This week for class we were asked to select and watch a video from inTime. Luckily I was able to sort through them by subject and the website listed each of those in the math category by which grade level the lesson was geared towards. I looked through the link for the lesson about modeling quadratic equation, which just happened to be the next chapter we would be talking about in my Honors Algebra 2 class. I read through the accompanied materials and watched the video. I liked how the teacher linked the factored form of quadratic equations to the standard quadratic form using both pencil and paper as well as graphing calculators. The teacher's students were able to make connections between the two as well as write an equation for the general form of a factored quadratic equation. The lesson continued with a "real world problem" as well as the use of the CBR, calculator based ranger, to have the students use the graphs collected to create the quadratic equation for and find the vertex to determine their vertical jump.
I was able to use parts of this lesson today in class. I re-worked how I would typically present this lesson and mimicked the lesson's student lead discovery of the relationship between the factored and general form of the quadratic equations. Students in both classes worked very well with the material and seemed interested in their discovery. When attempting to present the "real-world" problem the teacher lead her students through, my students griped about why all word problem had to do with creating a garden so we changed it to Clark G. wanting to create a swimming pool for his family with his Christmas bonus. They worked through the problem very well, so just phrasing the problem differently I went back to the problem I had intended to do. The students worked the entire hour with their graphing calculators discovering new ways to gather information as well as new ways to solve quadratic equations. So thanks to Mr. L for introducing me to this site and reminding me that math can be discovered even at the high level of Algebra 2.
3 comments:
I love how you changed the problem right on the spot to something that the kids were interested in. It makes it much more fun when you feel you have a say in something. Thanks for the idea on the M&M guy. We actually do touch on maximum, minimum, range, and mean. I will have to give it a try!!
Hi Emilia,
WOW sounds like you have been busy! I think it's great that you found something you could use in your class. Most of the things I found were not directly related to Spanish. That's ok though, I made it work.
P.S. There were a lot of words in your blog that I have no clue what they mean any more!! SCARY! :)
Bill K. wants a pool! He isn't getting a christmas bonus, though. You did very well with making this your own already, meanwhile I am creating wheels and google doc'n.
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