Mix up on chapter 7 and 9, I will post 7 asap. Sorry!
Learning Log #9 is under Investigation Math
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Investigation Math
*What is Investigation Math?
Investigation math is a K-5 curriculum to help students better understand fundamental ideas of number and operations, geometry, data, measurement and early algebra. It eliminates teaching times tables to students and all memorization of math facts. It was aimed to help improve the teaching and learning of elementary mathematics.
*Results of its use in Alpine School District?
By the Alpine School District using Investigation Math, there was a petition signed by 1173 parents, 3122 children represented, and 740 moved toward charter/private schools just within the Alpine School District. It began lowering students test scores tremendously to the point of failure. It wasn't emphasizing enough of the basics, and is allowing the elementary schools to choose which program to use. The district hasn't stopped hearing complaints, and got a lot of wrath from parents.
*Arguments for and against its use?
The Investigation Math didn't provide enough emphasis to memorizing multiplication tables and learning long division. People felt it didn't prepare their children for college or life. Tremendous gaps in the first grade curriculum for the first year or two, there is a lot of time spent cutting and organizing, requires a lot of prep time, not enough practice time in learning math strategies with worksheets.
The students were able to explore and learn mathematical concepts through actual investigations. The games and activities are child oriented and fun , the games/activities build upon some first grade concepts, and it has a math workshop model built into it.
*My opinion?
It is a very flexible mathematics programs, which needs more structure and not so much investigation freedom. I think children need to know and memorize the necessary basics of mathematics. It is great for students to be creative, but there are other ways of incorporating that into the math subjects or using creativity for other curriculum. Having the students create their own problem-solving problems may seem a bit vague, and I don't know how much it would really help the students learn the necessary curriculum. I think it was a great idea for the Alpine School District to allow the elementary schools to pick, because if the parents and students aren't happy then no one learns. I feel as though the traditional way of teaching mathematics is the best and most affective way for students, and it's the way I would prefer.
Investigation math is a K-5 curriculum to help students better understand fundamental ideas of number and operations, geometry, data, measurement and early algebra. It eliminates teaching times tables to students and all memorization of math facts. It was aimed to help improve the teaching and learning of elementary mathematics.
*Results of its use in Alpine School District?
By the Alpine School District using Investigation Math, there was a petition signed by 1173 parents, 3122 children represented, and 740 moved toward charter/private schools just within the Alpine School District. It began lowering students test scores tremendously to the point of failure. It wasn't emphasizing enough of the basics, and is allowing the elementary schools to choose which program to use. The district hasn't stopped hearing complaints, and got a lot of wrath from parents.
*Arguments for and against its use?
The Investigation Math didn't provide enough emphasis to memorizing multiplication tables and learning long division. People felt it didn't prepare their children for college or life. Tremendous gaps in the first grade curriculum for the first year or two, there is a lot of time spent cutting and organizing, requires a lot of prep time, not enough practice time in learning math strategies with worksheets.
The students were able to explore and learn mathematical concepts through actual investigations. The games and activities are child oriented and fun , the games/activities build upon some first grade concepts, and it has a math workshop model built into it.
*My opinion?
It is a very flexible mathematics programs, which needs more structure and not so much investigation freedom. I think children need to know and memorize the necessary basics of mathematics. It is great for students to be creative, but there are other ways of incorporating that into the math subjects or using creativity for other curriculum. Having the students create their own problem-solving problems may seem a bit vague, and I don't know how much it would really help the students learn the necessary curriculum. I think it was a great idea for the Alpine School District to allow the elementary schools to pick, because if the parents and students aren't happy then no one learns. I feel as though the traditional way of teaching mathematics is the best and most affective way for students, and it's the way I would prefer.
Leaning Log #9
What?
In this chapter it discusses many behavioral concerns, reinforcers, and assumptions. Behavior has a lot to do with learning, and the ability the student has to progress. When an emotion is involved with learning it seems to last a lot longer, and really have an effect on the student. Whenever dealing with behavior it always seems as though there needs to be some sort of reinforcement, whether it's positive or negative. We must always remember as teachers we use the correct form of discipline at the right time for the right student. It was interesting to learn of the different ways to reinforce a child's behavior for the different age groups. There are also many ways as teachers that we can decrease bad behavior in the classroom and hopefully have it stick with them as they continue to grow. There are many ways we can apply behaviorists principles in our discipline and instruction as long as it's used correctly. They believe also behavior is a big part of their experiences, learning takes place with associations, when there are behavior changes lean ring takes place, when responses and stimuli work together learning also occurs, and and people learn in similar ways.
So What?
