ShowMe Some Learning

The other day I introduced some of my students to the ipad app 'ShowMe' which is an interactive whiteboard. As we have been focusing on patterns in algebra, this app gave my students the chance to share how they work out the continuing sequence of a pattern.

*The copy-master pattern in the video comes from the unit plan Letter Patterns on the NZmaths website.

In the video by Tyrell and Moengaroa (group 3), they are explaining the sequence of the pattern and they come up with a rule which they can use to work out larger numbers in the sequence. As this was their first time using the App they didn't explain as thoroughly as they normally do to their group but I think they did great!

Below is some problem solving work around patterning by Tyrell, Foloi and Katrina

Our teachers create and share within our school three level word problems, as we are currently involved in the Mathematical Inquiry Communities (MIC) with Bobbi Hunter and Massey University. This problem was originally created by Matua Tuiono, Mr Lysaght and Miss Tafa here at Clendon Park School though I have altered the numbers for my students.

1   1. At the first CPS Home School Partnership evening 7 people turned up. The second year 12 people turned up. The third year 17 people turned up. How many people turned up in the eighth year? (What is the pattern?/What is the rule?)

 .  2. How many people turned up in the seventeenth year?

    3. How many people turned up in the thirty second year?

*The first picture shows their workings for question 1 & 2 and the second picture shows their working for question 3. As you can see by coming up with a rule in the first question they were able to quickly find how many people would have turned up in the 17th and 32nd year.  The pattern was +5 and their rule was  x5 + 2. The +2 comes from the first number in the sequence which is the only number that isn't +5 (7-5 = 2) They also noticed that the numbers all ended in 2 and 7 so they could easily predict the next number.

Measurement

Hello, it has been a while since my last post so I'm trying very hard to catch up on posting about my students. My groups have been working hard for the past couple of weeks learning about measurement using both non standard and standard units.

I have been using ideas from measurement units that can be found on http://nzmaths.co.nz/length-units-work I have found them very valuable and have been altering them or adapting them to suit my students and where they are at.

We have been mainly looking at length and width. 

Group 3 and 5 have been looking at estimations, length, width, benchmarks, surface area, distance, total distance, average, centrimetres and metres to name just some. They have made paper planes (see unit http://nzmaths.co.nz/resource/paper-planes-level-2) which they flew against each other and then were asked to measure the distance, work out total distance, average flight distance etc. They used measuring tapes for this which meant they had to convert metres into centimetres. 

Group 1, 2, 4 have been doing a lot of work around estimations, length, width, non standard units i.e. pencils, hand spans, blocks etc moving on to 1cm cubes, 10cm blocks and making their own rulers. 

Most of the activities have been very hands on which has helped to engage the children in the learning.

The next step will be problem solving with a measurement context.

Below are some photos of my various groups learning about measurement recently:

Creating Problem Solvers

Everyday when my students work with me they are challenged with Mathematical word problems. They are put in mixed ability groups within their main group and asked to solve a problem given to them anyway they can this includes using materials if they so choose. My students can find this very challenging at times but as they get more practice on how to approach these problems they are really working their hardest to get the right answer. They have such expressions of accomplishment when they do manage to work out tricky problems, which is so great to see.

Here are some photos of my groups working on problems. They are concentrating hard :-)

Introducing My Students!

For the first half of this year I am working with 5 fabulous groups of students. Below are some photos of my groups. More will be added soon.