Entrance slip on Mathematics for Life: Sustainable mathematics education

 I always learnt that humans are the responsible for vanishing the resources but Renert in his article “Mathematics for life: Sustainable mathematics education” pointed out that not only humans, the animals also responsible for vanishing agricultural resources. It is shocking for me to know that beef’s role in vanishing agricultural resources is 3.5 times more than chicken. I also found out that vegetarian diet helps to reduce carbon emissions. 

The second thing that stuck in my mind is the "Large numbers" section in which the author points out that emotions about large numbers can impact on the real world. The author explained that if humans have feelings about the increasing numbers and impact of these numbers on climate, only then they would put an initiative to help the environment. 

I think that teachers play an essential role in building a connection between students and nature. Teachers can encourage students to take participate in communities of action. I encounter with some experience during my volunteer, in graphing representation lesson, a teacher provided a worksheet that students need to completer, which focuses on the carbon dioxide in everyday life. And use that data to graph. She also used to run a club in which each week students go outside their classroom and clean the surroundings near the school building, and they get some bonus reward. 

Exit Slip on Reconciling ways of knowing

 

The webinar is so influential and heart touching. The quote of Dr Kimmer “ Grief is the mirror of our love and healing is the being relationship with the land” struck in my mind. It made me think that somehow I helped my grandparents to overcome their grief of losing their land, culture and belongings at the time of the partition of India and Pakistan. I feel that acknowledgement their ancestor and culture provide some assurance that their kids or grandkids are respecting their culture. Her stories and experiences are so inspirational, which encouraged me to think positively and take risks. I like her thoughts about working together as a whole community rather than blending indigenous cultures into western cultures. This way, you will provide acknowledgement to indigenous cultures and values. She also inspires me to think about the practice of bringing indigenous knowledge into education by collaboration while protecting the indigenous knowledge from knowledge miners. 

One thing I noticed about Nancy in the webinar that after opening and closing ceremony, she raised her hands. After the discussion in class, I came to know this is the way of showing respect and expressing the relationship to everything.

Entrance Slip-on Scientific Language and the Language of animacy by Robin Wall Kimmer

 

After reading Kimmer’s article, I realize that mathematical language serves as a tool for adapting cultural diversity in the classrooms with respect. By doing this, we will able to learn some new mathematical words. The Kimmers article reflects that there is a connection between languages and our lives. As her curiosity about leaning her ancestor’s language “Puhpowee”, it reminds me of my experience about gaining knowledge about “Urdu” from my grandparents who moved from Pakistan to India in 1947. The article also explains that cultural languages have some richness vocabulary that fascinates others to explore.

When I thought of using mathematical terminology in the classroom, I need to think about the learning objectives. At the beginning of the semester or the school year, I will let students use their cultural mathematical languages. I will also post the academic mathematical terminology or mathematic notation with English meaning on the walls of the classroom so that students will get familiar with these notations and words and will motivate them to use academic mathematical language. For example, α mean alpha, β is called beta, ε stands for “in” and so on. Near the end of the semester or school year, I will make sure that students will get familiar with the mathematical vocabulary.

Exit Slip for September 17

 

Today's class was so thoughtful and interactive by discussions during breakout rooms. The discussion on the questions regarding conformity, time to reflect, planning vs. hyper planning, and role model as a teacher elaborate my ideas on Grant and Zeichner's article. I think that a teacher can do a quick reflection every day after each lesson, which will help to alter his/her next lesson. I also learned that the student's curiosity to learn will help the teacher to be reflective. There should be a balance between planning and hyper planning. 

    I agree with Joe Boaler's talk about "math is not a gift." I also believe that every child can be proficient in math during their school year. From my personal high school experience, students should be determined to keep going by learning from their mistakes. By considering her idea of the traditional approach and multi-dimensional learning approach, I believe that it is not a bad idea to use both approaches in one classroom rather than having two different classrooms in each approach. This will develop collaborative learning in the classroom, as well.

Reflection on "On becoming a Reflective teacher."

 

Reflecting on the article "On becoming a Reflective teacher" by Grant and Zeichner, I agree with the theme that a teacher should have three characteristics, such as open-mindedness, responsibility, and wholeheartedness. I believe that a teacher should accept the mistakes or questions from students and commit to teaching all the students. A teacher should be able to alter their teaching style or method according to the student's needs.

The article and my volunteer experience raised a flag to think about the notion of education and schooling. I experienced that the teaching is biased and incorporate with oneself only due to years of exposure and preferences. I used the word experienced because, during my volunteer experience, a teacher was using the same way to teach grade 9 regular math and grade 9E (Essential math class) in which the majority of students were designated. I think teachers should need to consider themselves as learners to examine their practices and improve their performances.

Exit slip for Frank McCourt's

 Hello, 

I am so excited to be a part of the program. I am hoping that i will learn so many new things as i started today with creating a blog. This is my first time to create a blog and seems so fascinating. I really enjoying the course about inquiry based teaching. 

    After watching Frank's videos, There are two things that struck in my mind that teachers should "hungry for knowledge" and "kids are crazy hormone monsters". Reflecting on that, I realize that a teacher is not only a teacher. A teacher is a learner too, who can learn from students as well. For example, in a math classroom, students from different cultural background learnt different methods to understand the concept then as a teacher, you can also learn those methods and use those methods in your teaching style. 

    As he said that "kids are crazy hormone monsters", that quote reminds me my experience with a student during my volunteer experience. There was a grade 8 student who was always curious to know why questions? I remember the class about dividing fractions and the teacher was explaining the steps to them and he asked why we need to multiply the reciprocal and who made these steps etc.

    I can imagine that Frank would be very proud when his student came to him and told him that he was his student. I think that was the proud and best moment that a teacher can feel that he was an important person in his student life.

Hello Everyone!

 Here is my family:)