Math Problems, Decimals, and Blocks, Oh My!

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to work with Mr. Rollins in his math class with all of the grade sevens.  It was NOISY!!!!  And you know what? It was GREAT!  It was awesome to see you all working with partners, trying to problem solve, talking about how to approach the questions, discussing errors, etc.  Math is not only about tests and sitting there doing page after page of arithmetic questions in isolation and silence.  It was lots of fun to be able to go around the room and talk with you about what you were doing....even though, at times, some people needed reminders to use their blocks for the actual problem, and not to build towers (ahem, I won't mention any names), or to build their names with the blocks (sorry Liam, but the photographic proof is hard to refute). It was wonderful to see you all having such a fun time!

It was great to be able to team-teach with Mr. Rollins......I hope we get to do that again!

  

The Elves and the Math Teacher, Part 2

Well, I am really spoiled.

Not only do I have these amazing "elves" who try to find umpteen ways to help me at school, even though I sometimes BEG them to go outside and play!, but they also read this blog and take me up on my offer of a "new shoe".

I'm really so flattered that you "elves" find ways to help me out at school, and so incredibly surprised by your lovely gift today---I feel guilty!  Your helpfulness is the greatest gift ever, and I really hope you know how much I appreciate all of your efforts and your caring. The best part of my job has been, and always will be, working with so many awesome students.  And you, dear elves, are certainly awesome in my books!! (But please, no more gifts---you GIVE to me with your help already! Save your money for things like buying music or books!)  Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

This is for you, elf C and elf A!  I love my pink "shoe"!

The Amazing (Equipment) Race

Today, I distributed equipment for your class (and division 2) and will distribute equipment for all of the classes either tomorrow or Monday.  I know how excited you all were to see the GINORMOUS yellow kick-ball (I'm glad you like it, because I think I ordered the wrong size), the basketballs, soccer ball, football, and frisbees.  We want you to use it, have fun, play, get exercise, etc.  BUT, we also want you to be RESPONSIBLE for it. This means ensuring that if you take it out, you bring it in.  This means that, if you use the frisbees, you use common sense and not throw it around near a neighbour's fence or near little kids playing on the playground.  This means that.....you take care of what the PAC has given you!

The PAC is the Parent Advisory Committee, and they are parents at our school who work so hard to fundraise so we can give you the little "extras" at school, such as classroom equipment.   So, I know what a great group of students you are, and I know you'll appreciate all of the equipment you've been given.  That means ensuring it gets brought back into your classroom each day, that, if the DIV 1 label rubs off, someone will re-label it with a big black marker that I'm sure Mr. Rollins will lend you.

So, play, have fun, and give thanks to our amazing PAC! (Hmmmm,  a letter or a card might be nice....I'm just sayin')

Ms. Bahd :)

Pivot!......Pivot!.......PIVAAAATTT!

This is a short post, and I hope it gives you a good laugh.

Not sure if any of you ever watched Friends, or perhaps you see it in re-reruns.  Today, some grade 6 and 7 boys were helping me set out the risers on the gym floor, and I tried to re-create the "Pivot" scene from Friends as I was giving directions to the boys......it made me think of this scene from that sitcom:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5DHU8SwYJ0

And this is the link of the actors talking about how funny they found doing that scene to be:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C1rfr495sY

Well, at least you'll all know that the term "Pivot" means, right?

I'll post more later.....it's been a busy day!

Ms. Bahd :)

Sometimes, Math Does NOT Make Sense (At First)

Okay, I admit it....I've always been pretty good at math, and it's one of the subjects I really enjoy teaching.  But today, after school, while Mr. Rollins and I were looking over the grade 7 math lesson for tomorrow, I was hit with that dreaded feeling of "I really don't get this!"  I remember being in grade 9 and being in math class and too embarassed to ask my teacher for help....."Everyone else seems to be getting this, why can't I "get it"?"  Instead of voicing my questions, I suffered in silence, and I do mean suffer.  It all came to the forefront during one math test when I just could NOT do the questions on my paper.  Still, I said nothing.  So, I stumbled through the test as best as I could, and at one point, I remember facing the wall in my classroom and silently crying.  Yes, crying!  I thought, "What's wrong with me?  Why don't I get math anymore?" Well, the simple answer was, I did "get it", but I didn't get it the way it was being taught to me.  Luckily, I had a really good math teacher and, when she saw my lower mark, she realized that I needed some help.  Finally, as she approached me after class one day, I let it all out.....and, eventually, I was able to look at that particular math unit and do really well.  But, all of my frustration and angst was because I was too afraid to admit that I was struggling with the material.

