Pedagogy
Summer Splash – the Association of Illinois Middle Schools Annual Conference
By Bill Lombard on 23 June, 2009
I just finished presenting a workshop for the Association of Illinois Middle Schools Annual Conference in Normal, Illinois (home of Illinois State Univ.) and enjoyed it tremendously. I had the pleasure of interacting with 150 middle school teachers and once again working with the AIMS staff – a real class act! Here’s what the AIMS [...]
Posted in Pedagogy | Tagged conference, Math Activity, math instruction, normal illinois, teaching math | Leave a response
What Are the Odds of Losing Your Lunch? – A Probability Adventure
By Bill Lombard on 17 May, 2009
Here’s a neat problem recently under discussion in our school district: “Four kids, each with their own lunch, go on a trip. When it’s time to eat, the four identical-looking lunches are mixed up and the kids randomly choose one. what is the probability that exactly one kid gets his own lunch?” This problem is [...]
Posted in Pedagogy | Tagged intriguing puzzles, logical reasoning skills, marilyn vos savant, monty hall problem, probability, Problem-Solving, visual modeling | Leave a response
A Visual Introduction to the Algebra of Linear Inequalities
By Bill Lombard on 30 April, 2009
Here’s a nice visual way for students to see relationships involving linear inequalities using a number line. All four operations are covered, including the infamous multiplying and dividing by a negative number. Free online screencasting tool To receive all new posts – subscribe via email or RSS Web Feed.
Posted in Mr. L's Videos, Pedagogy | Tagged algebra, algebra one, linear inequalities, screencast | 1 Response
Linear Inequalities – a Teacher Training Video from Teacher to Teacher Press
By Bill Lombard on 29 April, 2009
Here’s a video which shows two visual approaches to teaching linear inequalities. It can be used for sharing with other math teachers or students who are looking for a way to “see” how inequalities work. Here’s the link to the video on youtube. To receive all new posts – subscribe via email or RSS Web [...]
Posted in Mr. L's Videos, Pedagogy | Tagged Bill Lombard, Brad Fulton, linear inequalities, math instruction, Teacher to Teacher Press, teacher training | Leave a response
Mister Slope – A Simple Graphic that Helps Students Graph
By Bill Lombard on 19 March, 2009
Here’s a great addition to any teacher’s bag of tricks – Mister Slope. This simple graphic will allow students to easily remember common facts about the graphs of linear equations. This was first brought to my attention by Ryan Lamb, a student at Foothill H.S. in Palo Cedro CA. He found it on a youtube [...]
Posted in Pedagogy | Tagged graphs of linear equations, slope | 1 Response
Fourteen Factors of a Successful Algebra Program – by Brad Fulton
By Bill Lombard on 4 January, 2009
NOTE: This post is written by Brad Fulton, Mr. L’s coauthor and partner from Teacher to Teacher Press. Many factors go into creating a successful program for preparing students for 8th grade algebra. Here are ones we feel have contributed to the success of our program. While you may decide that some of these strategies [...]
Posted in Pedagogy, Teacher to Teacher Press | Tagged 8th grade algebra, algebra 1, algebra concepts, algebra program, research | 4 Responses
How One’s ‘Number Sense’ Helps With Mathematics – Article Reprint
By Bill Lombard on 1 January, 2009
NOTE: This is the text of an article written by Rob Stein, a Washington Post Staff Writer, on Monday, September 8, 2008. Here is the link to the article found on the Post’s Website. Scientists have for the first time established a link between a primitive, intuitive sense of numbers and performance in math classes, [...]
Posted in Pedagogy, Website Resource | Tagged brain, brain sciences, cognitive skill, intuitive sense, research | 3 Responses
EZ Writes – A Great Way to Incorporate Thinking about Mathematics into Your Math Class
By Bill Lombard on 1 January, 2009
Here’s a wonderful method that will enable your students to write (and THINK!) about the mathematics they are learning. Ask them to write a short explanation of the main concept/skill covered in class that day and the results will be that they understand it better and will remember it longer! Students can use a single [...]
Posted in Pedagogy | Tagged language, writing | 2 Responses
Schools Turn Algebra into Child’s Play in Lebanon Oregon
By Bill Lombard on 30 December, 2008
This post features a video and some excerpts from the article “Lebanon schools turn algebra into child’s play”, by Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian. While most high schools in Oregon and across the nation struggle to get freshmen to pass algebra, one school district is trying something very different. Lebanon, which educates 4,000 students in eight [...]
Posted in Pedagogy, Website Resource | Tagged algebra one, intuitive sense, math classroom, math instruction, mathematical reasoning, numerical reasoning, teaching math, visual modeling | 2 Responses
STAR (Standardized) Test Final Exam PowerPoint Project
By Bill Lombard on 29 November, 2008
Here’s a project my students are working on as we head into our preparation for fall final exams. This is a way to practice for the California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) test in April of next year. What follows is the directions I give my students. ——————————— STAR Fall Final Exam PowerPoint Project Description [...]
Posted in Math Activity, Pedagogy | Tagged Learning, Math Activity, Mr. L, PowerPoint, powerpoint slides, STAR Test, test questions, Website Resource | Leave a response
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