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Math Congress - this month in Grade 1A we are learning about decomposing numbers. Math Congress is one of the best instructional strategies to teach children problem solving skills and real world applications. Math Congress is a three part math lesson. Part one is 'Getting started'- where teacher activates students' prior knowledge before introducing the problem. So we reviewed how we decompose a number and how do we analyze a word problem into beginning, middle, and end; Part two is 'Working on it' - where teacher introduces the problem, makes sure students understands the problem, then students are sent into heterogeneous groups to work on it. Part three is 'Reflection and Consolidation' - where students take the role of the teacher and present their work to the class. Teacher chooses the groups who's work could inspire a good discussion. Students learn to have a mathematical dialogue to reach the final solution. Teacher then teaches the mathematical concept.
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Integrating technology - the structure and resources of traditional classrooms often provide quite poor support for learning, whereas technology – when used effectively – can enable ways of teaching that are much better matched to how children learn. (Roschelle , Pea, Hoadley, Gordin, & Means, 2000, p.70). This month in Grade 1A we are using the SMARTBoard to engage in meaningful interactive learning. In this lesson students alternated in completing a Basketball Math Drill adding different numbers.
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Science Absorption Experiment - as part of the materials, objects, and structures unit in science, grade 1A worked in groups on investigating the word 'absorb' and 'repel'. In their groups they were given different kinds of materials and a water dropper, and they had to work cooperatively on experimenting the number of drops needed for the materials to absorb the water. At the end, they evaluated which materials were the best absorbents and which were the worst!
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Building our own structures - students had fun building their own structures out of Popsicle sticks. We are learning that structures are the supporting frame. Students were challenged to be creative and think of how to make their structures stand!
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