Ideal Classroom Scenario

My group and I selected the topic of high school geometry for our ideal classroom project. We mainly selected this topic because we really enjoy geometry, and with this topic we could focus specifically on triangles and 3D figures. Also, after looking at a few videos, we decided that we would like our students to apply their geometry knowledge after learning about those two topics in an architecture unit. We really felt that it would be motivating to the students, as it would be a lot more interesting than taking a test, and it would also be a way to include summative assessment as well.

In order to collaborate with my group members, we uploaded our document to Google Docs. That way, everyone could just add to the paper as necessary, and we wouldn’t have to keep sending a bunch of emails back and forth. We used Google Docs in order to make the spreadsheet as well. Also, in order to create the classroom layout (below), we decided to use the Classroom Architect website that Katie had shown everyone in class.

The most difficult part of completing this project was trying to figure out what topic of math to choose and what we would like to have the students do for the specific units. We had a lot of different ideas, but we really wanted to find units that were somewhat related to one another. In the end, the topics of triangles and 3D figures went together perfectly with the architecture unit, in order to build and expand on the students’ knowledge from one unit to the next.

In that case, by doing this project, I have begun to realize how it would be really fun to use projects, similar to the architecture project, in order to assess my future students. After viewing the video about another teacher actually implementing this unit, I saw how much the students seemed to enjoy it. Also, thinking back to my high school geometry days, I would have much rather made blueprints and building designs that a one hundred point test.

Blog to Follow

My theme for my “blog following” is using technology in the teaching of mathematics. My favorite blog I found is simply called, “Teaching Math.” The goal of the writer of this blog seems to be to inform other math teachers about helpful tips for teaching, as well as provide resources for creating lesson plans and math related activities. I selected this blog because it has a lot of helpful information, as well as some neat and useful online manipulatives. This could really come in handy for me as I am currently doing my field experience at Price Lab. A class set of computers is almost always available to check out for my lessons, so I would definitely be able to have students try some of these interactive websites.

The writings of this “blogger” are fairly organized in the fact that each posting covers a single topic at a time and provides multiple links to related information, whether that be an online gadget or just another blog. While the writer does not seem like someone who is only writing to vent or express his opinion about a topic or idea, there is a lot of great insight provided in each posting. Also, the best part about this blog is that the whole right side of it is filled with just about every math topic there is, so it is really easy to find what you are looking for on any give occasion.