-a research project by Kevin Sonico and Louis Cheng (grade 8/9 Math teachers) Terms such as benchmarks, competencies, standards, and outcomes are used interchangeably (Brindley, 2001) to indicate objectives that students must achieve. Hereafter referred to as outcomes-based assessment, the use of objectives in assessment compares student learning and progress with the intended targets. These… Continue reading Outcomes based assessment: Planning for assessment tasks
Cynthia Nilsson~ Grade 9 Math/Science Pre-service teacherWerklund School of Education As a graduating student from the Werklund School of Education, experiencing my final practicum experience at Connect Charter, one of my professional goals was to focus on assessment for learning in a real and meaningful way, rather than only assessment of learning. With the support… Continue reading Outcomes Based Assessment and Feedback Loops
Heather Melville- Grade 4 Math and Science In July 2013, I had the privilege to work with students, teachers, Galileo Network experts and researchers at the University of Calgary. (Brent Davis – Professor and chair of mathematics education, Krista Francis Poscente – IOSTEM Director). We met in May to discuss the research portion of the… Continue reading Spatial Reasoning
Kevin Sonico~ Grade 9 Math and Science Some have referred to them as glorified whiteboards. SmartBoards have had the unfortunate reputation of digitizing technology that was already in its own way a useful tool. Some teachers may have even requested for the removal of SmartBoards for the use of that valuable real estate behind it.… Continue reading Using the SmartBoard to Teach Algebra
by Deirdre Bailey Cross-posted on Savouring the Ish I’ve got a novel on iPads in the grade four classroom waiting to be written. Lots of discoveries, ideas, struggles and triumphs. I just need to find the time to document it all properly. This brief gem, however, is too awesome not to share. Earlier this year, our… Continue reading Crowd Sourcing Fourth Graders
Candice Shaw- Grade 7 Math and Science In Grade 7, simple mathematical operations are not often a focus of instruction. If they are, it is in relation to operations with decimal numbers. Extending addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division processes to decimal numbers does not seem like a difficult task to the math savvy person, but… Continue reading Alternative Methods of Multiplication
Does the Weaselhead Natural Area produce enough oxygen to sustain Calgarians? Greg Neil~ Grade 6 Math and Science Our grade 6 students investigated this question in their Math/Science classes this year. The question was developed as part of a brainstorming session with students. This inquiry required the use of numerous mathematical skills, introduced students to… Continue reading Trees and Forests Inquiry Grade 6
CSS Math & Science Inquiry Projects Database Our Math and Science Team has created a Google Doc to house a database of inquiry projects that they will use throughout the year. The goal of this database is to provide a place where teachers within the school and ultimately, teachers from outside the school, can see… Continue reading Math & Science Inquiry Projects
-by Kevin Sonico “Show me your ‘thinking’.” “Explain your process.” These are two statements that are often used to encourage students to communicate their strategies in solving a word problem. In my experience, what is often produced, written, and described are algorithms, equations, and other symbolic representations. Rarely have students submitted strategies that comprised of… Continue reading Action Research: The Model Method in Solving Word Problems
-by Candice Shaw, Grade 6 Math/Science In the Grade 6 curricula, there are many opportunities for meaningful integration between subjects. The Sky Science unit and Large Number topics fit harmoniously together. With a focus on problem solving, students first went about solving a variety of astronomy themed problems, such as “How many times further is… Continue reading Big Numbers and Sky Science: Grade 6 Math/Science Integration
