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Feb
7
Generous Students & Parents
February 7, 2010 | Tagged class, news | Leave a Comment
As you know last Saturday I participated in the 2010 Susan G. Komen South Florida Race for the Cure®. Thank you for supporting my efforts. Due to your support and the support of the classes, I was able to meet and exceed my financial goal of $500.
It was a marvelous race with one of the largest crowds that I have witness in all the years of my participation. Of course, it didn’t hurt that the weather was fantastic.
A special thanks to Period 5 who was the winner of the party that will be held Wednesday, Feb. 10
Job Well Done!
Feb
7
Garrett E
“Oh no! The computer isn’t working. What am I going to do?” The average American family uses a computer over 2 hours a day. What would we do if computers were never invented? I don’t know. But three of the reasons people use computers today are for businesses, for emergencies, and just for pleasure.
To begin with, one of the reasons Americans use computers is for businesses. If you want a job these days, you have to know how to use a computer. In a business, computers are useful because they can store information and do almost a whole job at once. None of the people in America could do 30 multiplication facts at once and in a business something has to be able to do that and a computer can. Sometimes business managers pay more for a computer to use to do a job than they would pay a person. But there are always flaws in having only computers to remember things. One example is if you lose power, and you don’t have a generator to give you power, you wouldn’t be able to do any business. Now in a time when you don’t have power to a computer, there has to have been some type of emergency.
In addition, another reason most Americans use computers is in emergencies. As you know, normally when you need something the most, like a phone, you won’t be able to find it. So a computer is a good backup plan for an emergency. Even though computers aren’t the best in fires or robberies, they are good for a family emergency. If you want you can email someone which, unless the person you are emailing is on the computer when you click send, will normally take at least a couple of hours. In other cases, you might want to talk something over with someone live. All you have to do is get on an online chat room or a live web cam. Now the final reason most American families use a computer is the one everyone likes. So read on and find out.
Last but not least, most American families use computers for pleasure. One of the favorites is for computer games. There are many websites that have games on them, and there are also many games that come on discs. The games can be anywhere from playing hide and seek with Barney to extreme sports like skiing away from an avalanche. Another way people use computers for pleasure is for e-mailing each other. On an e-mail, you can say or talk about almost whatever you want. One more good thing about communicating by e-mail is that it’s free. One last thing people do on a computer for pleasure is read and write forums. There are fishing forums, sport forums, how to build boat forums and more. It would only take one computer to do all this and more.
In conclusion three of the reasons most American families use computers are for businesses, emergencies and pleasure. Now you have seen just a few of the reasons most Americans use computers.
Avalois T
TYPE, TYPE goes the computer keys. American families use the computer for many reasons. Some people like to play games such as kids, or check income, such as adults. There is a lot of ways to use the computer. Some people use it for emergencies, business purposes, and some just for pleasure.
To begin, people use the computer for emergencies. Why not? People may have to find where the nearest hospital is. Say for instance, a girl is choking. The family doesn’t have a phone, so they can’t call 911. All they have is a computer. They have to use the computer to know where to go to save her life. Some other emergencies is that somebody could have forgotten a number and do not have a phonebook to look it up. They would go on the computer and look it up.
Secondly, people also use the computer for business purposes. Some people work as accountants at banks where they need the computer. They have to put in the exact amount of money somebody is withdrawing or depositing. Other people use the computer to check income. If they are the manager of a store they have to use the computer to see how much they are earning on a certain product.
Finally, people just use the computer for pleasure. About 90% of kids go on the computer to have fun. Kids mostly play games, some watch movies, videos, or check their mail. When kids get grounded they can only use the computer for homework. The least popular thing to do on the computer is check mail. Some kids are too young for them to have an email address. They should wait until they are about 6 years old to get one and know how to use a computer.
Many American families use the computer for emergencies, business purposes, and for pleasure. Computers are a great way of having fun and getting some information fast. That’s why everybody should use a computer.