These different things discussed in this chapter are good for me to know, to help me know and understand the proper way to teach and have that learning connections with my students. It's also very good to know and to learn to have a better understanding of reinforcements, when they are necessary, how to use them, different ways to use them and to use positive reinforcements whenever possible. Having these correct tools will make such a difference in our teaching, and classroom atmosphere. As a soon to be teacher it's important to start practicing and know now the different behavioral assumptions, and the correct way to discipline. As teachers we must also know ways and the importance of correct ways to help eliminate undesirable behaviors, and enforce the good ones.
Now What?
I will use this information to help me better discipline my students and their positive and negative behaviors. There are many tips and great points that behaviorists gave through out this chapter, but the most important thing is not the hypotheses or study but the students, and I will use this information to better accommodate each and every student. I will also use this information to eliminate bad behavior that I don't feel is necessary in my classroom, but still keep a good positive relationship with my students. I also have the ability to make learning an opportunity to grow and actually use our emotions to gain knowledge and remember the information give to them. I will have the opportunity to help stimulate my students learning, and want to continue to learn.
In this chapter it discusses many behavioral concerns, reinforcers, and assumptions. Behavior has a lot to do with learning, and the ability the student has to progress. When an emotion is involved with learning it seems to last a lot longer, and really have an effect on the student. Whenever dealing with behavior it always seems as though there needs to be some sort of reinforcement, whether it's positive or negative. We must always remember as teachers we use the correct form of discipline at the right time for the right student. It was interesting to learn of the different ways to reinforce a child's behavior for the different age groups. There are also many ways as teachers that we can decrease bad behavior in the classroom and hopefully have it stick with them as they continue to grow. There are many ways we can apply behaviorists principles in our discipline and instruction as long as it's used correctly. They believe also behavior is a big part of their experiences, learning takes place with associations, when there are behavior changes lean ring takes place, when responses and stimuli work together learning also occurs, and and people learn in similar ways.
So What?
These different things discussed in this chapter are good for me to know, to help me know and understand the proper way to teach and have that learning connections with my students. It's also very good to know and to learn to have a better understanding of reinforcements, when they are necessary, how to use them, different ways to use them and to use positive reinforcements whenever possible. Having these correct tools will make such a difference in our teaching, and classroom atmosphere. As a soon to be teacher it's important to start practicing and know now the different behavioral assumptions, and the correct way to discipline. As teachers we must also know ways and the importance of correct ways to help eliminate undesirable behaviors, and enforce the good ones.
Now What?
I will use this information to help me better discipline my students and their positive and negative behaviors. There are many tips and great points that behaviorists gave through out this chapter, but the most important thing is not the hypotheses or study but the students, and I will use this information to better accommodate each and every student. I will also use this information to eliminate bad behavior that I don't feel is necessary in my classroom, but still keep a good positive relationship with my students. I also have the ability to make learning an opportunity to grow and actually use our emotions to gain knowledge and remember the information give to them. I will have the opportunity to help stimulate my students learning, and want to continue to learn.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Temple Grandin Presentation
Temple Grandin was amazing, she is an amazingly intelligent woman and was so interesting to listen to. As she was up presenting there was a lot of distractions with rustling of chairs and people moving around and coming in and out, with her disorder it's common for people with her disorder to get distracted very easily, but it was amazing she was able to still stay concentrated and in focus. She has trained herself to overcome that, and is able to be a great presenter. At times she would frequently change topics and ramble, but for the most part she was pretty easy to follow. It was interesting to be able to hear about autism from someone that actually has the disorder and what she has done to overcome her weaknesses. This presentation has made it clear to me that it's so important to understand autism, because they will be in our classes and we will associate with people just like her. It was great to be able to hear some strengths and weaknesses to be aware of for our future teaching experience.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Ch. 6 Learning Log
What?
I learned through chapter 6 the cognitive process and how it relates with learning and gaining knowledge. There are so many different forms of learning, and so many different perspectives. Learning is a long-term change in mental representation or associations as a result of experience, which is looked at in cognitive psychology. It is said that there can be no learning without thought and behavior, and there are many assumptions given such as active involvement, increasing capacity, prior knowledge, construction of meaning, selectivity about topic, and influence of cognitive influence. Along with those we were given many educational implications and examples which are very helpful. Also with learning there is memory, our short-term and long-term. It is how the information is taught or learning that puts it either in short-term storage or long-term storage. I learned about many teaching techniques to teach and get the students interested and willing to take the information in and use it. We also learned about A of Human Memory, which works just as our brain would while gaining and storing knowledge.
So What?
These different topics I have learned in chapter 6 are important because it is so important we teach our children in the most affective way so they can learn and gain the correct knowledge that is given. It is our responsibility to present the material in a learnable way for not only one or two students but for each and every student. We must first know how the brain works and its key compenents in gathering and storing information. Learning and the cognitive process is so important because it helps me better understand the memory and how it works according to learning. Because I now know the different perspectives I can also see the behavior side of learning also, which affects so much.
