Presentation software

Interactive powerpoint would allow me to create things such as Jeopardy Review games or something where kids get to "run the class" using an interactive powerpoint. I mostly see this as a method of review for my math classes. Maybe some new ideas will pop into my head later for more uses as well.

Back to the Basics

The basics that I hope to instill in all of my students are hard work, dedication, and a positive attitude.  Math at its core is about problem solving. Problem solving oftentimes requires creativity and  perseverance.  These values reach far beyond math though. In life, perseverance and positivity can make the difference between success and failure and between happiness and sorrow. You can't always control the outcome, but you can always control your effort.

SmartBoard

Personally, I get quite excited when I get to use the SmartBoard. I think that mindset is the same for a lot of students. The SmartBoard is a fun, interactive piece of technology for classroom use. I would use a SmartBoard to project notes and other aspects of the lesson that can be run from a computer and all students need to see. I think they also provide an exciting opportunity to let students interact with the lesson. SmartBoards are different from your standard marker or chalk board because it is much more advanced technology. My personal experience can attest to the wonder experienced by a child when his or her name is called up to write on the SmartBoard (regardless of age level). It is a piece of technology that I hope to have in my own classroom someday and that I intend to use regularly.

How young is too young...to Blog.

I think if a child is old enough to read and write, they are old enough to blog. Granted, they will probably need some adult assistance/supervision, but I don't think it is outside of a child's capabilities to blog.  Kid's are full of ideas. In fact, they probably have more ideas than adults! Oftentimes a child's mind is an untapped gold mine of creativity. Let's tap in. Blog away kids.

The importance of a teacher

Vlog: What's the purpose of a teacher?

Survey Monkey

Well I have been having some difficulties with Survey Monkey so I don't know that I'd want to use it in the classroom...
But, if it were working properly/I knew how to use it properly, this would be a good way to gain student feedback about lessons and maybe ask what they struggled with most in the week. This could be made part of the homework.

Polls, polls everywhere!

PollsEverywhere is a cool website that we got to play with a little bit last class period.  I've actually used this website before in a group presentation.  It worked out really well there, and I enjoyed learning more about that polling process.  I think it could be a cool way to check for students' understanding at the end of a math class in an anonymous way.  That way I could see how most of the students felt about the lesson for that day, and they wouldn't have to feel embarrassed if they didn't understand it so well.  I'm sure there are many more uses of pollseverywhere for class, but I think things can get a bit hairy when phones are involved in the classroom.  It's definitely something that will have to be worked out by each teacher on a class by class basis, but it's free (for the most part) and easy to use, so it's got a lot going for it!

*Lightbulb*

I've had too many "lightbulb moments", which I call "aha" moments, so far in my life to count.  One that sticks in my head distinctively though has to do with running.  When I was in middle school, I began to run track, and I was a pretty good distance runner.  But my goal was to run faster than 6 minutes in the mile.  I raced a few times and got so close, but I just couldn't get it.  One day in practice, I realized that to be under 6 minutes in the mile, I just had to keep each lap at 90 seconds or less.  The next time I ran the mile, I ran it in 5 minutes and 52 seconds. That "aha" moment about splitting the race up by lap and having a goal for each lap really helped me achieve my overall goal.  "Aha" moments are a beautiful thing, and I can't wait to inspire those moments in students.

QR codes in my classroom

Today I got to play with QR codes, which was pretty interesting because I don't have a device that can scan them. Thank goodness for my friend Logan.
I think it would be very cool to use QR codes for important formulas and things kids will need to remember for the test. This way, they can just scan a code for a reminder.  I also like the idea of creating codes for homework assignments.  With math especially sometimes it's tedious to write down all of the numbers of assigned problems.  With a QR code, the homework assignment is just a scan away!
I'm sure there could be other uses of QR codes in my future classroom, but I'll have to do some more thinking for that. I think what I've learned today is a good start.

20% Project/Spheres

For my 20% project, I think I'd like to use the Garage Band application. It is something I've never worked with before, and I would like to play with it and look for possible applications in my classroom.

For now, please enjoy these spheres I made of 2 places on campus that I pass quite frequently.

https://www.thesphere.com/spheres/488652

https://www.thesphere.com/spheres/488643