Jan
31
#28 Should we ban homework? by Alec, Manisha & Hannah
January 31, 2010 | Tagged Blog, class, Essay | 8 Comments
Alec G
Homework Be Gone! Hooray! No homework! Most kids enjoy the pleasure of not having any math homework. But I say yes to math homework. Math homework is the easiest subject, it’s my favorite, and you always come up with a definite answer.
To start things off, math is the easiest subject. All the methods are explained until you know them backwards. You can easily do homework after you have learned the lesson. If you’re going to ban homework from a subject I’d rather it be Language Arts.
You have to find the hidden meaning and interpret the cause and effect but worst of all grammar. Grammar is as cruel as medieval torture methods. You have to capitalize, punctuate and etc.
Besides being easy, math is my favorite subject. The feeling of turning to a new, crisp page in my math notebook to do my math homework makes me happy. You can always rely on math to stimulate your brain with pleasure.
Finally, math has no hidden meaning. You don’t need to decipher anything or find out things through context clues. Math is straightforward like an arrowhead. You are either right or wrong when it comes to math. There are no partially correct answers like in Language Arts. In conclusion, I think math homework should stay. Its easy, my favorite, and there’s no hidden meaning. Got to go! And do my Math homework!
Manisha Ayyagari
What would happen if your principal decided to ban math homework, possibly forever?
Most people hate math homework but I’m not one of them. I love math homework because it helps me improve my math skills, I don’t forget what I have learned and I don’t get bored while doing math homework.
To start off with, math is a skill that will stay with you forever so you need to be good at math. By doing math homework you improve your skills. For example when you are checking your homework you find mistakes and you learn from them so you won’t make that mistake again.
Have you ever heard the saying “Practice makes perfect”? It’s true if you practice math you will succeed big time. This applies to anything you plan to achieve in. Even an extra 15 minutes a day can help you a lot with math.
Moving forward, when you go home you tend to forget things. It’s the same thing with math when you go home you forget what you have learned in math. If you do math homework your mind will be refreshed and you’ll know what to do the next time you have a test. The disadvantage of not doing math homework is that you forget and you have absolutely no clue what to do when you have to take a test. Not having a hard time doing a test means having math homework.
Proceeding on, when you get bored what do you do? Well there’s really nothing to do. But when you have math homework you are totally occupied and busy. Math homework is like a game when you are trying to figure out equations. It’s as fun as playing video games and there is no way you could possibly get bored. You can even do your math homework with your friends it’s double the fun.
Finally, having math homework helps improve my math skills, I don’t forget what I learned and I don’t get bored while doing math homework. Convinced yet? Join me in my protest to stop the principal from trying to make the wonderful math homework extinct.
Hannah U
“Attention, there will be no more math homework.” To me that sounds like music to my ears. I’m not saying that math homework is bad, it just keeps kids from doing the other things that they need to do like indoor and outdoor activities, sports and clubs, and it keeps kids inside all day.
To start it all off, math keeps us kids from indoor and outdoor activities, such as playing outside, watching movies with friends, shopping, board games, video games, and much, much more. We need to be able to socialize with our friends and be free.
Moving on, keeping up with travel soccer and club meetings can be pretty tough when your loaded with homework. Physical and Mental activities are important in a child’s life. We have got to keep moving. With math homework, there is no time to get up and keep moving.
Last but no least, math homework keeps kids inside all day. We need to be active. Kids need to know what that crisp evening air feels like against their skin. Not dust, flavored drinks, and air conditioning feels like. Sitting inside all day isn’t right when your a kid. We can’t stay inside forever!
You now know why math homework is such a pain! It locks kids up all day and keeps us from doing all our indoor, outdoor, sports, and clubs. If our principal wants to ban math homework, he’s on the right track.
Jan
25
A Big Thank You by Kyle Webb
January 25, 2010 | Tagged class, mentor | 2 Comments
Shortly after the New Year I received a very nice note from Kyle. For those of you who do not know, Kyle mentored our class remotely from Saskatchewan, Canada. Kyle has given me permission to share his letter.
