Math, week 7

This week, I learned how graphic calculators can be fun and exciting.  Learning how to use the graphic calculator for the first time was no fun for me.  It had so many buttons and functions that I needed to know which made me feel really overwhelmed.  There were certain rules and codes I needed to input in order to make my graph.   Robin's demonstration of graphing our movement was fun and very engaging.  I wish I learned how to have fun with my graphic calculator when I was in high school.  Showing our movement on graphs would've really made sense to me back in high school and I think I would've enjoyed learning it.
What other ways can we make graphing calculators more fun and engaging without using a motion sensor?  I would love to learn other ways to make my teaching more fun and engaging. 

I also enjoyed working with GeoSketch and Fathom.  Trying to fit all of the geometric shapes was difficult than it looked. I think primary kids will have fun working with GeoSketch eventhough it can be a little challenging for them.  I can picture couple of my second grade students enjoy working with GeoSketch.  Trying to figure out and fit in all the shapes into a given pattern will stretch their thinking and help them better understand the characteristics of each shapes.
What other strategies can I use to integrate technology and math in primary grades to make my teaching more fun and efficient?

iTouch - part 2

Honestly, I haven’t had much opportunity to use my I-touch in my 2^nd grade classroom. I went out and explored on my iTouch on some great educational apps that can be helpful in my classroom, but just couldn’t find the time to try it out with students in our tight schedule yet.  I also couldn’t get access to wi-fi at my school, so it was difficult for me to use most of my apps that I downloaded.  However, I found some great apps that I think will be helpful to some of my students who are struggling with math.  They can play short math games to build on their math skills.  For my ELL students, I think they can have fun playing with a phonic game that I downloaded.

Moving from assessment to instruction

My buddy is a strong reader and writer.  I learned that my buddy loves to read fantasy and non-fiction books.  She loves to read books about wolves and even writes her own fantasy stories about them.  She told me that she even acts out as wolves with her friends during recess.  I was amazed by her love of wolves. 

On the 4^th grade level reading passage of “Amelia Earhart,” she answered 7 out of 8 questions correctly.  Her comprehension skill was strong, being able to answer almost all of the questions accurately and in detail except for the tricky one we talked about in class.  I think she was over thinking the question.  Her retelling of the story was excellent with great use of the vocabulary words such as "adventurer" and "pioneer." 

Taking all of these into consideration, I feel that my buddy can move to the next level reading.  I think reading strategies (punctuation and fluency) can help her with her reading fluency, although she did great reading “Amelia Earhart” without any trouble. 

Math week 5, Geometry!

I had fun learning geometry through folding up a paper box.  It was fun and interesting to hear how other people explained their thoughts and thinking on geometry.  It was challenging for me to explain how I knew a square shape.  We are just so used to saying "I know it's a square because it looks like a square."  We are not used to expaining our thinking.  It was challenging but I think I learned/refreshed my understanding of geometry through the activity. 

My question is: how can I make my teaching fun  and creative to engage all my students? 

I am in a second grade classroom for my Main placement, so I haven't had the chance to teach them geometry yet.  I think folding the box activity (or something similar) can be fun to just teach them the concept/idea of geometry.