Exciting Mathematics

Hi everyone,

This week was my final in-class session of my teacher’s college Mathematics course. This year has definitely flown by (way too fast) and I am grateful for the new insight and knowledge I am able to take away with me from this course. I am looking forward to implementing many of the activities we have explored throughout the year in my future classroom.

For the final lesson learning activities, the topics included: grade 9 and 10 Locally Developed and grade 11 Workplace. Similar to the presentations last week, I thought the activities were extremely practical and are designed to allow students to make real connections to their lives. Across all subject areas, it is critical educators take the time to create lessons that students deem both relevant and meaningful. If student’s can “see a purpose” to what they are learning, their engagement and motivation will increase and likely lead to higher levels of success.

Planning a Bowling Night

The first lesson learning activity I would like to highlight is Jenny’s “Friday Night Plans.” During this activity, students were required to plan either a bowling or movie night. Students were provided with transportation information for a cab, Uber and bus. Students set a budget and also had the opportunity to research where they wanted to go in terms of location. The activity we were completing was specific to Hamilton and this would obviously be adjusted based on your classroom and geographic location. With this being said, the activity became very real and relevant to students lives. Although a group of teacher candidates, you could still hear and see the excitement in the room about completing the activity. I can definitely see myself implementing a similar activity in the classroom; whether with a grade 11 Workplace class, or modifying it for a grade 9 or 10 Applied level class. Personally, I think this lesson models an ideal 21^st century learning classroom. The lesson fosters inquiry learning, technology, collaboration, mathematical reasoning and problem solving skills. As educators, we need to get our students excited about their learning.

World Records and Proportional Reasoning

Teaghan’s grade 9 Locally Developed lesson learning activity focused on proportional reasoning and beating the world record for clapping within a minute. Students were shown a short 4 second clip of the individual clapping and required to estimate the total number of claps. Students were then asked to make a prediction before the number was revealed. Again, a clip was shown and paused within the minute of clapping and students were asked to think about their predictions and adjust them based on the information they were provided. Throughout this process, students had the opportunity to discuss and reflect on their mathematical reasoning behind their predictions. During her lesson, Teaghan also used a “notice and wonder” chart, a new tool that really causes students to stop and analyze the task at hand. This strategy also allows the teacher to gather information as the students are “thinking out-loud.” Again, there was an extrmeley high level of excitement within the classroom and friendly competition for whose prediction would be the closest. I thought the activity was very engaging and will definitely have the same effect on students.

Over the past few weeks I have seen many exciting and insightful presentations and believe as future educators, we have all grown greatly over the past six months.

Until next time,

Rachelle