Now What?
I will use this information to obviously help me be a better teacher, and to also help me better understand my students. I will use these strategies and teaching to help me teach more effective lessons, so help them gain a better knowledge. I also have gained a lot of good techniques to know how to teach my students long-term storage usage and not just short-term memory storage. I will also take the processes needed to teach so my students can learn declarative knowledge, and make it meaningful. I will help my students use their memory and learn in cognitive processes.
I learned through chapter 6 the cognitive process and how it relates with learning and gaining knowledge. There are so many different forms of learning, and so many different perspectives. Learning is a long-term change in mental representation or associations as a result of experience, which is looked at in cognitive psychology. It is said that there can be no learning without thought and behavior, and there are many assumptions given such as active involvement, increasing capacity, prior knowledge, construction of meaning, selectivity about topic, and influence of cognitive influence. Along with those we were given many educational implications and examples which are very helpful. Also with learning there is memory, our short-term and long-term. It is how the information is taught or learning that puts it either in short-term storage or long-term storage. I learned about many teaching techniques to teach and get the students interested and willing to take the information in and use it. We also learned about A of Human Memory, which works just as our brain would while gaining and storing knowledge.
So What?
These different topics I have learned in chapter 6 are important because it is so important we teach our children in the most affective way so they can learn and gain the correct knowledge that is given. It is our responsibility to present the material in a learnable way for not only one or two students but for each and every student. We must first know how the brain works and its key compenents in gathering and storing information. Learning and the cognitive process is so important because it helps me better understand the memory and how it works according to learning. Because I now know the different perspectives I can also see the behavior side of learning also, which affects so much.
Now What?
I will use this information to obviously help me be a better teacher, and to also help me better understand my students. I will use these strategies and teaching to help me teach more effective lessons, so help them gain a better knowledge. I also have gained a lot of good techniques to know how to teach my students long-term storage usage and not just short-term memory storage. I will also take the processes needed to teach so my students can learn declarative knowledge, and make it meaningful. I will help my students use their memory and learn in cognitive processes.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Learning Log
What?
This last week in class I learned about the Social and Moral Development, which was very interesting and fun to learn about. There are many developmental changes children go through that last up until old age. People never stop changes and developing. It is so interesting to learn about the different changes people go through out their life, and the different social develpments designed by Erikson to help us better understand. I learned about his eight different stages, and ways to help me remember it. It is so true that school plays a major important role in helping children, adolescents, and adults in developing, especially socially. I also found Kohlberg's moral reasoning very interesting, which consisted of preconventional, conventional, and postconventional. I also found the Marshmellow Test very fun and interesting. It was amazing to learn the statistics on the students that ate the marshmellow were more trouble prone, hyperacitve, not as academically successful, and had a harder time in life. The students that didn't eat the marshmellow were more successful, did very well in testing and academics, less likely to get into any sort of trouble, and were natural leaders. It's so interesting to me that that all can be determined by one small marshmellow.
So What?
It was important for me to learn so as a teache I can help my students become more socially and morally developed by incorporating it into the curriculum without them even knowing, and helping them by being aware of where they are at in life. For example their stage according to Erikson with their psychosocial development, or their stage of moral develpment according to Kohlberg. It has helped me know ways to make my classroom better by avoiding cliques, attachment, aggressive behavior, and bad morality. I now also have a better understanding of how I can also help my students develop a sense of self, good morality, finding their own identity, and developing with the social and moral aspects around them.
Now What?
I will use this information in my classroom by keeping all the things i listed above, and applying it to my everyday teaching. As a teacher I need to remember that school isn't or shouldn't be all and only about the academic curriculum. Children and students need to also learn and grow socially, personally, and morally. As a teacher I can incorporate these life lessons into my academic curriculum everyday. I can also be a good example of the way students should act morally and socially. I strongly believe children learn by example, so as a teacher it is important for me to me aware of those that are struggling with different things and give them the attention and provide them with the things they need socially. I will also use this information to help avoid different negative social groups in my classroom and encourage good social groups to help the students with a better learning environment. I will also always take into consideration, that they aren't on the same social level as I am, and I need to treat them as they need to be treated.
This last week in class I learned about the Social and Moral Development, which was very interesting and fun to learn about. There are many developmental changes children go through that last up until old age. People never stop changes and developing. It is so interesting to learn about the different changes people go through out their life, and the different social develpments designed by Erikson to help us better understand. I learned about his eight different stages, and ways to help me remember it. It is so true that school plays a major important role in helping children, adolescents, and adults in developing, especially socially. I also found Kohlberg's moral reasoning very interesting, which consisted of preconventional, conventional, and postconventional. I also found the Marshmellow Test very fun and interesting. It was amazing to learn the statistics on the students that ate the marshmellow were more trouble prone, hyperacitve, not as academically successful, and had a harder time in life. The students that didn't eat the marshmellow were more successful, did very well in testing and academics, less likely to get into any sort of trouble, and were natural leaders. It's so interesting to me that that all can be determined by one small marshmellow.
