Donald in Mathmagic Land

Enjoy! :)

Twelve Golden Balls

A king got a gift of twelve golden balls

Although all of the balls looked identical, one of these balls was either heavier or lighter than the other balls.

The king was upset and couldn’t figure out which of the twelve balls was different.

He decided that whoever could determine which ball was different and whether it’s heavier or lighter than the other balls in only three trials using a scale, would get the privilege to marry the king’s only daughter.

Thousands of men tried from all over the kingdom. Finally a handsome and clever peasant was able to solve the riddle and proposed to the king’s daughter.

Not only did he become the king’s son in law, but the clever peasant got to keep the twelve golden balls 

Would you like to give it a try?

Photos of us experimenting with the geometry of longsword locks

Videos of longsword dancing:
Ampleforth longsword
Grenoside Longsword
Tiddley Cove Flamborough longsword
Thanks to Vincent for these great photos from Monday's class!

Math Xmas carols!

Here are the lyrics to some of the math Xmas carols I've collected over the years. There are many more available on the internet too!

Math xmas carols

Interesting Puzzle

Appearances can be deceiving!!

Circle geometry on Geometer's Sketchpad/ Geogebra

Here are resources for four guided lessons using this free, dynamic geometry software:

Overview and lesson one (retyped)
Lesson 1 again (scanned version)
Lesson 2 (scanned)
Lesson 3 (scanned)
Lesson 4 (scanned)
Textbook deductive proofs (scanned, somewhat blurry)

You can download Geometer's Sketchpad V. 5 for free at this site: http://www.keypress.com/x24795.xml

and Geogebra at this site:
http://www.geogebra.org/cms/en/download

Which do you like best? Why? I'd be very interested to know!

Sample unit plan 1: Inequalities

HI all. Here is a unit plan exemplar: not perfect in every aspect, but it ought to give you some idea what I'm looking for. In your unit plan, please do not include a test day and a review day in your ten lessons. The template is somewhat changed this year as well.

Those of you doing your own unit plan on inequalities: please don't look at this one! I don't want you to feel constrained by someone else's ideas on your topic.

sample unit plan; inequalities

George Hart's mathematical sculpture workshop: a truncated icosahedron

Here is a link to our page on George Hart's website: http://georgehart.com/UBC/ubc.html

The detailed lesson plan/ instructions for the workshop are here:CD sculpture workshop detailed instructions

And here is a time-lapse video tape of some of us making the sculpture, from <mathfest.ca>: http://www.edu.uwo.ca/mathscene/gerofsky/sculpture.html

Math Fair information, links and handbook

Hi everyone. Here is the information about the two Math Fairs we can attend:

Tuesday Nov. 30 /10, 10AM - 2PM

H. R. MacMillan Space Centre (formerly known as the Planetarium) http://www.spacecentre.ca/
Contact person: Trish

HR MacMillan Space Centre 
1100 Chestnut Street
Vancouver, BC
V6J 3J9 604) 738-7827
Google map to Space Centre

9:30 - 12:30 Saturday Dec. 11 /10
Vancouver Aquarium http://www.vanaqua.org/
Contact person: Jennifer
http://www.visitvanaqua.org/visitors/getting-here
845 Avison Way (map) in Stanley Park
Vancouver, BC
V6G 3E2 604-659-3400 


Here is the Math Fair Booklet, with a good selection of interesting, non-arithmetic puzzles: Math Fair Booklet

And -- the video of the math fair at John Oliver Secondary a couple of years ago: Mathfest.ca -- video of JO math fair 2008

Enjoy!

Our Math Fair!!

Hi all,

A few of us have discussed co-ordinating a math fair involving all of our schools. We hope to take over science world and get the media involved!

If you wish to participate please comment below and I shall compile a list.

Deb

Matt William's presentation to our class on technology in the math class

Hi everyone. Matt Williams sent a copy of his presentation on technology and his list of interesting and useful internet links. These look very interesting -- be sure to check them out and give them a try!

Matt Williams' presentation: technology in the math class

Matt Williams: Links to great sites for math education

Unit planning assignment, due Fri. Dec. 10

Here is the information sheet and the unit planning chart for Assignment 4, your math unit plan. This must be your own unit plan, and you cannot use one you have developed for another course.

