The Power of Demos

In order to increase students' understanding in Science, we use scientific models and demos. We've done a couple of demos lately that have really helped students to SEE what they have been reading in their textbook.

During the first nine weeks, we read all about how when water freezes in the cracks of rocks that it causes the rock to crack even more because when water freezes,

it expands. I decided to bring in a water bottle that had not been opened. Friends observed the water bottle and took notes in their journals. I then told them that I had another water bottle that has also never been opened, but I put it in the freezer. Friends made their predictions and then we observed the frozen water bottle and took notes. It was sooo much easier for them to understand what is means for freezing water to expand when they saw the second water bottle and how the shape changed!

Today, we did another demo to help us understand the density of different liquids. We had corn syrup, water, and cooking oil. We saw in our textbook that the corn oil settled at the bottom, the water settled in the middle, and the cooking oil settled on top. We made some predictions and decided to pour the liquids in random order and see if they still settled as they did in the picture in our textbook. We found out that they did! After great discussion, we came to the conclusion that the corn syrup has the greatest density, the water is less dense than the corn syrup, but more dense than the cooking oil, having the least density.

We then decided to drop three items into the liquids: a paper clip, square pattern block, and counting chip. Again, we made predictions about where these items would settle. The paper clip sunk to the bottom, the counting chip settled on top of the water but below the cooking oil, and the square pattern block settled on top of the cooking oil. We then realized we also learned about the density of the soilds we dropped into the liquids! The paper clip having the greatest density, the counting chip being less dense, and the square pattern block having the least density.

I loved hearing the, "OOOOHHHHH, now I get it" "I knew that's what would happen!" and "COOL!" :D

Inspire.

I can remember the teachers who actually inspired me to love learning and to not fear the unknown. For the most part, I loved learning new things. When it came to math, I was afraid to speak up, afraid to be wrong, and always wished that I could understand a concept the first time the teacher taught it.

And of course, now I am a math teacher. I know what it's like to be taught to simply 'memorize' terms, facts, and other math concepts. Fortunately, we now engage students' prior knowledge and mold it together with a new concept so they have a firm understanding. We recently started division and have conversations every day about how multiplication and division are related, how they are inverse operations. We look at story problems and discuss what information we have been given, what we are looking for, and how we are going to use what we have been given to find our answer. Both of my classes have been more than enthusiastic about learning what division means and solving problems with different strategies. It makes me feel happy that they are proud of their work. :)

Last night we had our Fall Carnival. Students can trick-or-treat through the school and then go outside to join the fun. They can dress up in any costume they want. I saw a skeleton, Snow White, Harry Potter, a princess, Batman, and then I saw one of my students...she was a 'Math Geek.'

'M' is one of those students who isn't afraid to speak up, isn't afraid to admit that she doesn't understand something, and isn't afraid to say that she just did not get it the first time. I am very proud of her, as I am of all my little friends because they work so hard and they love learning new things. 'M' was proud to create her 'Math Geek' costume. If she only knew how much it warms my heart seeing a child put that much effort into something that has to do with school...

My ultimate goal is to inspire my students to love learning and know that trying hard and believing in yourself is perfect enough for me. Thanks, 'M' for bringing a smile to my face. You have now inspired me to spread this message with others. Children can love learning. Like Lester Laminack says, "You must reach them before you can teach them..."

Dear Parents... :)

Parents,
you are probably thinking that the math strategies that your child is showing you are VERY different from the way that you and I learned in elementary school. I promise, there is a method to the madness...

Luckily, when I attended UNF, I was taught Chets Creek math strategies and referenced these wonderful videos from the Schultz Center. These videos are from Chets Creek teachers who have taught 4th grade for quite some time. :) The videos show strategies for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The strategies are listed from the least efficient to the most efficient.

Please understand that your child must have a deep understanding of multiplication and division BEFORE he/she starts using the traditional algorithm. We have not gone over all of the strategies for multiplication and division yet, but please take a look at the videos so you can feel better about helping your child with homework or studying for a quiz. You will also understand why I stress to my little friends why it is so important to show your work and explain your thinking!

*Little friends--feel free to watch these videos too! :D

Link: Schultz Center Math Videos

Support our Book Fair!

Can't visit the Book Fair at school? You can still support the Chets Creek Book Fair by purchasing books from Scholastic using the link below :)

http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/publish/chetscreek

The last day for the online Book Fair is October 10th.