Synthesis Blog 5- Differentiation and Book Clubs

Classroom teaching and learning must constantly evolve and look different. In order to do that, teachers must differentiate materials assigned and given based upon the classroom environment, size, and skillset of learning needs. Throughout Subject Matters, we have learned ways to challenge and grow our students through various literacy approaches, one specific example being book clubs. Book clubs can be used in all content areas, as we encourage our students to pick up a book pertaining to a specific topic or content area. Book clubs allow students to work together in order to unpack, understand, and learn about a given moment in history, concept, or character's story. It gives a deeper understanding or new approach to a given topic. It challenges the student to ask questions, share ideas, and work together to better understand the book.

Book clubs seem great and extremely beneficial when they are managed well. However, it is easy to identify the ways that a book club might go wrong or even how it might not fit a specific subject. But the book provides an outline to help teachers prepare to lead a classroom and facilitate book clubs and book club discussions. I really liked the practical steps given in the book, in order to create and use a book club in any classroom. I feel that it is crucial for steps, tasks, and jobs/roles to be given to each person within the group, so that one or two people are not pulling the weight for the entire group. I have enjoyed discovering and removing the previous idea that book clubs are typically only used in language arts classes; however, now I can identify the benefits within all subject areas.

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Resource Blog 4

https://www.brighthubeducation.com/homework-math-help/76317-math-projects-for-middle-school/

As teachers, we must create opportunities for our students to be creative and engaged in materials, rather than just learning through lecture, worksheets, readings, etc. This resource provides multiple in class and out of class projects that students can create in order to display their understanding and knowledge of a material. These projects are specific to math and include ideas such as survey projects, building a classroom to scale, and pre-algebra board games.

Each of these projects give a brief explanation and guideline on how to share the project with students. It also allows the teacher freedom to make their own decisions toward their purpose and expectation for the project. I personally made a board game in my sixth grade math class and loved getting to create my own game. Then, we were able to spend a class period playing other games while practicing and preparing for our summative assignment. Many of these projects include both math and writing, allowing students to use cross circular schema to conduct their project. This can be extremely beneficial, as it encourages students to consider multiple subjects while creating their own project.

While this website is specific to math, I am sure that there are other similar resources available for other content ares. Projects are a great way for students to break out of the traditional classroom norms and teaching, giving students the opportunity to express their understanding and knowledge while having fun with the materials at hand.

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Synthesis Blog 4- Tearing Down the Wall: Literature and Science

Summarize the Article: I explored the importance of literacy in science through the article assigned during class. Science can be better understood and explained with a parallel connection to literature. Students can break down the wall of subjects being focused on one specific area and instead see how each subject is intertwined.

Make Connections: This article made excellent points that better explained and discussed how we can make connections for students between science and literacy. I lacked teachers who made these connections, but loved seeing how others have linked science to poetry, novels, and other literature. However, I was able to see the connection between literacy and science through people like Stephen Hawking, as my teachers would use him as a resource in their classes.

Critique: I think it is important to note that students are going to enjoy or understand some subjects over other subjects, so we must find ways to help students engage with all materials. Science can be confusing and adding in literature to the subject, may be difficult for some students through reading comprehension and understanding. Overall, I feel that the article explained the benefits of building connections and teaching literacy in science.

The Importance of this Article: It is important for students to bridge the gap between science and literacy. One example shared in the article was through various books students might read. A teacher can then discuss the novel with their students to determine what are fiction and non-fiction, as it relates to science. When students are able to make multiple connections to a concept or terminology, they have better retention and understanding of the material being taught. Students will experience a better understanding throughout multiple subjects, when they can see connections within each subject.

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Resource Blog 3

Resource: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtBtcQJ8_jsrjPzb8i1tOsA/playlists

Math can be a difficult concept for students to learn and understand, especially because math becomes more challenging in the middle grades. Therefore, it can be hard to meet each student's needs in class to ensure that they are prepared for assessments and homework problems. As teachers, we must find resources that we can use to assist what we teach in class. I found this YouTube channel called MashUp Math. It is a free resource that can be accessed using YouTube. The channel has created hundreds of math videos, covering many topics that we will teach. On their page, you can click playlist to see the videos organized based upon topic or grade level. There are many playlist created for the middle grades, while also showing the basic concepts taught throughout all math levels. This resource could be extremely beneficial for teachers, students, and parents. Teachers can use this resource to assist their classroom teaching and materials, while students and parents can access the information at home to see the step by step process of solving problems and equations.

