REEL life math

For the past two years, I have assigned my advanced students the project of creating a real-life math video in which they teach a math problem.  It is part of a contest held by MathCounts.

I require the project for a grade, but the students have the option of submitting the video in the National contest.  For the first time, we have a team who has completed the submission process, and their video is in the contest.

The students did all the work on their own.  I was so impressed with the output.  Due to rights with music, they had to do a quick revision and create their own song.  They put a lot of time and effort into the project, and my other students enjoyed watching what they created.

I love it when students can go above and beyond the requirements.  I believe this is a great foundation tool for future endeavors.

Voting began February 4, 2014, and it runs through March 14, 2014.  Please take a minute and go vote for their video.  There is a quick login process, but it only takes a second.  You can vote every day!  The winning video wins scholarships for the team members.

Click here to vote:  http://videochallenge.mathcounts.org/videos/judes-cookie-challenge

http://videochallenge.mathcounts.org/videos/judes-cookie-challenge

Thank you for encouraging math to go beyond the boundaries of the school!

Happy Voting!

Math Sing-a-longs

For the last few years, I have done a sing-a-long project with my math class.

I give them the option of singing the song live in class, or pre-recording it and bringing in a video.  Most of the videos I receive are the kids standing and dancing to the song they made.  I love it when students go above and beyond the criteria.

This year, I had two really good videos.  They both had great original songs with a great video. The kids have voted in the classroom for the favorite video.  Since I created a class facebook this year, I have put the videos to a vote on there, as well.  I love seeing the parents promote and share the videos on their pages.  This has turned out to be a wholesome, family project with the voting.

Go to my facebook page and check them out:

Video 1:  Click here 
Video 2:  Click here 

Math in action

I am going to give both groups a prize, but the group with the most overall votes will get a special prize.  The next project is a commercial, and I have already heard different students say they were really going to work hard on it!  Cha-Ching!!!  Excited about math..... WooHoo!!!

The objectives of this project are:

(1) help students retain frequently used mathematical procedures by setting them to music/verse

(2) integrate math with music/verse/dance, providing students with the opportunity to utilize both their cognitive and creative abilities

(3) provide a motivational strategy that will encourage an appreciation for mathematics

Students will present an original song/rap and dance.

The song/rap must:

•  have a catchy title
• have a music accompaniment that will be played during the presentation 
• music of any kind can be used (preexisting or your own creation)
• preexisting songs can be used but the lyrics must be dubbed out
•      be less than 2 minutes but more than one minute in duration
•      consist of acceptable lyrics that cover any math topic (approved list)

Happy singing!

Let the Voting Begin

The student created songs have been posted to our class facebook page.
Mrs-Cooks-8th-Grade-Math-Class-Going-Beyond-the-School

Here is the song that is currently in the lead!

Go to our facebook page and cast your vote!

I recorded the voices of the kids singing the songs.  The song with the most likes will win!  The kids are excited that other people can vote on their work!  It is also a great way to get the parents involved.

Our big project this six weeks is for the kids to work with a partner to create a song that teaches a concept. I have done this every year, and I usually get some really good ones.  They can pre-record it or present it live.  With the addition of the facebook page, I am planning on posting the best videos there.  We will have another voting session.  Of course, I will make sure the kids are able to have their picture or video posted.

I really think projects like this help with public speaking.  The kids have already had to present many times as a small group.  Now, we will see how they do with a partner.  They should take away some great skills to be used now and in the future!

Don't forget to go our facebook and like your favorite song!

Happy voting!

Student Created Songs

Since the beginning of school, I have been writing songs to teach different concepts.  I have created songs for:
Dilations
Scale Factor
Tax, Discount and other Percent Apps
Fraction, Decimal and Percent equivalencies
Translations

Last week, I told my classes that they were now responsible for creating an original song that teaches Scientific Notation.  Since I have my classes in houses, each house had to create a song.

The songs were due today, and I was pretty impressed!  I always have my kids do a sing a long with a partner, but this is the first year I have given them songs I have created!  I think by allowing them to see how my songs teach a concept, they were able to create a pretty good song.  I wish I could say that all of them were great, but some were not!  I hope they use this as a learning tool and are able to create better songs as the year progresses.  I really believe that the sing along projects with a partner will be MUCH better this year!

One girl told me that she is not as nervous any more when she gets up in front the class.  I really think this is helping develop good public speaking skills, as well.  The first step in public speaking is to not be nervous in front of a group.

I told the kids that I would select the best song to add to our song portfolio.  I have two songs from my first class, one from my second and one from my last class that are in the running.  I think I am going to record them singing the songs.  I only want their voices (for now).  The performance factor will come in later!  I am thinking about posting them on my class facebook page for people to vote on the best song.  I only use the facebook page to post questions that the kids have created.  I believe this would be a good thing to add, as well.  I can see them working hard to get their song chosen.

It has been a busy year, so far!  I am really ready for Thanksgiving break!

Happy Singing!

Facebook in the classroom

I am not sure if I am completely ready to fully incorporate Facebook into my classroom, but I am going to use it to an extent this year.  I have created a Facebook page for my classroom.
Mrs-Cooks-8th-Grade-Math-Class-Going-Beyond-the-School

I have set it up completely separate from my personal account because I do not want to blur the lines.  The page I created is set up so no one can post on it other than myself.  Here is what I want to use the facebook page for:


This page is to be used by my math students to post and share problems in the facebook community. We will chart the progression of each problem and see how social media can impact education.

Description

Every two weeks, each class period will post a problem that they as a class have created. The students can then "share" the problem with their own friends. The object is to be the class to have the most: likes, comments with answers, and who can reach the most states/countries. The results will be charted in the classroom, and the students will be able to see how their problem is being seen and answered.

I think that by using Facebook, the kids will be eager to "share" the problem they have created.  We will make it into a contest between the different class periods.  I am planning on having them post a new problem every two weeks.  Of course, the other problems will still be out there, and they can continue to monitor the progress.

There is so much the kids can do with the data.  I think I will set up a graph, and have a student from each class period update the results of the graph each week for each question.  The abundance of central tendency questions that can be created based on the data is overwhelming.  Geography questions can also be created.  Hello cross curricular planning!!!!

During class, I will have the students brainstorm a question. It will be up to them as to what type of question it needs to be (multiple choice, open ended, etc).  One student from each class will post the problem.  Within each problem, we must also include:

• My 8th grade math class is conducting an experiment to see how many people this question will reach, how many states/countries will reply, how many people will get the question correct.
• We are posting this question in hopes of getting many: likes, shares, and comments.
• The question we post has been created by my math class.
• Please comment and place your answer and include the state/country you are from.
• Class period, Question # - Question

I think this will be interesting, and I hope it works out like I think it will.  We will jump right into this the first week of school, so be looking for the first three questions (I have three math classes) beginning August 28!

QR codes

I recently came across the use of QR codes in the classroom!  These little codes are everywhere.  I think it will be a great addition to my math class.  I am always looking for new things to do with my students.

There are many sites available to create the codes.  QRvoice allows for an automated description to be given once the code is scanned.  The code generator with Kaywa allows for the scanner to be taken to a particular location (website, etc).

Here are some ways I was thinking I could implement them:

• students will add a code to a project that provides more detail about a topic
• students will write word problems, and they will create a code with the answers.  they will share their problems, and the students will check to see if they are correct.
• answers provided for an assignment
• posted on different documents hanging by my door, and the code will provide a link to more information

I am anxious to see how well the students respond to the codes.  I think they will like it.


Scan the code for a little goody!

Happy scanning!