In response to my post on IWBs, Joy Wolfe writes:Thanks for blogging a response to Mr. Ferriter's seemingly ignorant bashingof the use of IWBs. Amen to what you wrote! When I first read the article,I was extremely frustrated. It saddened me that Mr. Ferriter seemed to havehad little training in the use of his interactive… Continue reading Interactive White Boards (continued)
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Interactive White Boards
An expanded and illustrated version of this post was published in The Mathematics Teacher, November 2010. Read it here. ---------------------------------------------------------------------Teacher Magazine published "Why I Hate Interactive Whiteboards", a passionate article by one Bill Ferriter. Hatred seems like a strong reaction to an inanimate object -- but as it turns out it is tied to frustration… Continue reading Interactive White Boards
Kinesthetic Radians
(Previous kinesthetic posts: Pascal's Triangle, Graphing, Distance.)If radians are introduced strictly with a formula, the meaning of the word is difficult to grasp for many students. Some years ago, I learned two tricks from a colleague, which I'll share here:- Tell students that "radian" is short for "radius angle".- A one-minute kinesthetic activity: ask students… Continue reading Kinesthetic Radians
Even More Kinesthetic Activities: Distance
(Previous kinesthetic posts: Pascal's Triangle, Graphing)These activities are best done in a gym or playground. Start before discussing circles, perpendicular bisectors, angle bisectors, etc. in a geometry class. It may be best to not do all of the activities in one session.I've done much of this with my own students, but not yet all. I… Continue reading Even More Kinesthetic Activities: Distance
Useful!
I know that people use my Web site, because I get a modest but consistent stream of e-mail from visitors. But do people read this blog? At least one person does! I made it possible to click on "useful" or "interesting" below the posts, and someone clicked on "useful" within hours of my previous post.… Continue reading Useful!
Another Kinesthetic Activity: Graphing
In a recent post, I responded to a request for a kinesthetic introduction to Pascal's Triangle. Here is a kinesthetic activity to introduce or review graphing:Ask students to line up along the line at the middle of a basketball court, which will be the x-axis. The middle student will be 0, and students on the… Continue reading Another Kinesthetic Activity: Graphing
Kinesthetic intro to Pascal’s Triangle
Question in an online discussion:I'm trying to figure out how to kinesthetically demonstrate Pascal's triangle with my precalculus kidsMy response: I do a lot of kinesthetic activities in geometry and algebra, but haven't yet thought about this particular topic that way.Here's a possibility:- Have students stand in a triangular number arrangement- Give the top student… Continue reading Kinesthetic intro to Pascal’s Triangle
Retreat for Experienced Teachers
If you work at a CAIS* member school, you may be able to get your school to send you to The Classroom and Beyond, a retreat for experienced teachers. I'm part of the faculty for that program, which will take place April 18-20 in Palm Springs. The last retreat was in 2008, and was quite… Continue reading Retreat for Experienced Teachers
Lab Gear assessment
A correspondent asks:Do you have an assessment piece to the algebra lab for middle school?Not exactly. You might look in The Algebra Lab High School, and especially Algebra: Themes, Tools, Concepts and all its supporting material. (All free downloads on my Web site.) You will probably be able to find material there that you could… Continue reading Lab Gear assessment
CAIS South conference
I'll be speaking at the California Association of Independent Schools conference, on March 8 in North Hollywood. Two presentations:The Geometry of Conic SectionsSpace: An Advanced Geometry Elective After Algebra 2If you teach at a member school, I hope to see you there!--Henri
Henri's Math Education Blog 