The educational need I am going to address is how to use online math games to effectively get kids engaged in their learning. This will be done through the use of computers and a SMARTboard. I am going to utilize numerous educational math websites, as well as discover interactive games I can use on my SMARTboard to help students make worthwhile connections to their learning. My intent to use math games is to provide a fun and engaging way to learn about math. Most children that receive worksheets after worksheets are not going to retain the knowledge. With math games, they can have fun by connecting a variety of games to their own lives and not even realize they are learning in the process.
As often as possible, I will utilize math games into student learning. However, because my classroom only has three computers, I will use math games more often when I have parent helpers for math centers. That way, a group of students can use math games at once. Also, once I get my SMARTboard, I plan to use numerous quick activities to draw students into lessons. This will be used on a daily basis to impact student learning.
Here is some of the research I have gathered, as well as great interactive math sites.
Articles on why to use math games-
http://www.mathgamesandactivities.com/what-parents-of-successful-children-know-about-writing/
http://nrich.maths.org/2928
Links to math websites-
http://www.mec-math.org/math-at-home/math-websites
Interactive math sites-
http://www.funbrain.com/kidscenter.html
http://www.mrnussbaum.com/
http://www.mathplayground.com/
My plan is to implement math centers often in the classroom (approximately 1x per week). I will know that I am successful over time with student achievement. If students are recalling knowledge from the units prior, I know that I have taught math concepts effectively and in a way they can recall. For example, some students had a difficult time with measuring angles. I found a great website to practice: http://www.mathplayground.com/measuringangles.html. After they practiced, many students had the aha moment every teacher looks for.
Lisa,
ReplyDeleteIt seems that you have a good plan in place. You may want to implement the centers more than once a week so that you can get more evidence that your project is successful (in our accelerated format). After the class, it will probably work best as you have described.
One "technical" note is that you need to link your sources. Additionally, when you link them, make sure you have it open in a new window (if possible)...that way your audience won't get lost...and not be able to find your original blog post.
Good luck as you implement your project! Math is SUM fun. :)
This is great! I think that this is a resource you will be able to use for many years to come. I would also love to use this with my students and provide more resources to parents to help their students learning at home or to use as a reward. We have just gotten a new math teacher mid year, and it has been a tough transition with my kids. I think that fraction websites are especially difficult to find, but we have used some that you mentioned in your blog above. I have found some other sites that have been helpful in their learning and a good break for them to get to do an activity. They love these and it makes math so much more fun for them. Will you include an assessment piece using technology after they complete the center? Would you consider using the survey sites to have them answer questions or take a quiz for immediate assessment of skills? Will students get to choose which center they do based on their own needs, or will the center be completed in a group? Have you found good math resources specifically for SMARTBoard, using the programs rather than just as a large computer? Sorry for all the questions, I am just very interested to see this in action and be able to use this with my students to remediate math skills in the morning. Are any of these sites researched based?
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea! Math games are always something students want to play in the computer lab and can be used with any grade level. It is also a good idea to use them in centers. When you have math centers do you group students by skill level? Another great thing about certain math games they can be adapted to the skill level of the student. This would be great to help challenge the higher level students. A few teachers at my school are using math workshop for their everyday math lesson, it would be nice to be able to use math games on the computer as one of the stations. If you did this, you could use them everyday. What math program do you use at your school? We use Everyday Mathematics and they offer a site online that has math games that incorporate the skills taught. I have not used it myself, but I have heard great things from the other teachers and students. I look forward to hearing more about how this works in your classroom!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy the path you are taking with this project. I too received a SmartBoard in my room (mine was installed last year) so I know the feeling of having a great tool without knowing quite how to utilize it. Of all the subjects I use the SmartBoard for, I feel that math is the most effective. Therefore, I think this is the perfect project. I am really interested in seeing how your centers help the students. Many teachers in my building have moved toward a "stations-based" instructional model, and have told me of their successes. I have been toying with the idea of giving the set-up a trial run, but have not yet acted. I think through your project I can get a good feel as to how that might look and work in my classroom. I very much look forward to seeing what you do.
ReplyDelete