Ckluncc's Blog

RR- Making Connections through Math-related book pairs

ckluncc — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:30:31 +0000

In this article, the authors describe an experience through which Mirella Rizzo expanded her instructional use of Math- related literature. By capitalizing on the children’s spontaneous observations, connecting their personal knowledge and interests with mathematical ideas, and developing interactions between math and literacy. She applies in different grade levels, full range of abilities students in her class included English Language Learner and special need students. And Mirella discovered overtime pairing math- related books could improve her ELL students’ understanding.

I found this article very interesting. I enjoyed very much reading on Mirella Rizzo’s experiences. I am working with fourth grader this semester, I realized in our classroom we worked very hard to have students make connections to all problems, we listen closely to students findings, have students show their work at all times and encourage them to explain their thinking. While reading this article, it reminded me a lot about the new Math program- Investigations. I could see a lot of similarities of the two such as writing math problems, explain your answer and making connections. Also, the goals that Investigations and Mirella Rizzo would like to reach are pretty similar.

Selecting and Creating Mathematical Tasks: From Research to Practice

ckluncc — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:46:42 +0000

In this article, authors focus on the selection and creation of mathematical tasks, sharing their thought on QUASAR’s research and their experiences on working with teachers. They also pointed out the highest learning gains on a mathematics performance assessment were related to the extent to which tasks were set up and implemented in ways that engaged students in high levels of cognitive thinking and reasoning. This article allows readers and educators to understand whichever tasks students exposed determines what students learn.

I enjoyed reading this article a lot, I realize the importance of selecting and creating a mathematical task and I learned the steps to select and create mathematics assignments for my students. I discovered as an educator, when we select a mathematic task by follow these steps will lead our students to a higher thinking level and better understanding. First we have to consider students’ age, grade level, prior knowledge, the norms and expectations for work in their classroom. Second, we have to consider the four categories of cognitive demand (memorization, procedures without connections to concepts or meaning, procedures with connections to concepts and meaning and doing mathematics.

I am sure with these categories as guidelines, overtime, students will be benefit and gain better understanding in Math.

How can technology benefit student learning

ckluncc — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:30:53 +0000

In the past decade, technology had became one of the major tool to improve the quality of education in schools. By adding in technology usage in school we could

Gain online access to course material, which means students can study at a time and location that suits them and can be locate misplace notes at home.
Increased motivation in learning as a natural consequence of the engaging nature of interactive websites.
Widening participation through learning materials that can be used for distance learning and accessible.
Instantaneous feedback can be incorporated into the design of online materials so that students can reflect on their mistakes as and when they happen.

What issues related to internet use exist in schools?

ckluncc — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:06:49 +0000

Ever since internet got popular there are many benefits to use internet in the classroom as a powerful educational tool. In order to keep this tool (the internet) effective and safe for student to use, we must be sure to educate our students the appropriate way to use the internet, make sure they understand their responsibilities and appropriate internet use policy is required.

Some of the most common issues existed in schools are

Plagiarism and copyright issues
Nowadays, plagiarism has become very easy for students, almost all the k-12 students have used computers in school but not familiar with the copyrights and trademarks laws. We have to educate our students the importance of the copyrights and understand plagiarism is wrong!
Cyberbullying of other students
Students use the internet to send hurtful messages or post information to damage people’s friendship are being very common. To prevent cyberbullying in the classroom, we could spend more time to educate our students, increase teachers knowledge of technology and pay attention of your students.
Inappropriate use of internet
When students are using schools internet in an appropriate way, they should be in full support of education and research and should be consistent with educational objectives.

Overall, as an educator, we should keep a close eye on our students all times before things are getting out of control with students and the internet!

Ethics and Copyright Activity

ckluncc — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:46:21 +0000

All students, teachers and parents are required to sign an acceptable use policy that outlines appropriate internet use, computer access and services.
Use of the internet must be in support of education, research and be consistent with educational objectives. All internet usage will be monitored by a tracking system.
Students and teachers will be educated of copyright agreements and laws, and should respect all copyright, trademark and licensing agreements and laws. Teacher will be prohibited from copying copyrighted materials, and students will be responsible for citing all information used to complete personal projects.
All users are responsible for all transactions that take place under their user name and password. Users must be sure to log off the network system before leaving the computer and should never share the user name and password with anyone.
Users should not use school resources (including, for example, e-mail, web pages, or newsgroups) to defame, harass, intimidate or threaten any other person(s), or to promote bigotry or discrimination.
Users do not have rights to install software, alter system files, or disconnect any cable on computer lab machines. Please leave the machine set up as you found it so that the next user may receive the same privilege.
Users should not violate the privacy of individuals. This includes viewing, monitoring, copying, altering, or destroying any file, data, transmission (including, for example, network packets) or communication not explicitly owned by you.
Users should not forge, maliciously disguise or misrepresent your personal identity. This policy does not prohibit users from engaging in anonymous communications.
The school’s network is a shared resource. Excessive or improper use of network resources which inhibits or interferes with the use of the network by others is not permitted. Example of this includes sending large amounts of email from an unprotected virus- infected or compromised computer.
Students and teachers will be educated about cyberbullying and cyberharassment. Teachers should pay close attention on students’ internet use.

