Math Rocks!

Candidate demonstrates the appropriate and thoughtful use of technology.

Technology is an important part of my classroom.  The first tool that I use is the word program that helps with in creating the handouts, notes, parent letters, and newsletters.  This is an important tool for educators because it gives the sense of professionalism as well as the ability to communicate easily and effectively with parents.  Teaching as a profession has not had community support for recognizing that teachers are professionals and this tool is an easy way to show professionalism.  

The next big tool that I use is Power Point.  I use these for the creation of notes or for back to school information for my future parents to see what I am going to do with their child the next school year.  I can put the power point on a timer and it answers the frequently asked questions that the parents have during back to school night or 6th grade parent night.  The only drawback was that in my building we have three machines that can handle a presentation like this and at times it is difficult for the teacher to reserve one.  I just finished a grant that I received an infocus and 4 digital cameras to do a project with my students.  The students like the power point presentations as well as the united streaming videos that I play on the infocus.  I have found that it is a wonderful tool to have in the classroom!  See below for a student example of an assignment as well as a power point that I use in the classroom.

Technology can also be used as a means of communicating with parents.  This includes emails but more importantly, my website.  I have a website that allows the parent to see the different concepts that we will be teaching and when assignments are due.  This is also a website for students to go to that allows them to ask me or another student questions about their homework.  Another function is that when students are absent they can get their homework and notes off the web page if it available.  Since the website is a blog, I also have the opportunity to ask a question for the students to answer as well as take a poll.  This site is currently being used for this portfolio but it also shows the students that are looking what I am doing.

Another way I use technology is that I create almost all of my own assignments on the computer.  I use word, power point, and Internet websites like discovery education, edhelper, united streaming, and enchanted learning.  By finding as many different ways as possible to create assignments only helps to keep math interesting.  See an example below of an assignment that I created.

Finally, I use the Internet to find other ways that concepts are being presented or find research on instructional strategies in the mathematics classroom.  Since math is, well, extremely dull and I like to find ways to spice it up and make it more meaningful for the students.  Also, the way that students are being taught in other countries is meaningful information for me when I get a new student from a different land

Here is an example of a power point used in my class.  This is an introduction to unit 10 and the start to unit 10.  Unit 10 day 1 power point

Here is an example of student work in our math in the real world unit. ELD Student example

Here is an example of a parent letter about missing assignments Missing assignment letter to parentsHere is a link to my web page www.mrsburford.edublogs.org  Classroom newsletterMultiplying and Dividing Fractions assignment