Authentic Learning

One of the biggest things that common core is bringing back to the math world is real world, hands on experiences. Students need to see, they need to solve, they need real data and most of all they need to value what they are learning in the classroom. Teaching at a Title I school its often difficult to take field trips. Our math department has worked around that, we've made the trips an extension of the day. Partnering with a local grocery store and food chain we've been able to host two math nights so far this year. Both have been a huge success. In addition to the amount that students learn, they also have fun, work with their families and enjoy seeing where math fits in the big picture of the "real world" their teachers and parents always speak of. Check out my Teachers Pay Teachers store for a FREE lesson designed around Chick-Fil-A math (middle school level).

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chick-Fil-A-Math-Night-1210314

Task Cards

Task cards have become my new best friend. As I work to flip my classroom only on the school level task cards have become a way for my students to get instant feedback.Check out this video on how to flip your classroom when kids don't have access to internet or other resources at home. Stations with task cards make learning accessible to students because they get instant feedback with a quick scan of a QR code. Using text QR codes means that even without internet access the QR codes will work!

Here are some simple directions to get you on your way to using QR codes in your classroom:

For a text QR Code:

-          Type in the answer or solution you want to show when the students scan

-          Press generate

-          Scroll down

-          Right click on the QR Code

-          Select copy

-          Open a document

-          Right click

-          Paste the QR Code into your document J

Task cards can also be used for re-teaching. By linking a QR code to Khan Academy or other educational resources students can be linked with a re-teaching video and be on their way to proficiency of the standard in no time at all

For a URL code (link to a website):

-          Copy and paste the web address into the URL

-          Press generate

-          Scroll down

-          Right click on the QR Code

-          Select copy

-          Open a document

-          Right click

-          Paste the QR Code into your document J

Check out my TPT Store for task cards that I have created and used in my classroom! 

QR Codes in the Classroom?

QR Codes are kind of strange. I mean what makes them link you to a certain place on the web? I can stare at two similar QR codes, yet when scanned land in two distinctly different places. Well, I don't have all of the answers but I do have some. How can QR Codes help you in the classroom?

Well, for one a quick scan can have your students on a website in no time at all. Secondly, they can be used to give instant feedback on solutions to things like math problems (even without an internet connection). Third, they can be used to differentiate instruction. A simple QR Code link to a re-teaching video could put your students in control of differentiating their own learning.

On the other hand, want to make it easy for parents to email you? Create an email QR Code where you have already input the text so parents can quickly write you to let you know about homework difficulty, needing to schedule a parent conference, offering to help in the classroom, etc. They simply scan the code, click send email and viola the email is pre-typed and they just sent it off to you!!

You can also make it easy for parents to contact you by attaching a QR code to emails with your direct contact information, links to websites for students and parents alike, links to re-teaching videos, reminders about upcoming events and much much more. The possibilities are endless. Check out QR Droid and start using QR codes for free today!

Teaching Middle School

Teaching middle school is like having a fresh, new experience everyday. You never know what challenges you'll stumble upon or what you'll overcome with your students. Middle schoolers hate you today and love you tomorrow so I spend my time providing them with the most meaningful, engaging, insightful lessons that relate to the "real world". Not the "real world" television show or the real world that you and I know and live in. I'm talking about the technologically driven world that middle schools have assimilated with. From robotics, to cross walk labs, to iPad lessons, to video creations, to surface area robots, to task cards with QR code scanners, there isn't much I won't do to get my students engaged in learning the common core math standards and applying their knowledge to the real world. I have created several lessons or ideas that I have begun posting on teachers pay teachers. Check out my store for some captivating lesson ideas :)