Also, here is a link to the actual Smart Notebook file.
Click here to go to complete our survey of this presentation.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Technology Presentation on 3/1/11
Here is the Smart Recorder file of our presentation at Glendale this morning.
Also, here is a link to the actual Smart Notebook file.
Also, here is a link to the actual Smart Notebook file.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Math Mandate: Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally (PEMDAS)--Forever!
Read the following blog post from an instructional coach, Coach G (David Ginsburg). The link goes to Coach G's blog, but I have also pasted the text below. Then, respond with a comment in this blog with your thoughts. As an extra incentive, I'll send a chocolate treat to anyone who posts a comment. :) For extra credit, review our common resources on the I drive (link here) and let us know if any of them need to be revised.
Math Mandate: Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally (PEMDAS)--Forever!
You don't have to be a math whiz to know that 4 - 2 + 1 equals 3. Yet I was working with several students recently who said it equals 1. And it wasn't their fault. Nor was it their teacher's fault. Nope, the blame in this case and in countless similar cases I've encountered over the years rested squarely with the fictitious Aunt Sally of "Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally" (or PEMDAS: parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction) fame--the acronym intended to help students remember the order of operations.
The problem with PEMDAS is that it excludes the "from left to right" requirement for multiplication and division (#3 below) and addition and subtraction (#4 below). Students, as a result, think multiplication always precedes division and addition always precedes subtraction. This explains why students in the above example said 4 - 2 + 1 equals 1 rather than 3 (i.e., they simplified 2 + 1 first rather than 4 - 2).
So then, if not PEMDAS, how should you teach the order of operations? Well, the reality is that the order of operations isn't so much something you teach but rather one of those conventions in math that students simply must memorize. You can help by posting the rules in your classroom, spelled out as they are above--without any misleading acronyms. Also give students lots of practice simplifying expressions like 4 - 2 + 1 where they can see why it's important to follow the order of operations.
But before you do anything, be sure to break the big news to students: dear Aunt Sally has indeed been excused--and she won't be coming back.
Image provided by GECC, LLC with permission
Math Mandate: Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally (PEMDAS)--Forever!
You don't have to be a math whiz to know that 4 - 2 + 1 equals 3. Yet I was working with several students recently who said it equals 1. And it wasn't their fault. Nor was it their teacher's fault. Nope, the blame in this case and in countless similar cases I've encountered over the years rested squarely with the fictitious Aunt Sally of "Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally" (or PEMDAS: parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction) fame--the acronym intended to help students remember the order of operations.
The problem with PEMDAS is that it excludes the "from left to right" requirement for multiplication and division (#3 below) and addition and subtraction (#4 below). Students, as a result, think multiplication always precedes division and addition always precedes subtraction. This explains why students in the above example said 4 - 2 + 1 equals 1 rather than 3 (i.e., they simplified 2 + 1 first rather than 4 - 2).
So then, if not PEMDAS, how should you teach the order of operations? Well, the reality is that the order of operations isn't so much something you teach but rather one of those conventions in math that students simply must memorize. You can help by posting the rules in your classroom, spelled out as they are above--without any misleading acronyms. Also give students lots of practice simplifying expressions like 4 - 2 + 1 where they can see why it's important to follow the order of operations.
But before you do anything, be sure to break the big news to students: dear Aunt Sally has indeed been excused--and she won't be coming back.
Image provided by GECC, LLC with permission
World Math Day & World Spelling Day
Help answer the most math problems correct in one day and contribute to hopefully another Guinness Book World Record. Just register at www.worldmathday.com and then answer math questions on 3/1/11 (starts 2/28/11 at 6 am for us). Just a few days later, the same thing is happening with spelling. On 3/3/11 (starts 3/2/11 at 6 am) students can participate in live spelling games to earn points for the World Spelling Day challenge at www.worldspellingday.com. These activities are motivating for students and fun to participate in, so sign up and have a great time!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The Mailbox Online
The Mailbox has some free resources for Presidents' Day and Black History Month.
The Mailbox Web Site
The Mailbox Web Site
Friday, February 11, 2011
Illuminations Newsletter
Here are two fun games mentioned in the latest Illuminations Newsletter. Here's what they said about this new startegy game:
"Calculation Nation® is excited to announce the arrival of its newest math game, neXtu! In neXtu, players strategically place geometric pieces with point values on the game board to collect more shapes and points than their opponent. Don't be surprised if this addictive game has you playing for hours!"
Play neXtu »
Here's a link to another game that starts with tally marks, grouping, and place value. It also gets into adding and subtracting two-digit numbers. All with an alien theme!
"Calculation Nation® is excited to announce the arrival of its newest math game, neXtu! In neXtu, players strategically place geometric pieces with point values on the game board to collect more shapes and points than their opponent. Don't be surprised if this addictive game has you playing for hours!"
Play neXtu »
Here's a link to another game that starts with tally marks, grouping, and place value. It also gets into adding and subtracting two-digit numbers. All with an alien theme!
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