Comments on: We Can All Agree On This, Right?

By: Chuck

Chuck — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:51:59 +0000

Here’s my dilemma – I can’t think of one professional development/workshop/conference I’ve attended in the first 15 months of teaching that informs my curriculum even a shred as much as one post like this does…As a side note, I love this blog and the talent surrounding it. I bet that if this community could put together a conference, I might leave with some actual ideas for contextualizing algebra 2.

How good does that sound – a conference of good, creative teachers…sharing ideas for curriculum and structures. I swear I’m too young to this profession to be such, but each hour I spend in “professional development” or working towards my credential when I know my time be better used to plan a good lesson makes me feel just a bit more jaded.

Can anyone help on finding honestly beneficial ‘professional development’? I have a reasonable administration, but they can’t help me teach math…

By: Jason Dyer

Jason Dyer — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:27:22 +0000

Our classroom is not just a no-candy zone but a no-food zone. So I’ve never been able to try this one. (The lesson plan I have involves M&Ms.)

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:50:16 +0000

I’ve done it by marking dried beans with a sharpie – nice activity…the colored goldfish crackers are a cute idea. Once they get it we play a little game called “How many kids in this school….” (have a dog, don’t have a lunch period, were born in another country, have divorced parents, etc etc) using the class as the sample representing the school – attendant discussions of how reliable those numbers are – big fun.

By: dan

dan — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:11:10 +0000

Nah, I think some of us are on different tangents here. Here's a fair approximation of the activity.

By: Brian Cormier

Brian Cormier — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:05:38 +0000

Maybe I missed something, but what activity are we talking about? Did I miss a link, or is the goldfish picture an obvious reminder of a universally known proportions activity?

By: Cliff

Cliff — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:48:24 +0000

This was the best activity I have ever done, period. I even got observed during one class and my administrator loved it.
There’s a great video on unitedstreaming about how the capture/recapture method works that I played prior to the activity.

Thanks Dan, I just discovered your blog and it’s nice to know someone is out there on the same plane. I even feel your pain on burning the midnight oil coming up with powerpoints (older post). It was totally worth it in year two, except the kids still didn’t care (for the most part). Although it did help with management a little, they just want to be entertained, not taught. Do you find a big impact on the atmosphere when you use those slides?

Now I have moved to a different school that was supposedly more upscale and I don’t even have a classroom and they have hardly any technology to use!!

By: Emilie

Emilie — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:39:03 +0000

How does this “game” work? I’m wondering if I could adapt it to teaching the balancing of chemical equations to my students….

By: debrennersmith

debrennersmith — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:03:49 +0000

This is great! I showed this to my two teens tonight. They “played” at it for over 45 minutes since it was not real homework. I appreciate the ideas. http://www.debrennersmith.com/

By: Brian Cormier

Brian Cormier — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 03:14:51 +0000

All right. So, what are the best ideas for teaching proportional reasoning? I think I do a good job, but magic? Not so sure. I don’t want to be sent to rehab without a fight.

By: Jake

Jake — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:07:44 +0000

Back in the day my mentor teacher did this activity with Blow Pops. Definitely a hit with the kids, and no talking while you debrief the activity. I wonder if he still does that activity…

Most schools are No Candy Zones these days, so no one can use this idea.