Please choose a topic that you expect to be teaching in your long practicum, so that this will be a useful planning tool for you. To standardize the assignment for the class, I have asked you for ten lessons (exclusive of any unit review and unit test days). Your actual unit might be slightly longer or shorter than that, but for the purposes of this assignment, please plan a ten-lesson version of the unit.

Math unit plan overview
Unit planning overview chart

From Vincent: BBC link on new ways of doing and understanding multiplication and division

I found this a fascinating story. It gives an interesting point of view on the algorithms we all used to learn in school and shows the simple and (I think) more meaning-making methods now taught in UK schools. What do you think?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11258175

Math history in the classroom resources from Irene Percival

Hi everyone. Dr. Irene Percival has kindly offered to share these great materials with our class!

Babylonian 9 times table

Chinese proof of Pythagoras

Historical background for K-7 IRPs

Historical background for 8-12 IRPs

Enjoy these!

Note from our guest speaker, Matt Williams

Before he left our class today, our guest speaker expressed one small concern he wanted to pass along to you.

He was worried that many of you would think you had to use all the kinds of technology he showed us today on your long practicum in the spring!

He wanted to urge you to concentrate first on becoming a confident teacher, and to use only the technology that fits what you're doing, without adding too much extra stress. He suggests introducing new technology gradually, in a way that is comfortable for you and that fits your teaching ideas.

Reading for our online class: Creativity, flexibility, adaptivity in school math

Here is the 6-page article I'd like you to read and comment on between now and Sunday:

Selter ZDM article on teaching adaptive expertise

Selter talks about teaching kids to be flexible and creative in their approach to mathematical strategies, to develop "adaptive expertise", and he gives some interesting examples and evidence.

He does refer to a group of articles that were published in the same edition of this journal -- don't worry about that part, since you don't have the other articles to look at.

Once you've read this piece, please post your commentary (about 200 words, as full of ideas as possible), and then read at least three other people's commentaries and write your responses to them (as comments on their blogs).

I hope this sparks some interesting thoughts and discussion! See you online over the weekend.

Links to some very interesting TED talks about math classrooms

Here are two of the videos Matt Williams wanted to share with us:

Dan Meyer: "Math Class Needs a Makeover"

Arthur Benjamin's "Formula for Changing Math Education"

These are fascinating and controversial -- well worth watching and thinking about!

Upload documents

Hi everyone,

If you need to upload a document that you can not copy & paste
You need to follow these steps

Go to Google docs

Sign in with your Gmail id

Press “upload” on the right side of the screen

“select file to upload”

Then scroll down and press “start upload”

Press on the file uploaded and select “share”

Then select  ”sharing settings”

Then press “change”

Select “anyone with the link”

The press “save”

On the top of the same page you have the link address highlighted copy that then go to you blog and paste it on your new post  it will appear as a link if you press you get your document.

Hope that was not too confusing

If you have any question I will help you on Wednesday.

Have a good evening
Feda

email addresses

Hey everyone,

If everyone sends their email addresses to meghanbentley@gmail.com, I will compile a class list and send it back!

Thanks,

Meg

Lesson study sessions at PIMS, UBC: Message from Melania Alvarez

Hello everyone! You are invited to the Lesson Study working sessions at PIMS UBC on the following dates:


Sat. Oct. 23, 9 - noon
Sat. Nov. 13, 9- noon
Sat. Dec. 11, 2 - 5:30
Sat. Jan. 22, 9 - noon
Sat. Feb. 19  2 - 5:30
Sat. Apr 16  9 - noon


See below for details. These sessions come highly recommended! I hope that you will be able to attend some or all of them.


Susan
********************


Have you concerns with how well students will learn in the new curriculum with the focus on 'showing their knowing'? Join other teachers, consultants and mathematicians in tackling these concerns together, using lesson study as a medium for improving student learning.

We meet at the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences
located at the University of British Columbia
1933 West Mall Room 209.


What follows is the schedule for this year (There is more information
about "lesson studies" at the bottom of this message).


