tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017698507183263684.post9132967775306825611..comments2024-03-14T08:13:40.103-05:00Comments on Tales of Frogs and Cupcakes: Think About It: Tricks for LearningJanayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02255030091299082258noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017698507183263684.post-7877436089449808162012-01-14T16:58:43.315-06:002012-01-14T16:58:43.315-06:00I love your blog and want to give you an award. He...I love your blog and want to give you an award. Head over to my blog to accept it!<br />http://circusoflearning.blogspot.com/Emily Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04004756236022861129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017698507183263684.post-69132581009280229242012-01-13T20:04:26.578-06:002012-01-13T20:04:26.578-06:00I completely agree with your post and find the sam...I completely agree with your post and find the same frustration in my own classroom. I often contemplate why the students are unable to apply a concept that they have been able to recite the steps of application to me. I also agree that discovery and involvement is the best type of learning; but I must admit that in an elementary setting where teachers are responsible for teaching ALL subject areas, it is sometimes difficult to know how to plan a discovery lesson centralized around a concept where the teacher has limited knowledge of. This is where the world of blogging truly helps. Our best resource as teachers simply is each other. Thank you for always being willing to share your ideas.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08987414623011942306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017698507183263684.post-83930437570415889542012-01-11T18:14:33.822-06:002012-01-11T18:14:33.822-06:00Well said! I use the key words strategy from Day ...Well said! I use the key words strategy from Day one, but they soon realize that it does not always give you the correct answer. We talk about whether they are looking for a bigger number or smaller number, then what answer might make sense. Today's was making a T chart and they discovered the patterns on their own. Yea!! <br />Please keep writing!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017698507183263684.post-49460949937483785632012-01-11T10:43:02.500-06:002012-01-11T10:43:02.500-06:00We nominated your blog for the Versatile Award! He...We nominated your blog for the Versatile Award! Head over to our blog to learn the details and to claim your prize! : )<br /><br />http://fabulous-fourth.blogspot.com/Cierra Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02199909363897234193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017698507183263684.post-35688458834522315162012-01-09T23:47:40.022-06:002012-01-09T23:47:40.022-06:00I like music to help my students remember things. ...I like music to help my students remember things. I have used Paula Abdul's Opposites Attract to help my students remember the rule of combining integers. In the chorus, we sing instead: Opposites SUBTRACT! It's catchy and I see their shoulders bouncing around as they sing the song in their head. Thanks for sharing!<br />Adrianne at kidscogworks.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17784224284761467528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017698507183263684.post-17011784478118310822012-01-08T15:42:25.350-06:002012-01-08T15:42:25.350-06:00Hi! I’m a science teacher Missoui (who adores your...Hi! I’m a science teacher Missoui (who adores your blog) and my fiancee and I are in the radio station Y98′s wedding contest to win a FREE wedding, reception, and honeymoon. It’s all about voting now and spreading the word via social media, text messaging, etc. You can vote for an unlimited number of times online on the website http://y98votecouple3.intuitwebsites.com/ for Couple #3 or send the text “Couple3″ to 59898 up to ten times a day! Voting lasts until Sunday, January 15th. If you could help a fellow teacher spread the word I would appreciate it! <br />Thank you! Melissa<br />Twitter: Melissa_Evans11Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14252270238062085632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017698507183263684.post-72552049335862178522012-01-08T14:51:16.353-06:002012-01-08T14:51:16.353-06:00As a former 4th grade teacher I just love your blo...As a former 4th grade teacher I just love your blog! I just recently discovered it. I gave you an award over at my blog because I think you are a versatile blogger! : )Literacy Teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13665591837873206398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017698507183263684.post-3514303366474615182012-01-06T15:31:32.750-06:002012-01-06T15:31:32.750-06:00What an awesome post! I feel like this almost ever...What an awesome post! I feel like this almost everyday! My students come to me in middle school with these little songs and tricks that don't always work with middle school math (i.e. when you subtract, put