Top tips for Maths and ICT: Presentation

D9 Teacher presents...

When: 15th November 2011
Time: 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Venue: St Matthew’s School, Hasting, NZ                                    
Using  ICT   software tools  to  empower  students  and   maximize  teaching  and  learning.

 

Using ICT to support the Maths curriculum on Prezi

The presentation went well today. My Prezi - viewed above may, or make not make much sense without the explanation but I figured I'd share it here anyway. 

The main section requiring further detail is below...

What makes a quality Maths lesson?

An inclusive classroom climate

Students should be within an enviroment that fosters confidence and the ability to take risks, to discuss with others, and to listen actively. Provision of a well-organised environment that maximises students’ learning time are critical. The valuing of student diversity – academically, socially, and culturally – is fundamental to the development of positive relationships between teacher and students (Bishop et al., 2003). Ka Hikitia – Managing for Success: The Māori Education Strategy 2008–2012 and Pasifika Education Plan 2008–2012 support schools to provide inclusive classroom climates for all students.

Focused planning

Both formal and informal assessments identify needs of students. Planning is personalised to the students needs. Students are aware of (and sometimes set) the learning goals. These goals change and grow as learning occurs.

Problem-centred activities

Cross-national comparisons show that students in high-performing countries spend a large proportion of their class time solving problems (Stigler & Hiebert, 1997). The students do so individually as well as co-operatively. Fundamental to this is a shared belief, between teacher and students, that the responsibility for knowledge creation lies with the students (Clarke & Hoon, 2005).

Responsive lessons

Differentiation is the key here. Where teachers constantly monitor their students’ thinking and react by continually adjusting the tasks, questions, scaffolding, and feedback provided.

Connections

Teachers use powerful representations of concepts and transparently link mathematical vocabulary and symbols with actions on materials. The use of realistic contexts helps students to connect mathematics with their worlds.

High expectations

Teachers ask questions that provoke high-order thinking skills, such as analysing, synthesising and they have high expectations for student achievement. They encourage students to regulate their own learning, make their own learning decisions, and be self-critical. Successful teachers provide incentives, recognition, and support for students to be independent learners.

Equity

Success for all students is a key goal, and quality teachers provide extra time for students with high learning needs. They promote respect and empathy in their students for the needs of others.
From TKI:National Standards: Standards and effective teaching

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Ideas for supporting kids through the hols.... plus a funny poem

Afina Izzati from
xchoshe.blogspot.com/

Homework these holidays can be a real pain. Trying to keep kids occupied and engaged in their learning. Especially if they have only been in school for a few terms, total.

There are a few suggestions for making time at the computer active, engaging and educational.

• Spelling City allows you to input a few choice spellings from the past term and leave them to follow the activity though to conclusion, learning the spellings while having some fun.
• Wakaaranga Primary School’s wiki is loaded with online activities for Year 1’s covering Numeracy and Literacy.
• The BBC schools/typing activity, actively engages kids in learning to touch type.
• The Khan Academy supports students of all ages to develop in their competence in maths.

Hope your kids have a great Easter and stay safe.
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Financial illiteracy

''The system is very devolved. It is up to teachers and principals in local schools to decide what is taught. We have very well written financial literacy materials but we don't know how much they are used,''

Financial literacy is perhaps one of the areas of a child’s education which really should be ‘out-sourced’. The last generation were not taught financial literacy well, for a variety of reasons, and to say that parents alone should be solely responsible would lead to a spiralling downwards of understanding of money.
As the article identifies there are many worthy programmes out there that schools and educators could, and should adopt.
That is not to say that parents should not take a lead in this area. It is just that there needs to be a more solid foundation to financial understanding than ‘treating your kid on every visit to the Warehouse’.
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Students from Christchurch will be scattered throughout the country

Western Bay principals are being urged to open their doors to the Christchurch students coming to the area to escape the aftermath of last Tuesday's earthquake.

It would appear that students from Christchurch will be scattered throughout the country this coming week as they disperse to family and friends.
Rumour has it that MathsBuddies is offering to enrol all Chch students from Year 4-13 free from the remainder of this term. The hope is that through its online tutorials and activities, set by their original teachers, will mean little ground in their learning will be lost.  Find out more...

Further information is available on accepting students from the earthquake zone.

Eighteen state schools, 11 state-integrated schools and five independent schools reported significant damage.
But some schools in Christchurch are likely to open shortly. Tolley said those with minor damage could reopen this week, if school infrastructure, road access and staff were in place.

We wish all students, their parents and their teachers well for the weeks ahead.

Thanks Paul @heugumper for the link.
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