Some things that I think make a task worthwhile: 1. Tasks connect to concepts or themes (though maybe not obviously at first) 2. Tasks are interactive 3. Tasks foster positive attitudes 4. Tasks deepen comprehension of concepts/themes Tasks Within Biology: An example of a task that I can think…
One question I found myself asking students when I was working in an elementary school was, how did you get that answer? I often worked on math with several students one on one and I would ask this all the time to check how well the student was able to…
In looking forward at my plans to become a mathematics teacher, the importance of questions in class seems almost painfully obvious. At some point, every student has had teachers on either end of the good-questioning spectrum: teachers who have lectured without asking questions of their students or allowing their students…
Wondering about questions... In college one of my site teachers started off class once a week with a question of, "any current events, accomplishments, wonderings, concerns?" At the first couple of weeks, I wondered why she would ask her students that during the beginning of the hour. It…
Thinking about questions... In one of my current education classes, the teacher begins each class by asking: "Any shout outs, achievements, or current events?" I particularly like this approach to questioning because it gets students to open up, getting to know each other and the teacher. If nobody…
So...what is a task? You've heard me talk about tasks, you will be analyzing them, creating them, teaching them. What even is a task? So Stein et al. says that "A STEM task has been defined as a single problem or a set of problems that…
I have always liked the idea of finding ways to turn Math classes into an opportunity to discuss important issues that interest the students. How do we do this in every lesson? I am not sure, I don't even know if it is possible. But I do know…
I have always had an interest in Mathematics as well as Chemistry/Physics, during high school these subjects became easier to understand, and wanted to continue to be pushed. Where English and History I did not have an interest in and where I struggled but still was taking college-level classes…
It wasn't until I read the readings for today that I realized there was a difference between my personal identity as a scientist vs my identity as a science teacher. I never really made a distinction between the two, I think because I never really viewed myself as…
When I think about what it takes to be a passionate math student, and what it takes to be a teacher who creates passionate math students, it's very easy for me to gain some clarity by reflecting on my own experiences growing to appreciate mathematics. It wasn'…
