Newbie

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Permalink Reply by Tanya Gray on June 3, 2007 at 3:13pm

I have been teaching 7th grade math for quite awhile - the last 5 years in Goodland, KS, but I am by no means an expert. I love my job and love this age group of kids. (Many of my friends say - "Somebody has to love them. And I guess that someone is me!)

As far as advice - keep them busy. Use lots of hands-on, exploratory, technology based activities.

I would love the do collaborative projects with classrooms from other places. Interested?

Permalink Reply by Renee Smith on August 27, 2007 at 5:36pm

Lee
I taught middle school math for 12 years in Hutchinson, Ks before taking a job as a math curriculum specialist this year. I would agree with Tanya and also add cooperative learning. I used to be a sit and get (or Sage on the Stage) type teacher. I finally wised up and realized that kids learn best when they are talking and teaching others. I learned to guide on the side and never went back. The more you can teach conceptually (as opposed to procedurally) the better. Really dig into your new standards and find out what your kids need to know, teach vocabulary, and the more concrete applications the better.

Permalink Reply by Britt Gow on April 17, 2008 at 2:48am

Hi Lee,
I am also a year 7 maths teacher (of six years) and although I am no expert, my students have fun in class and most of them learn quite a lot! My blog has an example of a good hands-on activity students did about calculating volume. Go to Technoscience.
Another successful learning activity includes drawing (with compasses) different types of triangles, cutting them out and showing how the angles always add to 180 degrees. Have fun!