Differentiating math in class

Alright. We've got a curriculum to cover. And I have to make sure I have fun teaching it too. Math can be tough to teach unless we have a thorough understanding of and passion for the subject. I did fairly well in Math until i went to high school. From there, everything went downhill.How do I make sure my students have a solid foundation in math before they reach the craggy shores of high school?!
Creating centres and stations in the classroom are a great way to go about it as it allows teachers to use the pre-assessment results to plan ahead and differentiate lessons.So far, judging by the reaction of the students and parents, I feel I am going in the right direction...yet there is always that niggling feeling that something could be done better.I don't believe in very detailed planning.We have to observe, record and then plan efficiently.Every one has a different style of teaching and planning. So the bottom line is get to know your objectives thoroughly, and then relax and enjoy the Math! It can be immensely fun. I have learned a lot in primary grade about things that were never really clarified when I was a kid. Isn't that really sad!
Visuals help me a lot to understand things. I found this presentation on Math stations and centres.

Math Stations

From works of Carol Ann Tomlinson.

Comments

Unravelling the inquiry cycle in a PYP class room

“ People can make choices to support the sustainability of the Earth’s energy resources .” Me to students : Does that make sense? Students to me : (after a while)...not really... Their understanding of "energy" during the pre-assessment task also reflected a superficial knowledge of the term. And thus our unit of inquiry started. As I was browsing the net, I came across this picture prompt- a map, which I thought would serve as a great provocation. The annual energy consumption per person . Kids love guessing where countries are, so it was a great way to address some geography at this point. I had also been reading Craig Dwyer's post which inspired me to change my inquiry cycle and use a simpler one. Wonder (while exploring)- Explore (while wondering)- Create (while reflecting)- Reflect (with subsequent wonderings). I was feeling more at ease now. The map allowed the students to make a lot of inferences based on patterns whi...

A teacher's antidote to stress

Life can become hectic for us teachers. What does a Friday feel like to you sometimes? By the end of the day, I feel like having a hot bath, switching off my mobile phone, and ignoring everyone around me. For my Masters program, the first thing we were made aware of was the intense stress teachers go through and how important it is to make time for yourself. I always felt selfish when I took out a little 'me' time. My kids would be banging on the door while I was getting a massage done at home. When I would come out after one hour, feeling happy, I would get sarcastic looks from everyone in the house! But I always knew that if I did not take out some time for myself, I would get mad! I love Hatha Yoga. Every morning I feel and enjoy the stretches; I am conscious of how I breath. I silently communicate with my body and get to know it. With a little practice, this becomes a really good habit. I love smooth pebbles! I collect them whenever I see one that intrigues me...

Famous and the infamous

A reflection: It's funny how people start addressing women as Sir in India once they do something heroic! A step by step process of my inquiry lesson. I think I'll keep updating the same post in order to keep this on one page! 23rd August My class is learning all about heroes, and I have created a short but provocative video ( I hope! ) using Animoto. What a wonderful tool :) Famous and the infamous This was my provocation. I decided not to tell the kids what they were going to inquire into. By carefully watching the video they will have to identify the characters they know. I posted a power point of the famous and infamous characters on the new class blog (The kids are absolutely thrilled and amazed to see themselves on it) so that they can go home and show their parents the ones they had trouble identifying. 24th August The following day we made a Venn diagram. A three way one. I used http://billsteachingnotes.wikispaces.com/Graphic+Organisers to make copies ...

Learning Never Stops

Search This Blog