I am loving the TVs! My classroom feels bigger, it has been staying cleaner (My custodian also says it is easier to clean – and he is the most important guy at school!) and students aren’t complaining about not being able to see. I had the opportunity to use them several ways this week. I showed Jo Boalers’ newest video (The Importance of Struggle), I displayed classwork problems from the book, I went over homework questions, and I showcased student work.
We spend a couple of weeks towards the beginning of the school year going over Algebra Tiles. This week we focused on how the tiles can be put together (only matching side lengths can be placed next to each other), area and perimeter, how they can be combined into piles of like terms, how to show expressions with them and finally, how to show expressions with them on an expression mat.
When students first see the algebra tiles, all they want to do is play and build with them! They stack them, make larger composite shapes, make patterns, and yes, sometimes they even throw them across the room (ugh!). So I let them build… with one rule: Only side lengths that are the same (that is, EQUAL) can touch. I do this so they get in the habit of building things that way (it is beneficial later in the year when we do more with the tiles.)
About halfway through the last school year I allowed students to write on the tables with dry erase markers. I was looking for a way to get students more engaged in one particular lesson. While I do have large whiteboards for them to use, they can be difficult to work with because there are usually things on the table that prevent them from lying flat. I also have small boards, but students have a hard time fitting everything we are doing on them. I decided to start out allowing it this year. I don’t encourage it everyday, as many things do have to go in their notebooks. I found that it works very well when we are using manipulatives that can be labeled.
This year, I had students write their expressions on the tables and build them with algebra tiles. Rather than print expression mats (I misplaced my laminated copies when I packed up my classroom last spring!) I had students draw them on their tables too. Students really got into it! And just like last year, I saw that students who don’t always actively participate were writing and building expressions!
I have to admit, I have a bit of an obsession with technology! I walk around my classroom with my camera (err…phone) in my pocket so I can take photos of what is happening and showcase student work. I also utilize Snapchat in my class. I make it clear to my students that I do not add them as friends. I use my story to post the daily homework assignments, remind students of upcoming tests, link videos of solutions to homework or review for tests and showcase what we do in class. I sometimes forget to put things on my story, but students are great at reminding me. Whenever they see my phone out they ask about being featured on my Snapchat story! I try to add fun effects like in the example below.
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
Frederick Douglass
