middle school math

Assessment

2006-05-03T02:52:00.000-07:00

Students will create a blog to keep all their data together
1. create 3 social bookmarks for sites that would help others learn how to factor
2. create their own factor tree using a 4 digit number
3. critique someone elses factor tree
4. write 2 paragraphs about why factoring is important and how it relates to everyday life.

Graded:
1. having 3 sites that would be useful 10pts each
2. accurate factor tree 30pts
3. critique 10pts
4. paragraphs 20pts.

portfolio

2006-05-03T02:46:00.000-07:00

lesson plan
unit lesson
teacher resource sites (3)
student educational sites (3)
use of graphs
blogs
social bookmarks
making brochures
charts

Integration of Wikis

2006-04-21T19:31:00.000-07:00

Wikis would be good to use when writing research papers. Instead of using notecards, students could use snapshots to make their comments right in the material to refer to later. It would also be good in group work. Students could work on it at home and email each other snapshots they see of useful information. The problem would be teaching students to know when material is useful and when it is not reliable information. Many times students do not know that they can't believe everything that they read. Teachers could use it to get students to write their opinions of certain topics for journaling or essay writing. This way they increase their writing skills as well as learning new computer skills.

Podcasts

2006-04-19T05:33:00.000-07:00

74. Mike Tech Show
This one would show students and teachers how to use current technology. It would give a resource place to find answers to common questions and problems with technology.
123. Absolute Science
This is a great site for science teachers to use current articles with their students. It is also a place to ask questions and seek answers relevant to science.
16. EdTechMusician
This is great to add music to a classroom. It gives the history of music and a place to research music. It would be great for music and band teachers and any classroom that would like to enrich students learning with music.
17. History Podcast
This one gives a place to learn history besides "just another boring lecture" It allows hands on learning of history and students to investigate what they are interested in.
21. Dansmathcast
This allows a place for real life math problems to be discussed and as we all know math is falling further and further behind so anywhere students can see the connections is great.
36. KidCast: podcasting in your classroom
this would show students how to create their own podcast and how to use it in the classroom. this is a great way for a teacher to allow them to enhance their own learning
43. ShakespeareCast
this is great for english teachers all Shakespeares works with the click of a button no books to have to be carried around. it provides easy access for students wherever they are. At home, school, or the library
47. Our City Podcast
this gives students a chance to learn about other cities and the people who live there. It gives them a chance to see outside their small window of the world they live in into what goes on in the world.
79. Mathgrad
Another great site for math. Provides basic easy stepp by step directions to math problems that should make it easy for anyone to learn
384. EdPod
a great place to share knowledge for students and teachers

Lesson Plan (old & new)

2006-04-19T05:15:00.000-07:00

old

Lesson Plan for September 30, 2002

Lesson Topic:
Factoring

Grade Level:
Seven

Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, the student will be able to list all factors of a gven number.

Materials:
Worksheet with practice numbers
Chalkboard and chalk

Set Induction:
Bell Ringer: In a complete sentence explain what a factor is.

Direct Instruction:
Teacher Will: Student Will:
Discuss factors participate
Give examples isten and participate
Assist the student with worksheet complete the worksheet
Go over the worksheet grade their own paper
Ask for questions ask if have any questions

Indirect Instruction:
Worksheet with factoring problems to practice

Closure:
Ask for any questions and discuss how the divisibility rules we learned last week are important to factoring. Tell about tomorrow’s lesson on prime and composite numbers,

new

Lesson Plan for factoring ( http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L620)

Lesson Topic: Factoring

Grade Level 7
The Factor Game
Game
The Factor Game engages students in a friendly contest in which winning strategies involve distinguishing between numbers with many factors and numbers with few factors. Students are then guided through an analysis of game strategies and introduced to the definitions of prime and composite numbers.

Learning Objectives

Students will:
Distinguish between numbers with many factors and numbers with few factors
Define prime and composite numbers
Play a strategy game which reinforces these concepts

Materials

Factor Game Applet
The Factor Game Activity Sheet

Instructional Plan
Background Information:
The Factor Game is a two-person game in which players find factors of numbers on a game board. To play, one person selects a number and colors it (as shown below in blue.) The second person colors all the proper factors (as shown below in red) of the first person's number. The roles are switched and the play continues till there are no numbers remaining with uncolored factors. Each person adds up the numbers they've colored. The winner is the person with the largest total.
The Factor Game Board

