Math with My Sister

The last Math session was not the same as everyday for grade5 students. Special visitors were present in our class. Three students’ sisters were invited to attend the math class with their siblings. Students were divided into groups and every sister joined one. The session started with a PowerPoint presentation that defined fractions and how can we use fractions in our daily lives. Then, collaborative work started. Students' and their sisters’ job was to compare unlike fractions using fraction bars. Each group selected a reporter to announce the group's result.
When my sister is present Learning becomes definitely so much fun!

Bringing formative assessment to the classroom with mouse mischief

Formative assessment is an important educational activity because it gives learners feedback while their learning is still taking place. Also it provides information to be used as feedback to modify the teaching and learning activities.
Recently, the advent of wireless clickers has provided a new tool for teachers to plan formative assessment strategies in the classroom. Advantages of using innovative techniques such as “Mouse mischief “make assessment more fun for both teachers and learners. They increases learners’ attention and concentration and can make both learners and teachers more interested and enthusiastic. This technique increase competition among students and tests more fun.

Using Mouse Mischief

Mouse Mischief from ‘’Microsoft Corporation” integrates into Microsoft PowerPoint letting teachers insert questions and drawing activity slides into their lessons.
Students can actively participate in these lessons by using their own wireless mice to click, circle, cross out, or draw answers on the screen.
Mouse Mischief can transform teaching and learning in the classroom allowing teachers to create interactive presentations that engage and excite every student in the classroom.
Grade 6 students at KSPS experienced using this technique on Saturday. This technique sparked students’ curiosity by incorporating interactive technology in the curriculum. Students had fun learning while seeing visual representation of their answers on the white board while using colorful mouse pointers (like a robot, snowflake, guitar...) I immediately saw my students’ answers on the screen. This allowed me to have better visibility into the progress and comprehension of the entire class so I can adjust the lesson explained on the spot and give my feedback.

Mental Math Medley

“Math Mental Medley” requires students to solve word problems represented verbally and record the answers on a provided answer sheet. I read each problem once, and students have only 90 seconds to answer it. I use a stop watch to manage time while performing this activity.
“Math Mental Medley” helps students listen, manage time, and enhance their calculation and problem solving skills. This activity is a good motivation for logical-mathematical students.
Grade five students are learning how to multiply and divide decimal numbers. I integrated this activity in their classroom, so I read five problems and students made their best to solve the problems as fast as they can correctly.

Math Word Wall

The word wall is a great visual reference as explaining a Math lesson. It’s an informative wall that contains all mathematical terms studied so far and helps in retaining them.

Several activities are done using the “Math Word Wall”.

Grade 3 students play a math game using the Math Word Wall. A student chooses a word from the math word wall and has to act this word; students have to guess what the word is.

We also use this wall to attach the “Math Journal”. In the “Math Journal” students document what they are learning during a math lesson and write down the steps that helped them solve a math word problem or exercise.

Moreover, this wall contains a corner for the names of “Super Math Students”. This way motivates students to do their best to have their name on the wall.

Grade 3 Special Guest

The last Math period was not the same as everyday for grade 3 students. A special visitor was present in our class. Mrs.Nada, a student’s mom, was invited to attend the math class. She became grade 3 Math teacher for 55 minutes.
Grade 3 students were studying how to classify triangles according to their sides. Collaborative work started when students were divided into 5 groups. Each group’s task was to create triangles using clay and sticks. Each group selected 2 reporters to present the group’s results to the whole class. Finally students watched a power point presentation that illustrates the concept of classifying triangles according to their sides.
When special guests are present in our class Learning becomes definitely so much fun!

Cooperative Learning Method: Jigsaw

Jigsaw is a cooperative learning technique that promotes better learning, improve students’ motivation, increase enjoyment of the learning experience, and increase positive educational outcomes. Just as in a jigsaw puzzle, each piece (student) is essential for the completion and full understanding of the final product. Here is what happened today during the math session in grade 5. Students were studying about classifying triangles according to their sides (equilateral, isosceles, and scalene) and to their angles (acute, obtuse, and right) so I divided students into 6 groups each group is responsible to explain a type of triangles for the whole class. Each group selected a reporter.

Group A reporter was responsible to explain acute triangles.

Group B reporter was responsible to explain obtuse triangles.

Group C reporter was responsible to explain right triangles.

Group D reporter was responsible to explain equilateral triangles.

Group E reporter was responsible to explain isosceles triangles.

Group F reporter was responsible to explain scalene triangles.

Reporters presented their work using power point presentation.