This lesson is planned for the early stages of my Pre-Algebra Class. My plan is to use technology to help students to use manipulatives (Algebra Tiles) to balance and solve equations at the early stages of algebra. As the foundation of everything that the students will learn in the coming years, I feel that it is especially important that students understand every aspect of this lesson while being able to enjoy it (especially something as fundamental is solving equations).
With the numerous digital options such as a SMART Board (which has templates specifically for this task), I plan to immerse my students into the world of algebra in a fun and interactive way. The students will be able to visually learn how manipulatives can be used to solve equations as well as being able to perform the tasks themselves on the SMART Board.
While a student or myself, would use the SMART Board to demonstrate how to solve an equation, the rest of the class would use algebra tiles on a hand-out. This hands-on activity will allow the students to grasp a better understanding of how to balance and solve equations.
This lesson should take 3 days (allowing every student a chance to use the SMART Board) with a quiz on the material at the end of the 3rd day. I would plan on allowing the students to use a java style program (Trying to find one at the moment) to allow students to use manipulatives while taking their quiz. My goal would be an average grade of 90% from my students on this quiz.
PS - These tiles can be used for many other activities such as adding/subtracting integers, adding/ subtracting/multiplying/dividing polynomials, factoring polynomials or even fun styles of related math games. -SCHAMA SIGNING OFF
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Week 10 - Sexting
When I went to school (which wasn't that long ago), cell phones were not permitted. If you were caught with them, they were confiscated and the owner (usually your parents) was given them back at the end of the school day. This policy protects the schools from litigation that I feel should be mandatory for all school districts. Allowing cell phones on school grounds does nothing but open a school for liability.
By that same point, it is irresponsible for a school to look the other way and ignore that their students have cell phones. By that reasoning, I feel it is the responsibility of the school to educate the students that there ARE consequences for their actions when using technology. Unfortunately, the invincibility that most teenagers feel prevent them from realizing the severity of their actions. They think that every relationship will last forever, they think that every secret they tell their friends is safe, they think that they can drive recklessly without consequence. They need to be educated that you can be killed in a car crash, you can become the subject of ridicule and you can even be registered as a sex offender if you are found sending inappropriate photos of yourself or your friends.
However, the final responsibility does fall with parents. Jesse Logan's mother's outrage at the school's lack of involvement with her daughter, and primarily the police officer who did not notify her of this video dissemination. The officer has no right to tell the parent if the child is 18 or older. Unfortunately in this technological world where any information is available instantly it becomes even more important for parents to be aware of what their children are doing socially, especially if your child is 18 at which point parents are no longer required to be contacted by authorities.
So overall, it's not the responsbility of the school to regulate children's use of technology (that falls upon parental discretion). Yet, they should educate students of the many dangers that come with technology. As much as we feel the schools can affect the situation, they really can't (they can even ban cell phones and cyberbullying will still happen). So in the end, as a parent, if you allow your child to use the internet or have a cell phone, you need to have rules in place to regulate the usage (regardless if your child feels like their privacy is being invaded). Unfortunately, bullying has now become much more personal and instant in this day and age and we must all work together to help today's youth understand the dangers that are out there. SCHAMA SIGNING OFF.
By that same point, it is irresponsible for a school to look the other way and ignore that their students have cell phones. By that reasoning, I feel it is the responsibility of the school to educate the students that there ARE consequences for their actions when using technology. Unfortunately, the invincibility that most teenagers feel prevent them from realizing the severity of their actions. They think that every relationship will last forever, they think that every secret they tell their friends is safe, they think that they can drive recklessly without consequence. They need to be educated that you can be killed in a car crash, you can become the subject of ridicule and you can even be registered as a sex offender if you are found sending inappropriate photos of yourself or your friends.
However, the final responsibility does fall with parents. Jesse Logan's mother's outrage at the school's lack of involvement with her daughter, and primarily the police officer who did not notify her of this video dissemination. The officer has no right to tell the parent if the child is 18 or older. Unfortunately in this technological world where any information is available instantly it becomes even more important for parents to be aware of what their children are doing socially, especially if your child is 18 at which point parents are no longer required to be contacted by authorities.
So overall, it's not the responsbility of the school to regulate children's use of technology (that falls upon parental discretion). Yet, they should educate students of the many dangers that come with technology. As much as we feel the schools can affect the situation, they really can't (they can even ban cell phones and cyberbullying will still happen). So in the end, as a parent, if you allow your child to use the internet or have a cell phone, you need to have rules in place to regulate the usage (regardless if your child feels like their privacy is being invaded). Unfortunately, bullying has now become much more personal and instant in this day and age and we must all work together to help today's youth understand the dangers that are out there. SCHAMA SIGNING OFF.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)