WORKING SESSION #1, Oct 23 (9:00 to 12:00): Setting the Stage (Intended
outcome: identification of difficult concepts, what students have hard
time learning well. Lunch will be provided.)
RSVP by Oct 21, email Melania Alvarez at melania@pims.math.ca

WORKING SESSION #2, Nov 13 (9:00 to 12:00): Lesson Planning (Intended
outcome: lesson(s) is/are built. Lunch will be provided.)

WORKING SESSION #3, Dec 11 (2:00 to 5:30) : Lesson implementation and Post
lesson discussion. Afterwards participants will be invited to join us for acelebration at a local pub. Dinner will be provided, but participants will
pay for their drinks.

WORKING SESSION #4, Jan 22 (9:00 to 12:00): Lesson Planning (Intended
outcome: lesson(s) is/are built. Lunch will be provided.)

WORKING SESSION #5, February 19  (2:00 to 5:30) : Lesson implementation and Postlesson discussion. Afterwards participants will be invited to join us for a celebration at a local pub. Dinner will be provided, but participants will pay for their drinks.

WORKING SESSION #6, Apr 16 (9:00 to 12:00): Reflection and Setting results
for publication. (Lunch will be provided.)

There may be an extra session if deemed needed.

What are Lesson Studies?

"Lesson Studies", in various formats, have become popular in the teaching
community as a means of professional development. The Pacific Institute
for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) will offer a series of workshops
closely modelled on the highly successful Lesson Studies conducted by the
Galileo Educational Network of Calgary.

What is special about them?
            1. Workshop Leaders - Each of them is led by a duo consisting of an experienced mathematician and a mathematical pedagogue. The role of the former is to ensure a sound mathematical basis, point out interesting connections, and fill in details where needed. That of the latter is to interpret the subject from a teacher's perspective and dovetail it with typical class room situations.
            2. Mathematical Content - They have both structure and focus, but these are found interactively instead of being fixed in advance. The focus is agreed upon after a brief discussion of what the participants find most pressing and difficult for their classes. In this way, the discussions, explanations, and examples will concentrate on what is most
important to participants.
            3. Pedagogical Content - They are truly collaborative and supportive, counteracting the personal isolation and curricular pressure, which in many cases
prevent teachers from examining in depth what and how their students are learning, and how they could be helped to overcome hurdles. In the process, the teacher's own
understanding and enjoyment are nurtured.
            4. Research Lesson Design - They provide opportunities for teachers to work together on creating curriculum-based research lessons, as they allow time for professional dialogue and support to develop, practice and critique new teaching methods.
            5. Publish and Share - Their collective insights will be made available to the wider teaching community via the Internet. It is imperative that local teachers have access to local examples of promising practices for their own use in discussion groups and exhibitions of student work.

Blog postings that should be completed by Mon. Oct. 18 for midterm marking

Hi everyone. Here is a listing of the blog entries you should have completed and posted by next Monday, Oct. 18 (the first day of your two-week practicum). I will start marking your blogs on Tues. Oct. 19, so unless you have made some special arrangement with me, I will expect to see everything up to date by then.

1) Response to Skemp article
2) (optional) Further response to "relational/instrumental" discussion in class
3) Writing on your most memorable math teachers
4) Discussion of the Dave Hewitt videos
5) Burning questions for teachers and students for Assignment 1
6) First micro-teaching: BOOPPPS lesson plan
7) Feedback and reflections on microteaching
8) Assignment 1 write-up: Interviews with teachers and students

9) Letters from future students (and your reflection on this exercise: hopes and worries)
10) Summary and response, Battleground Schools article
11) Response to Simmt article on math education and citizenship education
12) Timed freewrites for Division by Zero poem
13) Division by Zero poem
14) Response to Mason "Thinking Mathematically" reading, Ch. 2 & 3 
15) Lesson plan for Oct. 13 group microteaching
16) Summary and reflections on peer and self assessment of microteaching

Thinking Mathematically reading for Wed. Oct. 13 class

Hi all. Hope you've had a very happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

I scanned this Friday but didn't have the chance to post it till now: Oct. 13 reading from Mason et al, Thinking Mathematically

Please read this for Wednesday's class, and blog 100-200 words about  how you might use these ideas with your students.

