Back in the fall, I had the pleasure of attending a conference in Columbia, South Carolina, sponsored by the South Carolina International Reading Association. While there, I sat in on a session provided by a math teacher from Legacy Charter Elementary in Greenville, South Carolina. Marge Scieszka took participants through an hour of incredible activities that integrated literature and writing into the math classroom.
One particular strategy I brought back to my teachers was a reflective practice for students. I truly believe that to be a 21st Century learner, one must be reflective. This strategy includes four pictures of very different activities, such as mountain climbing, snorkeling, deep sea diving, white water rafting, etc. After teaching a unit, display the four pictures you have chosen, and pose a question such as, "Learning _____ is like ______ because _______." Students must pick one of the pictures they relate the most to, and go to the corner of the room with others who have made the same choice. While in that group, students discuss why they feel that way, summarize all of their thoughts, and choose one person to be the spokesperson for the group. The teacher allows each group to tell the whole class why they chose that image, and how it relates to the given subject. Each group shares their ideas.
For me, I chose that 'Doing math is like mountain climbing because I have to work so hard and never do reach the top or full understanding.' When I modeled this for my staff, it was interesting to see the different points of view about math, and how we all feel about it. I even had classroom assistants (aides) participate. It was nice to see each group bond with each other, and discuss their perceptions about math. Try it with your staff or students. It's worth the 10 minutes to model this reflective strategy.
Doing math is like...because...
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