Ms. Ionno & Class,
It was such a pleasure working with you and your students this past semester. Despite some of our technical difficulties, I enjoyed it so much. I really wish I had been able to devote more time to working with your class. Unfortunately, I’ve come to realize that there never seems to be enough time in a day to accomplish everything you’d like to. The experience has really opened my eyes; not only to the endless possibilities created by technology, but to the impact that I can have on a student.
I always knew I had wanted to become a teacher to make a difference, but I had no idea I would be able to make any sort of impact on students in Florida like I saw in your students’ comments. This experience has further inspired me to become a teacher, and the best one that I can be. So thank you very much! Without such a great mentor who was willing to try things out and give me an opportunity to come into your classroom, this may have never happened.
Your students really are lucky to have such an awesome teacher who is open to new ideas and willing to try new things. I wish I would have had such a great teacher when I was a student. I really hope we can continue to keep in touch in the future and that I can learn even more from you about how to be a great teacher.
Keep in touch, and all the best in the New Year!
Kyle Webb
Jan
24
#3 Decimals: Are they really important? by Sera & Daniel A.
January 24, 2010 | Tagged Blog, bonus math, Essay | Leave a Comment
Sera
What do you mean you don’t have to learn decimals! You are as dumb as a June-bug if you think you don’t have to learn decimals. You use decimals everyday. When you’re washing dishes you have to put a fraction of the soap you want to use in the dishwater. And yes a fraction is a decimal just in a different form. Decimals are important because you use them in almost every (well paying) job, when you’re dealing with money, and while you are doing your chores.
You must and this is a must know decimals for any and almost every job. For example if you want to be a singer you have to save a fraction of your time to dedicate time to singing. Another example is if your an artist you have to a save a fraction of paint for your next picture. And remember a fraction is a decimal. Guess what else there are a lot of that get fired because they don’t know decimals.
Ohhhh… yeah by the way you’re going to be broke, if you don’t learn decimals’. Someday you’re going to buy something for 15 dollars, give the cashier a 20 and get 2 dollars back. You want to know why because you don’t know how to subtract decimals. I’m sorry to say your going to live in a box begging for money. And before you say anything you are sooo not living with me.
Daniel
What is .25 plus .40, decimals are important to know in life. I have a friend that doesn’t think decimals are important. Decimals help you solve everyday equations, help you to not have an embarrassing moment in public, and they help you solve problems that you may have in life.
First of all my friend should know that decimals help you solve every day equations. Such as when you are purchasing an item or counting how much money you have after purchasing an item. This can help you know how much you are spending on a purchase with decimals or cents. It also helps you pay bills when you grow up in life. Decimals are very important in life.
Second of all my friend should know decimals because they help you in public. If someone asked you to add something up or to add dollars for them and you don’t know how to because you don’t know decimals, that would be embarrassing. You wouldn’t want to be looking like a fool in front of everyone 84% of people knows how to add decimals.
The last reason why you should learn decimals is because they help you solve problems. If you have a money problem or just an everyday decimal problem, decimals help you solve them. Decimals even help you solve non-math problems. Decimals add to your intelligence and understanding.
Decimals are important to know, they help you solve everyday problems, they help you avoid embarrassing moments, and they help you solve non-math problems.
Jan
18
#2 STOP…In the name of MATH! No more Calculator by Ari & Rachel Z
January 18, 2010 | Tagged Blog, class, Essay | 6 Comments
Essay #2 Persuade your friends to stop relying on a calculator for simple calculations.
Ariana D
You’re in math class working on how to solve larger problems with simpler ones. Your friend gets called on and the math teacher asks, “So what is 63/7?” You watch as your friend sneaks out a calculator. They’ve been doing it so often; they do it as fast as lightning, not looking, but sneaking a peek to get the answer, 9. You think, “They’ve been using the calculator too much.” All you have to do is talk to them. Tell them that if they use a calculator too much, they will fail their tests, hurt their brain, and if their calculator dies when they actually need it, that’s bad.