Introductory Problem:
Pose the following problem to the class:
Today Jamie is 12 years old. Jamie has three younger cousins: Cam, Emilio, and Ester. They are 2, 3, and 8 years old respectively. The following mathematical sentences show that Jamie is
6 times as old as Cam,
4 times as old as Emilio,
1 and 1/2 times as old as Ester
12 = 6 × 2
12 = 4 × 3
12 = 1 1/2 × 8
Ask students what they notice about the first two examples as opposed to the third example. Students should notice that each of the whole numbers 2, 3, 4, and 6 can be multiplied by another whole number to get 12. We call 2, 3, 4, and 6 whole number factors or whole number divisors of 12. Although 8 is a whole number, it is not a whole number factor of 12, since we cannot multiply it by another whole number to get 12. To save time, we will simply use the word factor to refer to whole number factors.
Playing the Factor Game
For the next portion of the lesson, students will be working in pairs on the computers.
Students should open the Factor Game Applet. Using the "Instructions" link under the Resources tab (upper left), students can review the rules for playing the game.
Allow students to play several rounds of the game with their partner. During those rounds, ask students to think about the strategies they use to win the game.
After allowing students to play the game for a sufficient period of time, return to a class discussion.
State the following to the class:
Did you find that some numbers are better than others to pick for the first move in the Factor Game? For example, if you pick 22, you get 22 points and your opponent gets only
1 + 2 + 11 = 14 points.
However, if you pick 18, you get 18 points, and your opponent gets
1 + 2 + 3 + 6 + 9 = 21 points!
Allow time for class discussion on this matter, as it will lead naturally into the next portion of the lesson.
Record the following table on the chalkboard or overhead:
First Move
Proper Factors
My Score
Opponent's Score
1
none
lose a turn
0
2
1
2
1
3
1
3
1
4
1, 2
4
3
Tell students that they will be creating a table of all the possible moves (numbers from 1 to 30) they could make when playing the game. For each move, list the proper factors, and record the scores the student and the opponent would receive.
Students may work with their partner to create their tables. Once they have completed all of the numbers (1 to 30), they should use their lists to figure out the best and worst first moves.
In pairs, and then as a class, discuss the following:
What is the best first move? Why?
What is the worst first move? Why?
Look for other patterns in your list. Describe an interesting pattern that you find.
The following are some discussion points related to the above questions for students:
The chart indicates that prime numbers are good first moves, especially large primes like 29. (Note that prime numbers are only legal when they are first moves. Once a first move has been made, all primes are illegal because their only proper factor, 1, will have already been circled.) This chart is also a good display of abundant, deficient, and perfect numbers (explained in Part 3). The number 24, for example, is abundant because the sum of its proper factors is more than 24. The number 16 is deficient because the sum of its proper factors is less than 16. The number 6 is perfect because the sum of its proper factors equals 6. Note that 6 and 28 are the only perfect numbers between 1 and 30.
Allow time for students to state their definitions of prime and composite numbers as they discovered them through this activity.
Distribute the Factor Game activity sheet to students. Allow time for students to work with their partners (or complete as homework, if you so choose.)

Factor Gae Activity Sheet

My 21st Cnetury Classroom

2006-03-29T04:00:00.000-08:00

My classroom would be one where the students each had a computer. It would have tables instead of desks. It makes for better discussions and easier to work on projects on. It would have many everyday items around that could be used for experiments and projects for students to create connections to the material. It would be a room of discovery for my students. It would also have space for students to show their work and projects. A place for them to also teach other students as they learn new concepts and ideas. Students would have access to computers, calculators, and projecters. a place they could find everything they needed for the best learning environment possible.

next global event

2006-03-08T03:50:00.000-08:00

It is hard to pick one event that may change the world. Friedman had an easier time looking back and seeing how all the pieces fit together. Since I have to pick one, I am going to say it is going to be the digital native generation. I believe we have only scratched the surface of technology and what can be accomplished with it. I believe those growing up in this generation are going to accomplish things we could only dream about. They will be able to use what they have grown up with and advance it to whose knows what degree. Most digital immigrants use what they need to succeed and are oblivious to therest of the technology and a world is out there to be discovered and I think the natives will do just that.

possible artifacts

2006-03-07T16:53:00.000-08:00

some artifacts I could use include
1. graphing projects my students have done
2. revised lesson plan to include the new 21st century skills I have learned
3. blogs my students have created
4. resource sites that I have discovered that have increased my awareness of 21st century skills
5. power point presentations my students are going to create

Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants

2006-02-22T02:43:00.000-08:00

I believe with Susan Brook Young on her comments about digital immigrants teaching digital natives. I believe it is hard for teachers who did not grow up in the digital age to learn and effectively use the new technology in their classroom. Students have an easier time navigating the new technologies and understand how to use them. The trick is to get them to understand just how effective the new technology can be- not just for video games. Teachers need to realize that they should take the opportunity to continue their own education and be more effective in creating successful students. Teachers can use the students' knowledge to increase their own and allow students to see that education never stops and we continue to learn throughout our lives. Teaching cannot be , I teach how I was taught, it must be the best way the student will understand and retain the information.

Instructional Resources

2006-02-22T02:19:00.000-08:00

Math is a hard subject to get students to want to do. Most students hate math because they have to work at it. The do not want to keep doing problem after problem. This site allows students to do math without realizing they are doing it. They use math to solve everyday problems and see how it connects to their lives on a daily basis whether they realize it or not. http://library.thinkquest.org/4116/

My First Post

2006-02-13T10:11:00.000-08:00