Facebook Badge
Thursday, August 20, 2009
A new beginning for SIMMS teachers
Hi all. This my first attempt at blogging. My purpose is to try to set up a nation wide discussion for and by teachers of SIMMS integrated math. I know if you stumble onto this it is hard to imagine being so fortunate. Holy crap, a math blog. Classes for me will start a week from today August 27. I know that the fortunate people in Casper have already started. This semester I will be teaching a level 3 class, a level 4 class, and a year long level 1 class. As I move along I will share my successes, failures and kind of just OK stuff with you. If I am not blogging at least once a week please give me a pretty good kick in the butt. This will be my math class journal. If there are any specific topics you would like to see chatted up please let me know. As a lot of you know I am a pretty good bull blogger. Till next time. Jim
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Welcome to the Web 2.0 world Jim!
ReplyDeleteYou know, you can set up your blog so multiple people can author posts so it isn't just you carrying the writing load.
I'd paste the Blogger help page but I can't seem to paste in this comment field. Go to Blogger Help and search for
team blog
The top hit is a great explaination.
This would also allow you to set up a Class blog for students to post if that is something you want to pursue. I've always admired what this teacher can get his "scribing" students to do:
http://pc40sw09.blogspot.com
You'll have to access the earlier achives, but he certainly has them writing mathematics.
Later.
How the heck do you add a new entry???
ReplyDeleteJim and I are likely the 'old people' on this blog but wer are young at heart and will to share as well as learn.
ReplyDeleteSIMMS IM is not perfecte--but when implemented correctly it truly does help many students become real problem solvers and often discover that they really can do mathematics.
Jim,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the invite! 'Math the SIMMS way' is a very cool way to keep in touch with those of us who are active in teaching mathematics even though it has been a long time since I taught SIMMS.
Folks,
I recognize Dan L. and Gary B.'s names and I apologize if I have met anyone else and have forgotten your name.
For those who don't know me and to update those who do know me, I switched careers from the semiconductor industry to education about 5 years ago. My first job in education was a math teacher at Hazen Union School in VT and I met Jim W. because he was the leader of a SIMMS training session I attended.
I taught SIMMS for 2 years at Hazen; level 1&3 the first year, levels 4&6 the next year. Everything I've taught since has been influenced by "the SIMMS way".
More than 1,000 students have been enrolled in my classes in the past five years of teaching mathematics at three high schools and fours colleges. Thus I have extensive experience dealing with teenagers, young adults and non-traditional students of varying degrees of aptitude and attitude.
In my teaching experience, the most successful instruction involved inquiry-based activities that provided practical problem solving and require learning a new mathematical concept as well as practicing previously learned techniques. While the problems are tailored to introduce mathematics, they are usually interdisciplinary to emphasize practicality and create interest. The activities usually require a combination of individual instruction, independently performed homework and a demonstration of competence.
Besides teaching, my other passions (academically speaking) are computers, calculators and web site development. I still think there is enormous opportunity in 'micro processor powered interconnected education' and I'm working on it, but mostly by myself.
I've blabbed long enough except to say I still have all my electronic files of SIMMS stuff and am willing to share it but have no idea how useful anybody else would find it.
Carry On!
Steven Grindle