Firstly, they will fail their tests; it would be a permanent grade. Their parents would get mad. That grade would be hanging over their head for the rest of their life. Now, I may be exaggerating a little, but it is true. Just think, bad grades mean a bad job, and that isn’t very fun, now is it.
Next, they would hurt their brain. To help, they could play educational games, such as Brain Age. These give you the training needed, and gets your brain running and simulating. These games are educational, but fun. Make a goal; play educational games and tell yourself, once you’ve done a game, treat yourself to something like a computer non-educational game, you love!
Lastly, if the calculator dies when you actually need it, you will have to use your brain, not the calculator’s. Also, if it dies, you know that means you use it too much, and you can’t always be so dependent on technology. If you were too dependent, it would mean that if one thing dies, you feel like everything is gone, even though you still have so much before you.
So, just think about it when you or a friend pulls out a calculator for simple problems. Think about what could happen; failing tests, getting some kind of brain damage, and how, if that calculator-that you think is your only resource-dies in a real time of need, you won’t have it. You’ve just got to think!
Rachel Z
Relying on a calculator is no answer for problems. Doing the math is important and many people do it. If you use a calculator you won’t know how to do the math, homework incomplete, and failing tests.
To begin with, using a calculator for simple math work won’t teach you how to do the math. For example, 2+2=4. That is simple math for everyone. If you did that math on a calculator than you would probably forget the answer in less than a day. When you learn how to add 2+2, you learned how to do it and you learned the answer. Even though as you get older the math gets harder, if you rely less on a calculator it will seem easier to you like 2+2. Calculators won’t teach you how to do an equation like 2a +4=16, which the answer is, a=6.
Second of all, if your teacher gives you homework and you turn it in the next day. Of course everyone else did they’re work and didn’t use a calculator. Your teacher will accept their papers but not yours because you showed none of your work. If you didn’t rely on a calculator you would be able to turn in your homework. Your homework would be incomplete, and if your homework were incomplete you would get a zero. If you could get the right answers and a completed homework why wouldn’t you, after all it is a pretty easy grade. If the question was like 20.7a-12=14 than you might need a calculator for that question because it really isn’t a simple math problem. Some things need to be calculated on paper and others you might need a calculator.
Lastly, on a test you can’t use a calculator. When you rely on a calculator you will most likely fail the test because you don’t know how to do the math. I have never relied on a calculator because when I tried I got yelled at by my past math teacher and my parents because I failed one of my tests. If you rely on a calculator and come unprepared for a test you will fail. When you fail you will most likely get yelled at, so why go through all that trouble? Just learn how to do it and stop relying on a calculator for problems like 2a+4=16. Even if you use your calculator you might get it wrong.
Stop relying on your calculator for simple math problems or else you won’t learn how to do the work, your homework will be incomplete and you will most likely fail your math tests. No sense in getting in going through all that trouble when you can do it right the first time.
Jan
18
FETC 2010
January 18, 2010 | Tagged Blog, bonus math, news | 1 Comment
FETC
Last week I went to FETC. If you have never been there and you are passionate about technology as I am, it is a must. This was my fourth visit and I learn something new each time.
Last year I was sponsored by eInstruction and because I was required to remain on the vendor floor to promote their products I was not able to attend any of the breakout sessions.
This year I decided to go on my own and was able to attend several sessions that I would like to talk about today and also tell you about my experience and what I learned.
I arrived on Wednesday around 2:30 and by the time I checked in and got settled it was just about time for the opening session in the Convention Center. It was there that I met up with the Palm Beach crew from the district Tech Department.
The keynote speaker was Ed Begley Jr. who is an actor, environmentalist and star of the Planet Green Series Living With Ed. He gave an informative, humorous and enjoyable keynote address highlighting the role education takes on important issues such as global climate change, pollution and dependency on Middle Eastern oil.