So What?
It was important for me to learn so as a teache I can help my students become more socially and morally developed by incorporating it into the curriculum without them even knowing, and helping them by being aware of where they are at in life. For example their stage according to Erikson with their psychosocial development, or their stage of moral develpment according to Kohlberg. It has helped me know ways to make my classroom better by avoiding cliques, attachment, aggressive behavior, and bad morality. I now also have a better understanding of how I can also help my students develop a sense of self, good morality, finding their own identity, and developing with the social and moral aspects around them.
Now What?
I will use this information in my classroom by keeping all the things i listed above, and applying it to my everyday teaching. As a teacher I need to remember that school isn't or shouldn't be all and only about the academic curriculum. Children and students need to also learn and grow socially, personally, and morally. As a teacher I can incorporate these life lessons into my academic curriculum everyday. I can also be a good example of the way students should act morally and socially. I strongly believe children learn by example, so as a teacher it is important for me to me aware of those that are struggling with different things and give them the attention and provide them with the things they need socially. I will also use this information to help avoid different negative social groups in my classroom and encourage good social groups to help the students with a better learning environment. I will also always take into consideration, that they aren't on the same social level as I am, and I need to treat them as they need to be treated.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Learning Log
What?
I learned so many great things this week about the brain and the many different functions it has. It's amazing how complex the brain really is and how it all works together. Some interesting parts of the brain that interested me was first of all the Corpus Callosum. I was able to really go into depth with studying this part of the brain, but it so interesting. It's the largest solid, mushroom-like shaped item in the center of the brain that connects the left side of the brain to the right side of the brain. It facilitates communication between the two hemispheres, and controls movement, feelings, language, spatial patterns, and so much more. It is a very complex and necessary part of the brain. I also was very shocked to learn there aren't left and right brained people. I have grown up thinking that was true. I also found it very interesting that the brain isn't fully developed until ages 25-35.
So What?
This information is important for me to know as a future teacher because I will know have a better understanding of my own brain and also the brains of my students, which will hopefully help me understand how each and every one of them learn. it is very interesting to know which part of the brain is being used in the classroom, and to also help teachers make sure they are using the whole brain and just not the occipital lobe or just the parietal lobe. I also learned exercising is great for the brain and optimizes learning and brain chemistry. This miner concept helps me as a teacher to make sure to allow recess and to be sure to incorparate P.E. into the curriculum. No part of the brain does stuff by itself so it's important to know things because with out a brain my student or myself cannot learn, it's the center of all learning.
Now What?
I will especially use the RAD theory in the classroom for my students to help them engage more in the curriculum that is being taught, it's also a lot more fun to teach this way. I will also use this information that was given to better understand my students thinking, so now whan I'm a teacher I can help them understand and help me better teach for them individually. It just gave me a great background of how things work within the brain, which like ai said it 's the center of all learning. It's important to have some background knowledge to better understand anyone.
I learned so many great things this week about the brain and the many different functions it has. It's amazing how complex the brain really is and how it all works together. Some interesting parts of the brain that interested me was first of all the Corpus Callosum. I was able to really go into depth with studying this part of the brain, but it so interesting. It's the largest solid, mushroom-like shaped item in the center of the brain that connects the left side of the brain to the right side of the brain. It facilitates communication between the two hemispheres, and controls movement, feelings, language, spatial patterns, and so much more. It is a very complex and necessary part of the brain. I also was very shocked to learn there aren't left and right brained people. I have grown up thinking that was true. I also found it very interesting that the brain isn't fully developed until ages 25-35.
So What?
This information is important for me to know as a future teacher because I will know have a better understanding of my own brain and also the brains of my students, which will hopefully help me understand how each and every one of them learn. it is very interesting to know which part of the brain is being used in the classroom, and to also help teachers make sure they are using the whole brain and just not the occipital lobe or just the parietal lobe. I also learned exercising is great for the brain and optimizes learning and brain chemistry. This miner concept helps me as a teacher to make sure to allow recess and to be sure to incorparate P.E. into the curriculum. No part of the brain does stuff by itself so it's important to know things because with out a brain my student or myself cannot learn, it's the center of all learning.
Now What?
I will especially use the RAD theory in the classroom for my students to help them engage more in the curriculum that is being taught, it's also a lot more fun to teach this way. I will also use this information that was given to better understand my students thinking, so now whan I'm a teacher I can help them understand and help me better teach for them individually. It just gave me a great background of how things work within the brain, which like ai said it 's the center of all learning. It's important to have some background knowledge to better understand anyone.
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