Artifact #1:
Switching Movements
Link to Website:
https://www.edutopia.org/article/8-ways-to-infuse-movement-into-math-class/
What are these? & How Can It Be Used?
Switching movements are kinesthetic movements that engage students physically during math instruction. Here's how you can use them:
Jumping Jacks: When teaching counting or number recognition, students can perform jumping jacks while counting aloud. For example, they could do 10 jumping jacks for numbers 1 to 10, then switch to clapping for numbers 11 to 20. This helps them visualize and feel the transition from single digits to double digits.
Clapping: As mentioned, clapping can be used for numbers beyond 10 to reinforce the idea of teen numbers being 10 plus some more ones. For instance, when counting to 15, students can do 10 jumping jacks and then five claps.
High Knees: Students can lift their knees high while counting by tens or performing addition and subtraction exercises. For instance, they could lift their knees high while counting by tens up to 100.
Frog Jumps: Frog jumps can be used for skip counting or as a fun way to demonstrate addition and subtraction. For example, students could perform frog jumps while counting by twos or while adding or subtracting numbers.
Hops on One Foot: Hopping on one foot can be used for counting exercises or to represent concepts like odd and even numbers. For instance, students could hop on one foot while counting by ones or twos, or they could hop on one foot for even numbers and switch feet for odd numbers.
These movements can be incorporated into various math activities, including counting, number recognition, skip counting, addition, subtraction, and more. By engaging students physically, kinesthetic activities help reinforce mathematical concepts in a multisensory way, making learning more interactive and memorable. They can be particularly beneficial for kinesthetic learners or students who may struggle with traditional teaching methods.
Why did I Choose this Artifact:
I chose this to incorporate into my future class because it aligns perfectly with my teaching philosophy. I believe in the power of hands-on, experiential learning to engage students and deepen their understanding of concepts. By incorporating kinesthetic activities like jumping jacks, clapping, and other movements, I can create a dynamic and interactive learning environment where students are actively involved in their own learning process.
What did I Learn from this Artifact/Resource & How would I use this Artifact in My Future Classroom?
From this artifact/resource, I've learned the effectiveness of incorporating kinesthetic activities into math instruction to foster number sense in students. I plan to use these strategies in my future classroom by regularly integrating movements like jumping jacks and clapping into math lessons to make learning interactive and engaging. By utilizing kinesthetic learning, I aim to enhance student understanding and retention of mathematical concepts along with getting them moving at the same time.
Artifact #2:
Basketball Math
Link to Website:
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210413/Basketball-mathematics-can-improve-childrens-learning-and-cognitive-performance.aspx
What is this? & How Can It Be Used?
Basketball math integrates physical activities, specifically basketball, with math learning. It can be done in many ways:
Counting Shots: Students can count how many times they successfully sink a basketball into the hoop from different distances, such as three meters away versus one meter away. They can then perform mathematical operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division with the numbers obtained from their shot counts.
Math Operations: After counting their successful shots, students can perform various mathematical operations with the numbers they collected. For example, they can add up the total number of successful shots, multiply the number of shots by a predetermined factor, or divide the total number of shots by the number of attempts to calculate shooting accuracy.
Integrating basketball into math learning provides a dynamic and engaging way for students to practice math skills while also promoting physical activity and teamwork. It appeals to different learning styles and helps students develop a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts through hands-on, experiential learning.
Why did I Choose this Artifact:
I chose to include these basketball math strategies in my portfolio because they reflect my commitment to creating engaging and immersive learning experiences for my students.
What did I Learn from this Artifact/Resource & How would I use this Artifact in My Future Classroom?
From this resource, I learned how integrating basketball with math can significantly enhance student engagement and understanding. In my future classroom, I'll regularly use basketball math activities to make learning more dynamic and enjoyable. By combining physical activity with math concepts, I aim to create an interactive environment that fosters deeper understanding and motivation among students while catering to diverse learning styles.
Artifact #3:
Math Dancing
Link to Website:
https://danceteachingideas.com/mathematics-in-dance/
What is it & How Can it be Used?
This resource introduces the concept of using dance movements to help students solve algebra problems. For example, assigning a twirl to the x variable and a stomp to the y variable in an algebraic equation like 3(x + y) can help students understand that the equation represents three twirls plus three stomps (3x + 3y). Similarly, for an equation like 3x + y, it represents three twirls and one stomp. This strategy can be used in the classroom by incorporating choreography units into math lessons. Teachers can assign specific dance movements to algebraic variables and equations, allowing students to physically act out the mathematical operations.
Why did I Choose this Artifact:
I chose this artifact because by incorporating dance movements into algebra instruction, I can create a learning environment that fosters deeper understanding and confidence in math while also getting kids up and moving.
What did I Learn from this Artifact/Resource & How would I use this Artifact in My Future Classroom?
From this artifact/resource, I've learned the effectiveness of integrating dance movements with algebra instruction to enhance student engagement and understanding. I plan to use this artifact in my future classroom by incorporating choreography units into math lessons.