Math Updates

As the year progresses I am amazed at how slowly we are progressing. Do I push the kids or do I just keep plodding along? Am I helping them by going slowly? Are they being challenged?

For my lower students (2nd) we are working on the basics of fractions. I need to find some other more interesting ways to help them remember the different pieces. I found a couple of cool videos on TeacherTube - the kids liked Mr. Duey's rapping the best :) Today we are going to work with multiples and factors/factor trees.

My road trip students have been lagging behind, so I am pushing them to finish by this Friday, 12.18.09, so we can continue working on other things in January.

My WASL class was pared down so there are fewer students - hoping we can pick up our pace and complete units quickly.

For the 3rd and 5th period classes I have had the students research and prepare three (3) WASL questions/problems a day - one student is responsible per day, posted on the Wiki site and recorded in their planners. My 5th period class is doing very well with preparing their daily POD, the 3rd period class leaves a LOT to be desired :( Anyhow, when they prepare the questions, they then teach the problems to the class - works pretty well - opens up discussions of problem solving and helps them to see how other people solve problems - sometimes there are as many as 3 different ways to solve.

The other thing the kids are struggling with is showing their work. I have begun to dock them points for not showing their work in hopes that they will show their work/thinking to get a better grade.