss different ways in which teachers are using Web 2.0 tools in the classroom and their experiences.
I read an interesting blog titled "Math Pedagogy - Are we giving credit for what students can do?" I found this particulary interesting because I am now teaching integrated algebra to an advanced 8th grade class and sometimes I feel that the advanced learners are slowing down. I try to have extra problems for the early finishers to work on, but still feel that I can be pushing the advanced learners more. After speaking with other seasoned, advanced teachers they have all advised that learning how to juggle differentiated instruction is something that comes along with experience.
I was surprised to read that many teachers agreed with the title of the blog, saying that most teachers do "slow down" the advanced learner. The author of the blog references an article titled "Lebanon Schools turn Algebra in Child's Play" which describes how schools in Oregon are doing better on Math state assessment tests compared to other states with similar demographics. They described how students rarely use worksheets and how they are taught more visually using manipulatives.
Although I agree that manipulatives are easier for students to learn, I feel that as a first year teacher, I am more concentrated on the delivery of my lesson. When I feel comfortable with the flow of my lesson, I will then introduce more manipulatives.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Rational Mathematics Education
http://rationalmathed.blogspot.com/
This blog has a series of posting discussing information about mathematics education. Each posting describes an article regarding current issues about mathematics education.
March 13th's posting is regarding an article titled "Mind the Gap" which discusses the fact that undergraduate calculus and advanced mathematics enrollments has dropped dropped from 10.5% in 1985 to 6.36% in 2005. In respsonse to these staggering numbers, a professor from Teikyo Post University argues that the reason for this is the poor teaching in K-12. The professor claims that since students are poorly taught in school K-12, they are coming into college failing their first math course, there for not enrolling in an higher level courses.
This blog is helpful to me as a new teacher because I was able to read about broader issues involving mathematics education. Other blogs that I have read only discussed activities and situations that could only be applied to the classroom directly. With this blog, and this post in particular, I was able to learn the importance of my teaching in the greater scope of mathematics education.
This blog has a series of posting discussing information about mathematics education. Each posting describes an article regarding current issues about mathematics education.
March 13th's posting is regarding an article titled "Mind the Gap" which discusses the fact that undergraduate calculus and advanced mathematics enrollments has dropped dropped from 10.5% in 1985 to 6.36% in 2005. In respsonse to these staggering numbers, a professor from Teikyo Post University argues that the reason for this is the poor teaching in K-12. The professor claims that since students are poorly taught in school K-12, they are coming into college failing their first math course, there for not enrolling in an higher level courses.
This blog is helpful to me as a new teacher because I was able to read about broader issues involving mathematics education. Other blogs that I have read only discussed activities and situations that could only be applied to the classroom directly. With this blog, and this post in particular, I was able to learn the importance of my teaching in the greater scope of mathematics education.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Mathematics Education Research Blog
This blog is created by an associate professor at a university and dedicated to Mathematics education research.
There are many postings discussing the various studies regarding Mathematics education. These studies often take place in foreign settings such as Nigeria in the most recent posting (4/2/09). Most postings refer to a scholarly article.
The most interesting article to me was titled "Students' experiences with Mathematics teaching and learning". This blog intrigued me because I have always been interested in the different classroom environmental factors that affect student learning. In this article, students were interviewed to gain better insight on what they valued as success in their mathematics classes. I also found it interesting that language was considered the biggest barrier to learning mathematics. I have always made an effort to go over mathematical language in the beginning og every lesson, but I will make more of an effort based on the results of this article.
There are many postings discussing the various studies regarding Mathematics education. These studies often take place in foreign settings such as Nigeria in the most recent posting (4/2/09). Most postings refer to a scholarly article.
The most interesting article to me was titled "Students' experiences with Mathematics teaching and learning". This blog intrigued me because I have always been interested in the different classroom environmental factors that affect student learning. In this article, students were interviewed to gain better insight on what they valued as success in their mathematics classes. I also found it interesting that language was considered the biggest barrier to learning mathematics. I have always made an effort to go over mathematical language in the beginning og every lesson, but I will make more of an effort based on the results of this article.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Math Notations
This website provides mathematical challenges, problems of the day and investigations as well as test practice for grades 7 -12.
This blog currently has a challenge problem involving the following mathematical scenario:
You're on a superhighway in the middle of nowhere at 10 PM, your fuel tank shows about a quarter of a tank remaining, your trip odometer shows you've gone about 180 miles since the last fill-up and you just passed a fuel rest stop. The sign reads "Next Rest Area and Gas - 58 miles." Are you in trouble or will you make it?
The post lasts from March 9 - March 11. Many teachers respond, questioning the mathematical soundness of the problem as well as whether or not the problem is worded correctly fnor middle school students. I would not use this with my students, because if teachers including myself have difficutly with understanding this problem, I know that my students will.
In addition to the investigation above, there are also many links to pi day activities and investigations.
This blog currently has a challenge problem involving the following mathematical scenario:
You're on a superhighway in the middle of nowhere at 10 PM, your fuel tank shows about a quarter of a tank remaining, your trip odometer shows you've gone about 180 miles since the last fill-up and you just passed a fuel rest stop. The sign reads "Next Rest Area and Gas - 58 miles." Are you in trouble or will you make it?
The post lasts from March 9 - March 11. Many teachers respond, questioning the mathematical soundness of the problem as well as whether or not the problem is worded correctly fnor middle school students. I would not use this with my students, because if teachers including myself have difficutly with understanding this problem, I know that my students will.
In addition to the investigation above, there are also many links to pi day activities and investigations.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
New Blog - Let's Play Math
Let's Play Math Blog - http://letsplaymath.wordpress.com/
3/04/09
This blog is about playing around with Mathematics and integrating different fun learning activities for grades K-12.
Math Teacher's at Play #1
This blog reveals many different activities to use with students ranging from elementary to high school. Specifically for middle school, there are several engaging activities that can be used to help students understand difficult math concepts such as exponential curves and factoring trinomials. There is also a link to a blog about "Friday Afternoon Life Savers" which has a blog about many friday afternoon puzzles and activities that a teacher can do with a class in order for students to gain a deeper understanding of a particular subject. I have already browsed through this link to see what I can potentially use with my class. Sometimes students get very restless at the end of the week and these puzzles would be a great way to change things up a bit.
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