Thursday: I had my day planned with all of the sessions that I wanted to attend. The problem was that there were so many good sessions it was hard to choose. Since I am currently working with Mr. Michael Kaechele a Math Teacher at the Valleywood Middle School in Michigan, I decided to start with on a session on videoconferencing. When I was collaborating with Mr. Webb from Canada we attempted videoconferencing several times using the district’s approved Adobe Connect. Unfortunately, I was never successful with this method the many times we tried to connect. It was very discouraging. So my goal was to find something better. One of the top recommendations from this session was Skype. Countless districts throughout Florida and the country are using Skype to conduct videoconferences in the classroom. Unfortunately, our district blocks this application.
My second session was “Twitter to the Fifth Power”. As many of you know, I love Twitter! Although I thought I knew everything I needed to know about Twitter I decided to attend anyway and boy am I glad I did. Obviously, I really didn’t know it all and was able to learn a lot more. But the most important message that was conveyed by the speaker, Leslie Fisher, was that “all” and she stressed “all” schools should be on Twitter. I am taking this message back to my school and class and will begin to encourage my “Parents” to begin following me @msionno on Twitter.
It was at this session that I saw several teachers that I recognized from one of the private schools in our district. It was nice to see the Principal and was surprised to find out that they closed the school for two days and the entire faculty was at FETC including the head Secretary. I applaud this school for their commitment to technology. And just think that I paid my own way to the conference because of my commitment to bringing my students into the 21st century and exposing them and myself to Web 2.0 technology.
After lunch I spend a little time looking at the vendor hall before the afternoon sessions started. Cloud Computing was my next session. One of the things I am faced with on a daily basis in my classroom and at home is the storage and access of my files. I have three computers in my classroom and one at home and invariably the file I need is always on the wrong computer. Using some of the ideas presented in this session I now have some ideas how to solve this problem. I already use google.docs but I never heard of Slide Rocket that is an online presentation software, which allows you to have your presentations stored in the “cloud” ready to use from any location.
Ruston Hurley presented the next session on free tools by a Google Certified Teacher. Of course most of what he shared dealt with Google applications such as forms, calendar, and docs all of which I already use but will hopefully use more in the future. He was a dynamic speaker and enjoyed the session immensely. For a full list of his tools go to freetoolsoutthewazoo.
Thursday night I attended my very first Tweet Up. According to PC Magazine a Tweet Up is a gathering of users brought together via Twitter. For example, at a conferences, Twitter is used by attendees to arrange to meet after the show for discussions and to meet people whom they have been following in their Personal Learning Network (PLN) and putting a face to the Avatar. I actually made it to YouTube. If you look real hard you will see me in the blue and grey striped shirt. I am famous! Tweet Up
Now here is the greatest part about the Tweet Up. There was a teacher there who has been following me on Twitter and knew I would be at this get-together. Kelly and I taught at Bear Lakes many, many years ago and we have not seen each other since she moved out of Palm Beach County. It made the evening even more special seeing her again.
Friday morning began with a fantastic session on what I thought was to be on social networking and bookmarking. What I got was so much more. Engaging 21st Century Learners
In addition to information on VoiceThread, Glogster, Animoto, Voki, GoogleVoice & Ning all of which I have used or am still using, I was introduced to EtherPad. I was very excited about this application as a way for the students to collaborate among themselves. I have already started a page and although I have not introduced it to the classes as of yet, some of my 6th graders have found it and started discussing their homework. How great is that?
My last session was on Moodle. Moodle is a course management system (CMS) Open Source software package designed to help educators create effective online courses. Unfortunately, although it is a wonderful package this product did not meet my needs at this time.
I had a little time to continue browsing the vendor hall where I was able to network with many companies that I had heard of but knew very little about. One of the products that caught my attention was Edmodo. Edmodo is a private microblogging platform that teachers and students can use to send notes, links, files, alerts, assignments, and events to each other.
Although many of the products that I was exposed to at this conference may overlap in their application, I plan to try them and weed out those that do not meet my needs and make use of those that do.
To summarize, these are many of the things that I saw at FETC and will be trying in my class.
