Math Post Week 9

     One of the things that i really liked about the online presentations that I saw this week was how the activities were made to be fun, engaging and unique to each individual. For example, I really liked what Casey did, in that she chose our hands as something we can try and measure. this activity I think was a brilliant idea because it makes the work more personal and intimate to each students, and then there is also the added benefit that each student will probably be a lot more curious to figure out how big their own hands are as opposed to how big some random object is, so they will be a lot more engaged in the work.

     This also ties in to the topic of differentiated instruction in the classroom. Something that takes into consideration the uniqueness of every student. The example of having students measure their own hand shed some light on this topic for me. In the past I always used to only concern myself with strategies I can use to help myself in the quest to present the whole class with the same topic, while simultaneously incorporating tools into the class that allows for some flexibility in the way students learn the topic I am trying to teach them. However, this activity made me think that I need to take it one step back. Instead of just looking for unique types of technological tools that i can give to my students, why don't I try to look for ways to make the lesson unique for each student. it made me think of how many other topics besides measurement could be made unique? this would be such a great thing to learn and to master. that way, at the end of every class, each and every student goes home having learned the same skills, however, having learned it in a way that is unique to them and their own personal experiences. I think that when lessons are made personal and more intimate then they are more likely to be remembered by the student long-term.

     Off the top of my head I also thought that maybe even if I were to teach a geometry lesson, that by asking students to look for, or think about shapes from their own homes, or from art work that they drew, or from the pictures of the super heroes on their t-shirts, they would feel a closer connection to their work. You are giving them a chance to explore the things they are comfortable and familiar with, as well as giving them a chance to share a piece of themselves with you. This might also help you as an educator because the more students share with you, the more it adds to your knowledge about how to better connecting with them in the future. Therefore, when it comes to planning lessons, class activities, field trips, or just ways of engaging your students in general it will be a lot easier.