Spreadsheets

The project that I looked at as an example on how to teach students to use spreadsheets and read graphs was for a second grade classroom. The students first had to predict the weight of the pumpkin and also predict how many seeds might be in there. Then, they put their predictions onto a spreadsheet and drew conclusions from their information.  The students then weight their pumpkins and cut them open and used their hands to feel the pulp, and separate and count the seeds. They put the information gathered onto the same spreadsheet where they had predicted the weight and number of seeds and compared them. The students presented their findings to the class.

I would love to work as a Kindergarten, or even preschool teacher, so my students will be very young. I would modify this experiment a little bit so that my young students can enjoy this, too. I would make sure to use little pumpkins and in a Kindergarten class, use it as a way to learn how to count as the students counted the seeds. Instead of predicting the weight, we would just weight them to see how different sized pumpkins weigh different weights. I think it would be a lot of fun to use this in a young classroom in the fall as everyone is getting excited for the fall season.

Playing Games!

For this assignment, we got to play three game consoles! We played the Wii, Xbox360 Kinect and iPod games. Games are a great way to teach students different things, especially now because almost everyone plays games these days. We have all the systems at home, and it’s so much fun to play them. We spend a lot of time on the weekend doing so. =)

I plan on teaching young students, in Kindergarten, 1^st and 2^nd grade, and I think it would be a lot of fun to have a Wii or Kinect in the room. The way some things are going, Physical Education may be obsolete in 15 years, and Kinect, or something like it would be a great way to keep the students active. Or even if you still have physical education at your school, you can still use games to help your young students get the wiggles out.

Smart or Dumb?

For this assignment, we were asked to read chapter four in Haskell's book, "Guide to Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse or Your First Year of Teaching" (Chapter four is conveniently placed at the beginning, because, as Haskell says, "Because you never read it at the end.") In this chapter, he discusses how it's hard to really tell you who is smartest in the room and who is the dumbest. You can't just assume someone's intelligence by looking at them. (Drummers can be smart! =) )You really have to take the time to get to know your students and understand them. I've never been good at math, but one of my favorite teachers from high school was one of my math teachers, and that's because he made it fun and took an interest in us. My English teacher my junior year was great because she was like a friend to some of us, but just because we got along so well didn't mean she gave me good grades. I had to work for them. When I have the opportunity to be a teacher, I hope to be able to connect with my students, so I can know them personally, and really figure out where they might need help, and how smart they really are!