See you on Wednesday!

Mathemagic

Hi everyone,

Here is the youtube link to the mathemagic presentation of squaring numbers!

The video is 15min long or so, but if you just want to see the method, start at the 11min mark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4vqr3_ROIk

Enjoy

E-Coach Tutorial

As most of you know Erica and I are your e-coaches for the year.

If there are any topics that you would find it beneficial for us to do a lunch time tutorial on please comment here, or if you'd prefer your suggestion to be confidential send an email to either Erica, ericayth@gmail.com or myself, dmackie79@gmail.com.

We will confer after we receive some ideas and let you know what when and where at a later date.

Regards,

Deborah

Simmt article on math education and citizenship

Simmt: Math education and citizenship

Change in due date for Assigment 2

Hi everyone. We will start work on Assignment 2 next class (Friday Oct. 1), and the assignment will be due Wed. Oct. 13 rather than Friday Oct. 8.

cheers,
Susan

Sylvia's problem-solving workshop this Wed. Sept. 29, 11 - noon!

“Using pedagogical documentation

to develop a more effective problem-solving approach in young children”

presentation in Room 308A

Wednesday September 29, 2010

from 11 a.m. to 12 noon

Pedagogical documentation comes from the practices of the educators in Reggio Emilia, Italy. It enjoys great popularity within Early Childhood settings. Researchers here at UBC have been exploring its use in documenting the mathematical thinking of six- to eight-year-olds.

This presentation uses documentation to show how teachers might facilitate the skills of knowing “how to think” rather than simply focusing on “what to think” when children engage with mathematical problems.

This lively presentation includes multi-media examples of children having fun with math. Come to explore a new approach for your teaching or to recapture the joy of early learning.

Presenter: Sylvia McLellan – doctoral student in EDCP.

This workshop will also be presented in Denver, CO

at the 2010 regional NCTM conference.

For more information: smclella@interchange.ubc.ca

Battleground Schools math ed reading

Gerofsky article on math ed from Battleground Schools

For our class on Wed. Sept. 29, please write a 300-word blog summary and response to this short article.

Blog entries that should be done by now: please check & update by Fri. Oct. 1

1) Response to Skemp article
2) (optional) Further response to "relational/instrumental" discussion in class
3) Writing on your most memorable math teachers
4) Discussion of the Dave Hewitt videos
5) Burning questions for teachers and students for Assignment 1
6) First micro-teaching: BOOPPPS lesson plan
7) Feedback and reflections on microteaching
8) Assignment 1 write-up: Interviews with teachers and students

Re: permission forms received from teachers and students for Assignment 1:
Please bring these to show me in class on Monday, and then hold onto them till the end of your program next August, just as evidence that you did receive permission for the interviews.

Great research and presentations for Assignment 1, and your homework

Congratulations to all the groups for excellent work on the research, write-up and presentation of Assignment 1 today. I think this was the most varied and fascinating result from this assignment that I've seen yet! You've all done a great job of finding interesting interviewees, choosing good questions and analyzing the most interesting, controversial and relevant responses.

Since we didn't have time to discuss the presentations in class, your homework for Monday (by noon) is to choose three of the presentations that most caught your interest and comment on each one on the blogs of one of the participants. Please follow the train of comments and conversation that have already started so that this is a real exchange of ideas, and do make your comments substantive (ie: not just "great presentation!")

I'm looking forward to reading the discussions!

Lesson plan basics powerpoint, from Sept. 17 class

Here's the powerpoint that outlines the BOOPPPS lesson planning template.
Lesson plan basics ppt

Powerpoint on modelling in teacher education & buzz group lectures

Here is the powerpoint from our first class:

Ppt on modelling in teacher ed and buzz group lectures

Informed consent forms for Assignment 1

Consent forms

Click on the link to get the pdf of the consent forms.

Welcome!

Hi everyone. Welcome to our class blog! This will function as a website for our whole class. I will include interesting links here, including links to all of our personal class blogs, to interesting math education resources and other things of interest.

See you in class and online!