Integers and Exponents -Week 5




iPracticeMath. Integers. Picture [Online Image]

This week in math class it was all about Integers! Now, when I first heard the word integer I somewhat feared it. However, to my surprise integers are nothing to fear but something that we are surrounded by everyday. For example, driving uses integers, positive and negative experiences could be classified as integers, the stock market, time lines in history (AD and BC), above and below sea level, gambling and temperatures use integers. Below is a great video from last weeks Building Background Activities, it is about the use of the integers in the real world in regards to temperature changes and maintaining the proper temperature for an ice rink. This video helps to put into context the importance that math plays in our everyday lives. If students can understand that math is all around them and used everyday this will eliminate the "why do I have to learn this" type of questions.

http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/mejhm/index.html?ID1=AB.MATH.JR.NUMB&ID2=AB.MATH.JR.NUMB.INTE&lesson=html/video_interactives/integers/integersSmall.html

Definition of An Integer:

An integer IS a whole number that can be + positive, - negative or 0 zero. An integer is NOT a fractional number or a decimal. Thus: Integers ARE: 0, 1, 2, 6, 13, 120 etc. Integers ARE NOT: 1/4, .05, 25/50, 0.07, 8.9 etc.


Online Math Help and Learning Resources. Properties of Integers.
Retrieved from https://www.google.ca/search?q=integers&biw=1607&bih=792&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwjy37W22IbQAh
XMxYMKHYEOAC0Q_AUIBigB&dpr=0.85#imgrc=lBMaPOfePd9VLM%3A

Spencer, Erica. Picture [Photograph]
Retrieved From
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/297026537907027162/

In class we learned that the biggest problem involving integers is the fact that teachers who teach rules that don't apply to integers and make students memorize them. For example, a common rule that many teachers teach their students is that, "two negatives don't make a positive for adding, however, it does for multiplication." Thus, students need to forget the rules their teachers have taught them in regards to integers and learn the proper way to understand them.

Math Congress:

As well, in this past math class we learned about the idea of a Math Congress. We conducted it ourselves in regards to a problem our teacher assigned. A Math Congress can also be referred to as a gallery walk. Students work in groups to solve a problem and then write about their problem on chart paper. The students product's can be either hung up or left on the desks because each group will go and visit the various charts that other students have created. A math congress promotes creativity,sharing and thinking among students in various grade levels. It involves hard work by each group because the following work will be assessed by their peers. This is an excellent tool because it allows students to see how their peers are learning and what similarities and differences that they may come across.

 

CLIPS:

Furthermore, we learned about another key resource, CLIPS- Critical Learning Instructional Path  Supports. This is a multi-media resource in which the learning objects are focused on the key topics and identities as needed by a significant percent of students. CLIPS provides teachers with gap closing material for teachers which was originally meant for students to catch up. Students can get into small groups or work solo while other students move along. CLIPS, allows teachers to go through different lessons which tell you what you did right and wrong. Teachers pick the grade level they want to focus on, there are built in manipulative's and clues that can be clicked on for extra help.

 

Conclusion:

As a class we are still adding to our list of ideas for, What Makes a Good Problem,below is the collective list that we compiled together last class. It is important to keep these aspects in mind for when we are creating math problems and encouraging students to create their own problems.

1. Wide Base = everyone can start
2. High Ceiling = potential to create discipline
3. Soft Language
4. Relevant = to the class, lesson and students
5. Multiple Ways To Find The Solution
6. Use Different Manipulative's
7. Work Together = support & help
8. Creates Discussion
9. Challenging

Till next time,
Cheers, Courtney