Thanks to Lee Kolbert & Cindy Lane for this Animoto Presentation
I look forward to FETC2011 and will know next year to start a fund raiser early to defer my expenses. Any ideas?
Jan
11
#7 What is your favorite branch of math? by Brieonna
January 11, 2010 | Tagged Blog, class, Essay | Leave a Comment
Most people like one particular branch of math more than others. What is your favorite part of math and why is it your favorite?
My favorite part of math is Algebra. I like doing Algebra because it makes sense to me. If you learn the basic laws of Algebra you can always do it. The deeper you get into Algebra you realize that if you understand the basic’s you will always be able to solve the problem.
I also like Algebra because it’s fun. You are able to solve the problem and then move on. It’s not like other subjects where it takes a long time to finish. Other subjects you can spend the whole day on one part. Algebra is different. Once you solve the problem you can move into the next one.
I feel that Algebra is easy. When I do Algebra I am able to finish it quickly. It’s the one subject that I understand and like. I don’t mind doing my Algebra homework.
In math there are different ways to do things, but Algebra leads to lots of different type of solutions to problems. It is interesting to learn the different rules in Algebra. For example if you do something to one side you need to do it to the other. It’s amazing how scientist discovered Algebra.
I feel that if I learn more about Algebra I will always be able to excel in math.
Jan
5
January Birthdays
January 5, 2010 | Tagged birthday, Blog | Leave a Comment
Click on the balloons to visit this new page. You may come back here to leave comments. If you leave a comment remember to put your name in appropriately.
- John C
- Alec G
- Freddie D
- Colby B
- Greg F
- John V
- Eric G
- Tyler S
- Hannah U
- Rudo M
- Rachel F
Jan
2
Convince your friend that mathematics is important.
RACHEL
A basketball goes swooshing through the hoop. A finger delicately strikes a key. A bike swerves around a corner. All of this has to do with math. Math is important because knowing it will help you in school, you need it to solve problems, and we use it every day in life.
To kick it off, math is an important part of the world because knowing it will help you in school, and not just in math. Math can help you in almost any subject. In art, you use composition and symmetry to draw a picture. In science, you use accurate measurements to create new things. In reading, you have to pace yourself and control your vocal volume. Lastly, in social studies, you have to read distances and latitudes on maps. As my science teacher says, “If you know math, science will fall right into your lap.”
Moving on, you need math to solve problems. For example, your bike’s tires need to be filled with air, but you don’t know how much. Just use math! Measure the circumference of the tire and the width of the rubber portion. Then, you can use these measurements to find out how much air it can hold. If we didn’t have math, then there would be no way to figure that problem out. Math is the solution to all of your problems!
To wrap it up, we use math every day in life! You may not realize it, but every time you buy a candy bar or score the winning goal, you’re using math. Whenever you buy anything, you work with change and dollar amounts and tax. In sports, you use force and angles. Think about it. There aren’t many things you can do without math. You couldn’t even get a test grade without it. Imagine life without math.
In a nutshell, math can help in all different school subjects, it really helps when solving problems, and we use it even without knowing it in everyday life. So why is math important? The reasons are infinite. Math just about led Washington across the Delaware. Math-we couldn’t live without it.
Anthony
I have to tell to my friend that math is important. It is important because you have to learn it, have to use it when you grow up and it is one of the two important subjects in the school.
You need to learn it because it is so important. That if you do not know, you can just trop out of school. You have to learn addition, subtraction, division, and multipulcation. Also there is square route and all different other things. That is why it is so important to learn it.
Also when you grow up you will have to use it. Most likely all jobs have math in it. So you will have to learn it. That is why you should learn math because you need it when you grow up.
Also it is one of the two important subjects in school. It is because you need it for middle school, high school, and colledge. Like if you fail math you will never get into a good school. That is why math is one of the two important subjests in the school.
That is why it is important for you that math is important. It is important because you can learn it, have to use it when you grow up and is one of the two important subjects in the school.
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