Today in class we got into groups of two and read the article: Mathematics for the moment, or the Millennium? Education week commentary 29 (xvIII) March 31, pp 30 & 34. After we were finished reading our teacher gave us the opportunity to discuss our thoughts and what we gained from the reading. She also explained that this is important to do because different people gain and can perceive a piece of text in a number a different ways. I personally thought that this was a very interesting article because it dealt with a research study done on two schools that investigated the different mathematic teaching styles. One school was taught math by using a project-based style. This style was a done by having students work in heterogeneous groups and had a very laid back atmosphere; however the other school used a textbook style that was very strict and had the students use mostly memorization and learn procedures and formulas. It enlightened me when I read the results that the project-based school did better in the tests, I was expecting it to be the other way around. This helps to reinforce my feelings of using this method of teaching in the classroom when teaching mathematics. I found that the writer was well spoken and that the text was very easy to read also she never once said directly that one method was better to another only providing the reader with the facts. Also I thought that it was impressive how not once did the writer diminish the work of any teacher from either of the schools.
We also got the opportunity to look at two blog postings by Elaina Johnson. I was very impressed with the amount of work that she has put into her blog as well I was captivated at the way in which she has incorporated the use of a blog into her classroom. I think that since we are in an age that is so technology based that this is a great way to introduce her class into the use of computers and a great way to relay information back to parents.
The last thing that we got to look at before the end of class was the textbook website. This was very first time seeing this site and I found it very helpful the way that we were explained how to use it and the different recourses that it could provide for us now and as future teachers. For example the black line masters that provides a number of different activities that could be used in my future classroom and a literature section that provides a list of a number of books that could be used to aid in the teaching of different math units. I think that it is wonderful that this site makes this information available. Also I really enjoy how when after reading a chapter in the text you can look up that chapter on the site and get an overall summary which will be especially useful when studying for the midterm.
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