Margaret Leland- Grade 5 Humanities
In a recent Learning Strategies class we had been discussing the interconnected nature of the pillars of our Exemplary Learning framework. The students were tasked with talking about two questions: How does relationships and communication relate to the other pillars? and, Do the pillars all connect to student success?
After about 10 minutes discussion one of the groups looked like they had found a ‘big’ answer. When I approached their group they stated that the only way they could really do it was to develop a mathematical formula to represent their thinking.
I found this great, as another class has used venn diagrams and bar graphs to represent similar discussions just a few weeks ago. Upon further exploration of their formula they agreed to a few modifications until it was just the way they wanted to represent their thinking. We then put their “formula” up on the board for the other four groups to solve. Not a minute had elapsed when all the factors had been guessed and the answer found.
This class was so engaged in this process and so proud of the unexpected outcome. This for me was one of those little “this is why I teach” moments!!