Special needs case… He’s just a goofy guy!

ckluncc — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:39:50 +0000

I read the special education case- He’s just a goofy guy. The case is about a first grade teacher, Ms Betty Armstrong and two little first grade boys, Jake and David. They come in to her classroom two hours a day for reading and math. One of the little boy, Jake had Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADHD) and lack of organization skills. Ms Sharon Moss, the special education teacher suggested to extending their time in Ms Armstrong’s classroom. However, Ms Armstrong don’t think Jake will be able to handle it.

In this case, Ms Armstrong is a very organized person, she had high expectations for her students. Jake doesn’t meet Ms Armstrong expectations doesn’t mean we should keep him out of the general education classroom! I think Jake is a very smart kid, I am sure if Ms Armstorng and Ms Moss work together and communicate better, Jake will be able to return general education classroom in no time! Jake is not much different like other first grade kid, they want to be different, they want teachers’ attentions. I understand it’s hard for a teacher to take care 20-30 students in the same time, it’s kind of impossible to share your attention to the entire class! I think if school could arrage smaller class size or each class can have a teacher assist, then we might not have as much Jake in our school system!

1st Lesson plan!!!

ckluncc — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:19:48 +0000

First, I have to admit, this is my first lesson plan and it was nothing like what I excepted. I had no idea that lesson plans were so detailed. It took me a while to understand how all the materials divided in different parts, however, I believe I still need lots of practice to improve my lesson plan writing skills, especially different grades and different subjects. I think another difficulty I have was trying to combine all the little details from the lesson plan into words that a 2nd grader will understand! I don’t exactly know what a 2nd grader knows? I am not sure what should I expect from them? While I am working on my lesson plan, I frequently asked myself, “Will they understand what I am trying to explain? Are those questions too hard or too easy for them? Am I repeating myself too much?” It bothers me when I don’t know what a 2nd grader thinking and what they know! I hope when I start my student teaching, I will be able to solve my concerns.

I am so glad that Dr. Polly take times to read all of our drafts and provided feed backs. That helps out a big time, it gives me a better idea to understand the set up of a lesson plan.

Why should teachers care about developing students’ higher-order thinking skills?

ckluncc — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:22:50 +0000

Teachers SHOULD care about developing students’ higher-order thinking skills, simply because it is their reasonability! To be truly effective, teacher must not only assist students in learning the content immediately at hand, but also prepare the students for the learning they will have to do beyond this class. Students who develop higher- order thinking skills usually are the life- long learners, they will capable of analyzing new situations, they are more likely to link new information to what they knew together, and thinking critically and creatively to solve problems and improve process.

Why are you pursuing a career in teaching?

ckluncc — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:21:22 +0000

As a fifth grader, I met the first great teacher in my life, Miss Chow. She was my homeroom teacher at that time, but she sure meant a lot more to me. She was a counselor who listened, an evaluator who helped me through a family crisis, who becomes a role model and also a surrogate parent to me. During that time, my parents were going through the beginning stages of divorce. I did not know how to make things right between my parents, but I often comforted my younger sister at night, when they argued. The stress and uncertainty took its toll on my studies and classroom behavior. Although I tried to pretend nothing was happening, I was so scared, and I just couldn’t focus in class. Miss Chow noticed the change in my behavior very quickly. She listened patiently when I broke down crying and I told her my concerns. She explained to me no matter what my parents end up doing, they will still love me forever. She asked me to stop by her office every day after school and she willingly sacrificed her personal time to make me feel better and relieve my stress. A few years later, my mom told me Miss Chow would call her after every time she talked to me, explaining to my mom how I felt, and had suggestion for my mom on how to handle it. During that hard time in my life, after all that my mom and I had been through, the guidance from an excellence teacher like Miss Chow was more that we could have asked for.

I have chosen education as a career simply because I believe that education is perhaps the most important function performed in our culture. I believe that teachers individually and collectively can not only change the world, but improve it as well, and in the process continually find personal and professional renewal. I want to be part of the noble profession, and someday to be counted among those on whom future teachers found inspiration.