Okay-- here is our sleepy beagle, Griffey. My video is below.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
My Video
Hi! I had so many technichal difficulties on this assignment! I video taped myself in my classroom (twice--once for 2 minutes, once just under a minute) and couldn't get Blogger to upload either video; either on my home computer or my classroom computer.
I just tried uploading a 5 second practice video I took of our pet turtle on Saturday (since I hadn't taped anything for a long time) and it worked. I guessed my video needed to be short.
So I just taped myself, for a few seconds. Sorry, it's not much. You might have liked my turtle better.
Eileen
I just tried uploading a 5 second practice video I took of our pet turtle on Saturday (since I hadn't taped anything for a long time) and it worked. I guessed my video needed to be short.
So I just taped myself, for a few seconds. Sorry, it's not much. You might have liked my turtle better.
Eileen
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Virtual Field Trips
Hi Everyone!
I spent a few hours clicking on links offered through the weekly assignment. I was really fascinated by the tour of the Berlin Wall, since I'm old enough to remember it existing and falling. I also enjoyed views at the Grand Canyon, which I've never visited but would love to see someday. I also spent some time on the Ellis Island link; a place I have visited and am fascinated by. The virtual White House tour is pretty cool, since it is up to date with pictures of the Obamas and Hillary.
Since I teach Math, I don't feel I can use any of the above VFTs in class. However, I did find some Math and Physics related material on the Nova link. I viewed part of the video on fractals, which are repeating patterns which appear in nature. I want to view the entire video (52 minutes) and see if I can incorporate it into a two or three day lesson for my Problem Solving classes. My thought is that the students could view the video one day and then spend one or two days designing a fractal pattern and coloring it. Since we are currently studying Geometry this would fit in. I did something similar last year, where students designed a tesselation (another repeating pattern). If interested, the link is http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/hunting-hidden-dimension.html.
If anyone has found anything else related to middle school math, please let me know. I am always looking for ways to get my students to be more interested in Math and how they can use it in daily life and future careers.
Eileen
I spent a few hours clicking on links offered through the weekly assignment. I was really fascinated by the tour of the Berlin Wall, since I'm old enough to remember it existing and falling. I also enjoyed views at the Grand Canyon, which I've never visited but would love to see someday. I also spent some time on the Ellis Island link; a place I have visited and am fascinated by. The virtual White House tour is pretty cool, since it is up to date with pictures of the Obamas and Hillary.
Since I teach Math, I don't feel I can use any of the above VFTs in class. However, I did find some Math and Physics related material on the Nova link. I viewed part of the video on fractals, which are repeating patterns which appear in nature. I want to view the entire video (52 minutes) and see if I can incorporate it into a two or three day lesson for my Problem Solving classes. My thought is that the students could view the video one day and then spend one or two days designing a fractal pattern and coloring it. Since we are currently studying Geometry this would fit in. I did something similar last year, where students designed a tesselation (another repeating pattern). If interested, the link is http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/hunting-hidden-dimension.html.
If anyone has found anything else related to middle school math, please let me know. I am always looking for ways to get my students to be more interested in Math and how they can use it in daily life and future careers.
Eileen
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Week 2 Assignment--Comparison of 2 high schools' report cards
Since I live and teach in Sayreville, and my husband, sons, and other relatives graduated here I easily picked Sayreville War Memorial High School as one of the schools to study. In fact, my younger son graduated from the high school last June, so it is his class's statistics that I am viewing.
The other school I chose is East Brunswick High School, since they are in a neighboring town and have a good reputation for academics. Now I know why.
From living and working in Sayreville I know that the school district has a very low cost per pupil compared to the state average, and yet, the voters in this town vote down the school budget almost every year. Sayreville's total cost per pupil last school year (2009-2010) was $12,849 compared to the state average of $15,538. East Brunswick spent just slightly less than the state average at $15,094.
With a lower cost per student, Sayreville has a lower student /computer ratio (4.6) than EB (5.1), but both were higher than the state ratio of 3.1.
