|
Journal Entry
June 16, 2008
This morning, we created out websites with Ms. Coleman. She was very informative and exciting. I learned how to build
my own personal site and upload and publish my assignments. I really enjoyed being able to work with technology for such an
extended period of time today. From my experience with building my own personal website, I am now more computer literate and
more creative.
Later, we selected topics in Algebra and formulated and presented a lesson from the topic. I chose the topic of solving
equations. In presenting my lesson, I explained the steps of solving equations: adding and/or subtracting numbers and variables
on both sides of the equations in order to get x by itself. I was very specific in my teaching. My colleagues did a great
job of teaching their lessons on finding the greatest common factor, polynomials, integers, rations, word problems and fractions.
Next year, I will make sure I use familiar terminology when creating word problems. I will also implement some of the
teaching styles that my colleagues used when teaching their lessons.
An assessment for the lesson on websites will be to have us create another website on our own and upload information
and publish it. An assessment for the lesson in which we presented a lesson would be to present another lesson, but teach
it in at least two different kind of ways. I will share everything I learned today with my colleagues and those in the district.
Journal Entry
June 17, 2008
Dr. Montgomery presented a lesson on pedagogy. She discussed different learning styles, such as auditory, kinesthetic,
visual, and tactile. She continued with explaining Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, which are linguistic, logical-mathematical,
musical, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, interpersonal, intrapersonal, natural, spiritual, and existential. She also discussed
the common types of objectives, which involve three domains: the psychomotor domain, the affective domain, and the cognitive
domain.
Later, Mrs. White presented a PowerPoint of Bloom's Mathematical Concepts. It involved some effective instructional strategies,
some math statistics, and some indicators of effective teaching. In addition, my colleagues continued in presenting their
Algebra lessons. It was one of these presentations that helped me the most today. One of my colleagues presented her lesson
with so much enthusiasm and zeal, that everyone in the room was motivated to learn what she was teaching and excited about
learning it. I learned from her that if I am energized and excited about presenting my lesson, then my students will be more
attentive and interested in what I have to say.
Next year, I will be more excited and enthused when teaching. I will also implement some of the effective instructional
strategies Mrs. White discussed, such as using more cooperative learning and more note-taking. The lesson with Dr. Montgomery
could be assessed by having us to create lesson plans integrating several learning styles, multiple intelligences, and all
of the common types of objectives. I will definitely share what I learned today with my colleagues and those in the district.
Journal Entry
June 18, 2008
Today, I presented my empirical research article on mathematics disabilities. I learned a great deal after researching
this article. Other participants presented their philosophies of education.
Later, Mrs. White provided an activity in which we drew a 4 x 4 table and had to arrange the numbers 1-16 in the table
to come up with a sum of 34 when added horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. This activity really caused us to do a lot
of guessing and checking. Then, my group presented out PowerPoint lesson on matrices. We presented each section of our lesson
plan. Our audience was most pleased with the guided practice activity in which the participants split up into two teams and
raced to compute matrices.
The lesson that my group presented today helped me the most. The presentation allowed me to see some of my weaknesses
when teaching a lesson. Now, I know how to strengthen the way I teach lessons.
Next year, I will be able to present lessons with confidence and my lessons will be more interesting, such as the lesson
I presented on matrices. An assessment that could be used to evaluate the lesson on matrices could be to have individuals
add, subtract, and multiply matrices by writing, and my demonstration using manipulatives. I plan on sharing my lesson plan
on matrices with my colleagues and those in my district.
Journal Entry
June 19, 2008
Some of my colleagues presented their lesson on number sense today. They had a very intriguing lesson. Their pre-test
on fractions was age-appropriate. I would love to be in their classroom to construct the poster board activity that was in
their lesson.
The other group of presents did an excellent job as well. They provided informative worksheets and handouts. They were
very detailed in their lesson and well knowledgeable of their content.
Later, we met with Mrs. White and took a test on algebraic expressions. The test consisted of a variety of Algebraic
components, such as prime factorization, solving systems of equations, percentages, inequalities, word problems, slope intercept,
exponents, factoring, polynomials, and angles.
Both lessons from the presenters today helped me. They gave me creative ways to introduce my lessons. Next year, I will
implement some of those strategies into my lessons. An assessment to evaluate the lesson could be similar to the assessment
that we took today, which would involve several components in Algebra. I will share some of the creative teaching strategies
with my colleagues and those in my district.
|
