Hi Jeremy--I had to laugh when you commented that the students will probably be reading text messages behind your back. Incidentally, they are also creating a language that is specific to text messaging and to specific group use.
The gist of it: Math means reading numbers (number recognition) and figuring out how to implement problem solving strategies (what formula can I use.
I will be posting mine shortly, and hopefully I can find something different to add so it's not too similar to yours. Basically, students read short directions in math and are required to solve a problem, versus literature where students have to make sense of many more words and sentences.
You're right about the text messaging as well. Sometimes I feel like I'm too nice and I just give the students a look so they know to put it away. The problem is that they keep coming out in the classroom! Nice doesn't always work. I may have to make an example of someone one of these days.
Critical analysis can be really hard for math students, especially those that say they "struggle" in mathematics.
You also mention that they pick up on social cues...so true!
We kind of have an un-official contest for cell confiscation at the school in which I teach. Students sign a contract at the beginning of the year stating that phones will be kept in lockers and so whenever we see a phone in class that is being used, or rings...it goes to the superintendent. I actually let a student take my phone to the district office once when my nephew accidentally called me one morning during my middle school math class!
My sister gave my dad a "treasure" box in which to store all of the phones he takes while sub-teaching. Apparently, his written observational comments about the classes he subs are also a topic of amusement for the teaching staff.
Also, do you try to go through the reading of the "introductions" to each new lesson when you are teaching from a text book, or do you generally go straight to the "number" problems after showing some examples?
Yes, students read NUMBERS and other math symbols. Excellent. Plus, there is so much "reading" when trying to interpret how to go about solve the problem. These are all the reasons why math teachers can support the learning processes of their students by facilitating activities that integrate the reading processes that you all spent the last two weeks articulating!
Reading the classroom environment, what the teacher projects, their peers faces, etc. is really important. There are many intelligent students who can't do that. You pick up on a social intelligence that definitely deserves mentioning.
Hi Jeremy--I had to laugh when you commented that the students will probably be reading text messages behind your back. Incidentally, they are also creating a language that is specific to text messaging and to specific group use.
ReplyDeleteThe gist of it: Math means reading numbers (number recognition) and figuring out how to implement problem solving strategies (what formula can I use.
I will be posting mine shortly, and hopefully I can find something different to add so it's not too similar to yours. Basically, students read short directions in math and are required to solve a problem, versus literature where students have to make sense of many more words and sentences.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the text messaging as well. Sometimes I feel like I'm too nice and I just give the students a look so they know to put it away. The problem is that they keep coming out in the classroom! Nice doesn't always work. I may have to make an example of someone one of these days.
Critical analysis can be really hard for math students, especially those that say they "struggle" in mathematics.
ReplyDeleteYou also mention that they pick up on social cues...so true!
We kind of have an un-official contest for cell confiscation at the school in which I teach. Students sign a contract at the beginning of the year stating that phones will be kept in lockers and so whenever we see a phone in class that is being used, or rings...it goes to the superintendent. I actually let a student take my phone to the district office once when my nephew accidentally called me one morning during my middle school math class!
My sister gave my dad a "treasure" box in which to store all of the phones he takes while sub-teaching. Apparently, his written observational comments about the classes he subs are also a topic of amusement for the teaching staff.
ReplyDeleteAlso, do you try to go through the reading of the "introductions" to each new lesson when you are teaching from a text book, or do you generally go straight to the "number" problems after showing some examples?
ReplyDeleteYes, students read NUMBERS and other math symbols. Excellent. Plus, there is so much "reading" when trying to interpret how to go about solve the problem. These are all the reasons why math teachers can support the learning processes of their students by facilitating activities that integrate the reading processes that you all spent the last two weeks articulating!
ReplyDeleteReading the classroom environment, what the teacher projects, their peers faces, etc. is really important. There are many intelligent students who can't do that. You pick up on a social intelligence that definitely deserves mentioning.
ReplyDelete