Thursday, September 29, 2011

Trig Ratio Foldable


Here's a Trig Ratio Foldable your students can make! 

1. Fold your paper lengthwise leaving 3/4" at the bottom for your title "Trig Ratios" (optional).  I prefold these for each student and hole punch them beforehand.
2. Have students fold their sheet so they have three sections (as pictured).
3. Make 2 cuts along their fold lines so they now have 3 book flaps.
4. Have students put the titles on the front.  I usually demonstrate on the SMARTBoard.
5. Distribute the Trig Ratio Triangles sheet.  I have made a pdf that has two sets of triangles per sheet.  You can download it below!
6. Students will cut out each triangle.  The "Finding a Side" triangles will go along the top while the "Finding an Angle" triangles will go along the bottom.  Students will need to determine which triangles can be solved using each of the Sine, Cosine, and Tangent Ratios and glue them on the appropriate flap.  Move around the room making sure each student has glued the triangles in the appropriate spot.
7. Give the students time to solve each triangle and take up as a class.






Download your free Trig Ratio Triangles here!

Assessment FOR, AS, and OF Learning

Assessment FOR, AS, and OF Learning is outlined in the Ontario Ministry of Education's document titled "Growing Success".


Here is a summary of the initiative:
Assessment FOR Learning
  • The ongoing process of gathering and interpreting evidence about student learning for the purpose of determining where students are in the learning, where they need to go, and how best to get there.
  • EXAMPLES - Assignments, descriptive feedback, quizzes, observations, four corner activities, checklists, using whiteboards, etc.
Assessment AS Learning
  • The process of developing and supporting student metacognition.  Students are actively engaged in the assessment process: that is, they monitor their own learning, use assessment feedback from the teacher, self and peers to determine next steps, and set individual learning goals.
  • EXAMPLES - Students looking at exemplars, thumbs up thumbs down, reflecting on how they worked in their group.
  • The GOAL of assessment as learning is to help students become independent learners with individual goals.  It is a way for them to monitor and reflect on their own progress.
Assessment OF Learning
  • The process of collecting and interpreting evidence for the purpose of summarizing learning at a given point in time, to make judgments about the quality of student learning on the basis of established criteria, and to assign a value to represent that quality.  The information gathered may be used to communicate the students' achievement to parents, other teachers, students themselves, and others.  It occurs at or near the end of a learning cycle.
  • EXAMPLES - Chapter tests or assignments, culminating tasks, and/or examinations.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Why Our Kids Fall Behind in Math

Check out this article written by Anna Stokkes in the Winnipeg Free Press addressing some concerns about mathematics in today's classroom!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Introduction to Imperial Units Cut & Paste

This is a great introduction to the Imperial Measurement System. 

Students will cut out various units of Imperial Measure (teaspoon, tablespoon, fluid ounce, cup, pint, quart, gallon, inch, foot, yard, mile, ounce, pound & Fahrenheit) and paste them under the appropriate headings (Length, weight, capacity, temperature).

They are also asked to provide an example of when each unit is used.

Download the worksheet free here!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Fraction Review Cut & Paste Activity

A fun review of fractions!
I give students 6 fractions to work with.  Students work in pairs to complete the worksheet.

They are asked to order the fractions from least to greatest by pasting them on their worksheet.
Then they will add two of the fractions, multiply two of the fractions, and finally divide the last two fractions.

Here is the link for the worksheet AND the fractions that I cut up and distribute.