the biggest number first or equals sign means the answer comes next, as you mentioned previously). My kids love to come up with their own songs and/or rhymes. I also make sure to always ask students HOW they remember to do problems. They love sharing with the class and it helps the other students think of new strategies. We just did a foldable where the students brainstormed key words for problem solving that I will be posting about soon! <br />Kate<br />http://tothesquareinch.wordpress.comKatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00769217636041844512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017698507183263684.post-30430192651450841122012-01-05T20:44:04.865-06:002012-01-05T20:44:04.865-06:00Somebody gave you a shoutout in my blog giveaway a...Somebody gave you a shoutout in my blog giveaway and I did too! :)<br /><br />Holly<br /><b><a href="http://crisscrossapplesauceinfirstgrade.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade</a></b>Hollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861143488616582042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017698507183263684.post-20635999463838340682012-01-05T18:23:33.138-06:002012-01-05T18:23:33.138-06:00I awarded you the Versatile Blogger Award! Pop on ...I awarded you the Versatile Blogger Award! Pop on over to my blog so that you can pick it up.<br />Thanks for all that you blog!<br /><br />~Heather<br />http://looseshoelaces.blogspot.comHeatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13325593320027958567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017698507183263684.post-585066010004528802012-01-05T08:57:01.135-06:002012-01-05T08:57:01.135-06:00fascinating post. thanks so much for sharing!
- Li...fascinating post. thanks so much for sharing!<br />- Lisa<br /><a href="" rel="nofollow">Valentine’s Day Activities at A Teacher’s Bag of Tricks</a>Lisa Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09619342305927665567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017698507183263684.post-35060968562050176922012-01-05T00:23:11.117-06:002012-01-05T00:23:11.117-06:00My daughter was taught her multiplication tables v...My daughter was taught her multiplication tables via song. The only problem was that it became a crutch because no other method was taught. Thus she memorized the song, but had to sing it EVERY time she multiplied.<br /><br />For example, the tune "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" was used for multiples of 8. So in order to figure out 6x8 she would have to sing "8,16,24,32,40,48" counting on her fingers the whole time until she had sung 6 numbers. I'm sure you can see the problems that arose from this method! My younger son could actually add in his head faster than she could sing the darned songs! <br /><br />I actually use a lot of Harry Kindergarten youtube videos for teaching math concepts. His songs are fun and most incorporate movement too! But, I think its more of a matter of developmental readiness (at least in kindergarten/1st grade) whether they can apply their knowledge or not. Take the months of the year macarena for instance. Some kiddos can sing the song and do the movements EVERY day but if you ask them what month comes after January they give you a blank look that tells you that they don't yet have the ability to take the information and apply it. <br /><br />So, I'm divided on whether its a matter of developmental readiness/maturity or whether some of our cute songs become crutches that hinder true memorization/internalization. <br /><br />This is a good point to ponder - just because we CAN put it to a tune, SHOULD we? Is it the best way to teach the concept?<br /><br />Thanks Janaye!<br /><br />Jennifer @ <a href="http://herdingkats.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Herding Kats In Kindergarten</a>Jennifer K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15114666136412667718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017698507183263684.post-34323892086749752302012-01-04T23:21:09.816-06:002012-01-04T23:21:09.816-06:00I agree with the piece on discovery learning (well...I agree with the piece on discovery learning (well, I agree with it all, but that part stood out to me ;) ) I do a discovery lesson once every 2 weeks and "Two Problems" on the other two weeks. When the kids are finding the answers on their own, discovering the concepts, I find that they internalize it. It doesn't become a rote rule they memorized or learned a song about (I also use those in my class ;) ) They actually know what they are doing, and can transfer that learning to other areas.<br /><br />And what's better...they are THINKING! (I actually just blogged about this yesterday..good timing!) That is the best byproduct of discovery lessons. The kids have to use their brains and dig a little deeper.<br /><br />~Stephanie<br /><a href="http://teachinginroom6.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Teaching in Room 6</a>~Stephanie https://www.blogger.com/profile/00302695374678919562noreply@blogger.com