Student Involvement

THOUGHT

Students should be physically involved in the "creation" of math.

REFLECTION #1

By getting students out of their seats, they are more or less unable to doze off and forget about the math at hand. One example where students can be used in the math classroom, in an active way, is when introducing pie graphs. The teacher could have students with various likes and dislikes stand together in the classroom. After students have been separated, the teacher can have them form a circle, so that students are still standing beside the other students with similar likes. Next, the teacher can give one student standing on the edge of each group a string, which will be held together in the centre of the circle. This will have created an actual pie graph right before the student's eyes, and the activity is differentiated enough so that all types of learners' needs are met.

REFLECTION #2

In this sense of the "creation" of math, the math classroom becomes more akin to a drama classroom. Having a Dramatic Arts background, this aspect of the classroom, where students are involved in the learning process is extremely important to me. I believe that when students are involved in activities like this, they are not only learning the necessary skills and knowledge, but they are also creating a sense of community within the classroom, with their peers.