While this resource is specific to math, I was able to quickly find channels that are very similar to MashUp Math for other content areas. These resources can help us to better engage our students and provide them with additional tools outside of the classroom. It is important that we do not depend on these videos to do the teaching for us, but rather they are tool to assist us. Videos like this can help students be prepared for homework and assessments allowing students to see different aspects and ways to approach a math problem.

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Synthesis Blog 3: How to Best Use a Textbook

Textbooks are a crucial part of academics in all content areas. However, students and teachers can get bogged down by textbooks. Previously and from my personal experiences, teachers would base their lessons only on the textbook each day, insisting that everything must be taught. But, it is important to see that we can be successful teachers and have successful students without strictly following the textbook. From a teacher's perspective, it can be difficult to sort through the textbook and try to gather the right information without forgetting something or spending too much time on one topic. Meanwhile, students can be overwhelmed by a textbook and neglect learning from the textbook. Therefore, teachers must learn how to best use a textbook.

This chapter gives teachers tools to help sort, read, and learn from a textbook. As a future math teacher, I feel challenged by textbooks, simply because I want to know how to best use them within my classroom. But, I really enjoyed reading about the importance of math textbooks, but also relating to the struggles found within the textbooks. It was helpful to see how some textbooks include interactive programs online that assist the textbook. I think this feature could be extremely beneficial within math, but also used in other content areas through additional online information. I think we must remember to encourage our students to use their textbooks for additional resources, but also to remind them that they do not need to have the entire book read or mastered.

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Resource Blog 2- Textbooks Aren't Enough

https://www.edutopia.org/article/game-changing-practice-fuses-math-and-literacy

It's easy to think, why is literacy important in math. But, if we think about, literacy is the foundation of our schooling practices in all content areas. However, you can immediately jump to the idea that literacy in math is the math textbook with definitions, explanations, and problems. But, there is more to math literacy than just the textbook. 

Many students fear math because of the challenges it might present, especially when it comes to word problems and letter variables. Often times, students struggle with other subjects because their reading comprehension is so low. As a result, all subject areas are impacted. But, this teacher found an approach to assist her students in approaching math problems. She encourages her students to approach a problem, as we have modeled through a think aloud. First, the students listen to the problem without any numerical values. Then, the students break down the problem into smaller pieces to figure out what the problem is asking them to achieve. The students annotate the word problem identifying the information that is important. Finally, the students arrive to an answer and are able to fully comprehend the mathematical solution and literacy associated with the word problem. 

Math classes can benefit from this practice to allow students to process and better explain mathematical terms and concepts. Additionally, I think this approach can be used throughout all content areas, as we encourage students to take a whole problem or text and break it down through annotation to better understand the information being presented. This resource allows students to show what they know through words, sharing with others, and writing. 

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Synthesis Blog 2- "Help for Struggling Readers"

Reading was never a strong suit of mine in school. I was able to understand books that I chose to read; however, school assignments centered around reading were extremely difficult. As a result, I struggled with reading comprehension and showing what I learned and understood from the text. This chapter shared a lot of these similar ideas that many students face. However, the approach throughout the article was how teachers can impact students and shift their mindset. As future teachers, we can see that studies show, "to help our students understand and learn from the tasks we assign them, we must work with their reading process" (278-279, SM). While we are continuing to teach an entire class, we must recognize that we need to alter and shift the assignments and reading based upon each individual student. 

I was encouraged and challenged by the idea that we must build trust with our students in their learning. A student will be more engaged and have a greater desire to learn and grow when they know that we believe in them, as their teacher. I want to promote this environment in my classroom, so that students feel the freedom to express their ideas and thoughts whether they are right or wrong. As a result, students can see that they are not trying to find the solution or arrive to an answer alone but are able to process it with other students or the teacher. For many students, all it takes is for one person to show that they believe in them. I think that we each have the potential to instill confidence in each of our students, regardless of their academic struggles or rigor.

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