Stage 3 Math

     My main objective when teaching any subject area is to make it meaningful.  This week's in- class activities  concentrated on learning styles and creating a math board game, a perfect strategy to help students learn math in a fun and interactive way.  I understand that as a pre-service teacher, I must know the curriculum and my students.  Why is this so important?  It is because I want to reach all students and every student learns differently.  The VAK model is an acronym that refers to the styles of learning: Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic.  After filling out the questionnaire, it is no surprise to me that I process information best through listening and speaking in scenarios such as a group discussion or lectures.  I am also a visual learner who prefers the use of graphics to access and understand new information.  I am definitely not a kinesthetic/hands-on learner nor would I be focused with this approach.  See my results below.

       I must understand the differences in my students' learning styles so that I can implement the best, creative practice strategies into their daily activities, curriculum and assessments.  When preparing lesson plans, there is much to consider.  It means thinking about differentiated instruction for learning materials (content), ways of learning (process) and ways of demonstrating learning (product).  I have to take the environment into consideration; how do my students work best? Alone or with others? Should the work setting be fixed or flexible?  Again, the goal is to foster a growth mindset in mathematics and this task is easier when I know my students' learning preferences.
      My partner, Giuliana and I created a Lego Measurement game that would work perfectly when teaching perimeter and area.  Game materials include;  Lego pieces, timers, dice, and grid paper.  Students can work with a partner or groups.  The objective is to roll the dice and whatever number is drawn, the participants must create a structure using the correct amount of Lego pieces to equal the area or perimeter.  More than one dice works great.  A timer can be introduced so that students are challenged to work faster and build the most structures.  Kids love games and Lego so we think that this would be received positively for students in Grades 4-6.  I see this activity as a way to allow students to solve math problems without realizing they are really doing math.  Games are fun, engaging and stimulating and often give students different perspectives.  I think that it is important for students to reflect about this experience and I would ask some strategic reflection questions as prompts such as; Can you connect the maths used today to something you already know?  What was fun when playing the game?  How can this game be changed the next time?

Thursday September 21/2017 Math Class

     

     While completing the on-line activities, it is evident to me just how closely related success and making mistakes are to each other.  I agree with Dr Starbird when he states that there is a problem in education when teachers discourage students from making mistakes.  His quote, "the result is that it encourages people to pretend to know more than they know." How true is this?  Success should not be the main focus in education?  I have to encourage my students to realize that success is built on failed attempts.  Mistakes and failure can be used to promote learning.  Professor Starbird's incorporates this strategy into his everyday structure when his students are encouraged to show their math work on a board so that others can watch and discuss the possibilities.  He feels that is is empowering and promotes creativity and I have to agree.  Michael Jordan is showcased in another video and he is one of my all time favourite basketball players.  Have a look here at his perspective.  

   

  I like the approach of highlighting the lives of athletes, dancers, actors, singers, role models etc., in the classroom so that students can witness the struggles, mistakes and perseverance that many have to overcome to  be successful.

Another informative week of strategies, games, learning preferences, mindset, how we can learn from mistakes, and math and speed.  See you next week!