EDUC 823 – Weekend #2
READING
  • Train Spotter's Paradise
  • Lockhart's Lament – short (full is optional)
  • Program of Study – pages 1-10 (up to PLO's) – Available at

TEACHING EXPLORATIONS
  1. Continue to work on building a thinking classroom.
  2. Start to experiment with the nuances of teaching in a thinking classroom andmake them work. This will require tweeking and constant attention – make them our own.
  3. Focus on the 4 components of good mathematics teaching.
  4. Create a problem solving strategy poster with your students.
  5. Watch out for the hockey stick!

Written JOURNAL
  • Reflect on your experiences from this weekend and give a thoughtful and detailed response to the following questions:
  • What is your greatest reward in teaching the way you have over the last two weeks? What is your students' greatest reward?
  • What is your greatest cost in teaching the way you have over the last two weeks? What is your students' greatest cost?
  • What was the most impactful thing for you from this weekend?
  • What are your thoughts to the assigned reading (Train Spotter's Paradise – David Hewitt)? In particular, how does this apply to some of the activities we did this past weekend – lamp posts, wine chests?
  • What are your thoughts about the teaching of mathematics after reading Lockhart's Lament?
  • What are your thoughts after reading the first 10 pages of the Program of Study? How does this help you in your journey to re-craft your teaching? How do integrate this with the learning outcomes that follow?
  • How has the hockey stick metaphor made an appearance in your classroom – before and after this course?
  • Give an example where you have combined the mathematical, the psychological, the didactical, and the pedagogical in your teaching.

Problem solving portfolio – the following are eligible problems for your portfolio
  • Mother – Daughter Tea Party Problem
  • Palindromes Problem
  • Lamp Posts
In a new development there is a lamppost placed at every intersection of roads. What is the greatest number of lamp posts that will be required for a given number of streets? How do you know this is the greatest number?
  • Wine Chests
The Chateau family likes to drink wine – one bottle a day. But they are very particular about their wine – they won't drink it if it has been exposed to light more than five times. To help with this they have a large wine chest and a small wine chest. How often do they have to go buy wine?
  • Every Second Card
Rig a deck so that you can lay down the first card face up, move the next to the bottom, lay down the next card, etc. When the whole deck has been dealt out in this fashion all of the cards are in order.
  • Spell the Cards
Rig a suit of cards so that you can spell out each card in turn and have the card you want come out on the last letter.
  • Pirate Diamond
If there are N pirates sitting in a circle, where do you have to sit in relation to the Captain (who goes out first) so that you get the diamond?

Things to remember

  • Read Experiencing School Mathematics: Traditional and Reform Approaches to Teaching and Their Impact on Student Learningand respond to the following question:

It can be said that when we read a book we read ourselves into the text. In what ways did you read yourself into Boaler's book? Speak about your own teaching practice (past, present, and future) in relation to the book.

A 10 page (double spaced) response is due on the Friday of our next meeting.

  • Post on the wiki. Respond to posts on the wiki.