I was surprised that with such a low cost per pupil the average class size in Sayreville's high school was 18.4 compared to EB's 23.5 (state average 18.2). Yet even with larger class sizes, EB's test scores blew Sayreville's away! In HSPA scoring last year Sayreville fared well compared to state averages, but EB's scores were much better:
LAL Proficient LAL advanced prof Math Proficient Math advanced prof
Sayreville 73.4% 16.3% 52.6% 21.8%
East Brunswick 65.1% 30.8% 45.4% 44.3%
State 69.3% 18.7% 50.7% 24.3%
Based on the above I'm not surprised that East Brunswick had 75.3% of its graduating seniors plan to attend a 4 year college, with 18.5% for 2 year schools;while Sayreville had 47.2% plan on a 4 year school, and 45.9% for 2 year schools.
Both districts' "years of experience" for teachers was 9 years, compared to 10 for the state. East Brunswick has over 47% of its teachers holding master's degrees, compared to Sayreville's 39%.
Though I am proud of Sayreville's continuing ability to do more with less, I have to admit they are doing something right in East Brunswick.
The other school I chose is East Brunswick High School, since they are in a neighboring town and have a good reputation for academics. Now I know why.
From living and working in Sayreville I know that the school district has a very low cost per pupil compared to the state average, and yet, the voters in this town vote down the school budget almost every year. Sayreville's total cost per pupil last school year (2009-2010) was $12,849 compared to the state average of $15,538. East Brunswick spent just slightly less than the state average at $15,094.
With a lower cost per student, Sayreville has a lower student /computer ratio (4.6) than EB (5.1), but both were higher than the state ratio of 3.1.
I was surprised that with such a low cost per pupil the average class size in Sayreville's high school was 18.4 compared to EB's 23.5 (state average 18.2). Yet even with larger class sizes, EB's test scores blew Sayreville's away! In HSPA scoring last year Sayreville fared well compared to state averages, but EB's scores were much better:
LAL Proficient LAL advanced prof Math Proficient Math advanced prof
Sayreville 73.4% 16.3% 52.6% 21.8%
East Brunswick 65.1% 30.8% 45.4% 44.3%
State 69.3% 18.7% 50.7% 24.3%
Based on the above I'm not surprised that East Brunswick had 75.3% of its graduating seniors plan to attend a 4 year college, with 18.5% for 2 year schools;while Sayreville had 47.2% plan on a 4 year school, and 45.9% for 2 year schools.
Both districts' "years of experience" for teachers was 9 years, compared to 10 for the state. East Brunswick has over 47% of its teachers holding master's degrees, compared to Sayreville's 39%.
Though I am proud of Sayreville's continuing ability to do more with less, I have to admit they are doing something right in East Brunswick.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Introduction
Hi-- I really enjoyed our first class and think I will be learning a lot of valuable tools to utilize in the classroom. I've wanted to set up a webquest, but didn't know how to go about it.
I added a picture on the Dashboard with the help of my 25 year old son. Thank goodness he stopped home and could help me. The picture is of me, my younger son on his high school graduation day, and my husband. Too bad we didn't have my older son in the picture too.
I also am including some of the info that Prof. Schmidt asked for:
I added a picture on the Dashboard with the help of my 25 year old son. Thank goodness he stopped home and could help me. The picture is of me, my younger son on his high school graduation day, and my husband. Too bad we didn't have my older son in the picture too.
I also am including some of the info that Prof. Schmidt asked for:
* I am enrolled in the Masters in Teaching program. I need to buy back my alternate route credits and take another 9 credits after this class. My goal is to finish in Spring 2012.
* I received a Bachelors degree in Mathematics many, many years ago at a small Catholic college in Center Valley, PA, which was called Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales (when I went there). I was their first female math graduate. The school is now De Sales University.
* I am currently teaching 6th grade Math and Problem Solving at Sayreville Middle School. I have been there a little over 3 years and usually enjoy my job very much. Before that I substituted in Sayreville for 6 or 7 years.
* I have never taken an online course before.
I'm looking forward to interacting with all of you in the class!
Eileen Truchan
Saturday, March 5, 2011
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