So, this flashback brings me back to my conversation with Mr. Rollins after school.  He was presenting me with some questions and we were going through them together, and I just couldn't wrap my head around them.  So, rather than "stumbling along" as I did in grade 9, I stopped and said, "Mr. Rollins, I don't understand.  I'm a visual learner, so I need to do it this way....."  And he patiently presented the question to me in another manner, and "voila!" it made sense.

I guess my point is that, I agree, sometimes math and other subjects don't always make sense right away--nor should they.  We all have to work hard and stretch our minds with some difficult work in order to grow; the difference between succeeding and stumbling, though, is how you face those challenging tasks.  Do you: a.  Pretend you "get it" and hope the math powers of the world will help you get the right answer?; b.  Give up and say "I don't get it!  Math is too hard."; c.  tell your teacher, your friends, your parents, someone---"I'm having some trouble with this, do you think you could show me another way?"

I say go with option C.  The cool thing about math is that there can be many ways to approach a question--some people might use diagrams, manipulatives, lists, patterns, etc.  Math really is about the journey you take to get to that "voila!" moment.  Often, students will show us totally different ways to approach a problem, that we may not even have thought of.  So don't be afraid to share your learning, your problem solving, your ideas--you may not always be right, but you're showing us that you're not afraid to take a risk.  And, being willing to take risks and ask questions, is one very crucial key towards learning--now, in high school, in university, in your careers. Being a learner doesn't stop when you get your high school diploma, or your university degree!

Math can indeed be challenging, and that's what makes understanding it that much more of a victory!  I leave you now with an example of how some students are demonstrating their understanding of multiplication of decimals using area models (see, those base ten blocks you used when you were younger really do come in handy!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLOxYYdZAWE&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them.  ~Phil Pastoret


Ms. Bahd :) (Oh, and thanks Mr. Rollins!)

The Elves and The Math Teacher

So, do you all know that story about The Elves and the Shoemaker?  If not, here is a brief synopsis:  there is this poor old shoemaker and he can not make enough shoes at his shop all by himself.  So, in the middle of the night, these little elves come into his workshop and make pairs of shoes for him, and they leave them on his work table as a surprise for when he comes back to work the next morning.

Skip ahead to math class today........seeing that I always wind up with ink-stained hands from the overhead projector, and regardless of how much I scrub and scrub, I'm always left with blue hands on days that I teach math.  That's because I'm constantly writing and then cleaning off the overheads.

So today, I had my own little crew of "elves" who took it upon themselves to go down and clean off all of my overheads, so that I wouldn't have blue hands next math class.   I thought I'd take this opportunity to thank my little "elves" and tell my own little tale of "The Elves and the Math Teacher".....hmmm, I wonder if I'll find a new pair of shoes on top of my overhead projector tomorrow morning???  :)
Ms. Bahd

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like.....Christmas??

Hey there,

Just took my dog out for a walk and noticed that people have begun putting up their Christmas lights.....all the lights are up at the Save-On/Terra Nova Shopping centre.......I reluctantly took down my Halloween decorations this afternoon and started putting up some Christmas decor....too early???  I love the holidays, and especially holiday music.  I downloaded Justin Bieber's new Under the Mistletoe CD last week (ignoring the haters!) and also Michael Buble's new Christmas CD. I love Christmas music....and the lights!  What is your favourite Christmas song?  The European MTV awards are on right now.....are you watching?  What would the world be without music??

My favourite Christmas song is sung by U2...can you figure out what it is?

I leave you with an image of my sad Halloween decorations coming down, and the Christmas wreath going up....

See you tomorrow!

Ms. Bahd :)