Started our Patterning and Algebra Centers today in Grade 7, and both the teachers and the students were super excited!
We had reviewed our learning goal and success criteria for the unit, practised what effective centers work looked, sounded and felt like, and written personal goals and trepidations. Now students began working alone, with partners or in small groups on the centers of their choice, recording their learning as they went.
Some students recorded their work in a math notebook, others obviously got devices for the holidays, and have begun experimenting with recording their learning on said device.
We were also to (finally!) use the classroom computer, thanks to the new LCD projector that comes with the ability to freeze the screen while the actual computer is in use. In this way we could keep our meeting schedule posted at the front while students explore CLIPS on the computer. (Now, if only I had a few pairs or working headphones...)
Already by the end of the first class, I had students posting "guess the word" frayer models they had made to show off their new-found knowledge of patterning and algebra vocabulary!!!
We had reviewed our learning goal and success criteria for the unit, practised what effective centers work looked, sounded and felt like, and written personal goals and trepidations. Now students began working alone, with partners or in small groups on the centers of their choice, recording their learning as they went.
Some students recorded their work in a math notebook, others obviously got devices for the holidays, and have begun experimenting with recording their learning on said device.
We were also to (finally!) use the classroom computer, thanks to the new LCD projector that comes with the ability to freeze the screen while the actual computer is in use. In this way we could keep our meeting schedule posted at the front while students explore CLIPS on the computer. (Now, if only I had a few pairs or working headphones...)
Already by the end of the first class, I had students posting "guess the word" frayer models they had made to show off their new-found knowledge of patterning and algebra vocabulary!!!
I was also fortunate to have one of our Board's instructional coaches in the room with me this afternoon; with two teachers in the classroom, it was easy to keep students focused and on task, and to perform check-ins and teach mini-lessons as needed to guide instruction and clear up misunderstandings.
One more day to get them deeper into the work; on Thursday morning, we have some visiting teachers coming in from other schools to observe the fun and chaos!
Click here to download Patterning and Algebra problems and other activities that form our centers for this unit.
Click here to download Patterning and Algebra problems and other activities that form our centers for this unit.
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