Spring Break

OK, I orginally said I was not going any place over spring break. There is a chance I may be gone a few days--I will know more in a couple of weeks.

Masters Project

After Monday's class, I will have to say, I am so looking forward to working on my masters project. I just assumed it had to be on LOGO or Sketchpad, and to be honest, I was not looking forward to it. Mainly, because it would not have been utilized in my classroom, so it had no real meaning for me. Erin and I have been discussing the project in great length and are both excited about the chance to "revamp" our geometry unit. We both work very well together and have a great time coming up with new ideas and ways to work with our students using hands on approaches. This will be so beneficial to us both this year and in the coming years.

Spring Break

My Spring Break is the week of March 23rd. Not doing a single thing, except (hopefully) sleep in. I will be at class.

Slavit Article

I read the Slavit article last night. I definitely agree with the author that students need a learning environment in which they can explore, not one based just on lectures. As in previous articles, hands on allows the students to investigate and actually increases their understanding. They can 'personally' become involved in geometry. The major draw-back, personally for me was the vocabulary--interms of SSS, ASA, SAS etc. I was so focused on trying to understand that part of the article, I'm sure I lost some things.

I loved the spaghetti activity. It is something I can do with my third graders. Alot of what we do in class, I can't always adapt, but I know I can this one.

I've been thinking about my project. I like working with LOGO and would like to create a design and perhaps try to figure out how to incorporate music and color.

This week in my third grade class, I introduced:

Monday: line, line segment, ray, angle, parallel lines, intersecting lines, right angle, and perpendicular lines.

Tuesday:Triangles--equilateral, isosceles, right, scalene

Wednesday: plane figures(triangle, square, rectangle, pentagon, hexagon, octagon) and regular and irregular polygons.

OK, I know the math series is simply a tool---but how many teachers do not supplement, explore through manipulatives or spend more than 1 day on a lesson? Such important concepts that the students will need throughout their education, and they are "lumped" together and given one page in the math text.

Mary

An added note to my previous blog about vocabulary. The reading has helped.

I would love to be able to use Logo in my classroom. As I personally use it, it has helped me to visualize the angles and lines. I think it would be a great way for students to learn and explore angles and lines. With all the cut backs and money issues, there will always be problems getting the programs for our computers. Kids today, are so computer savvy, I think they would take off and go.