Final reflection

Hi guys!

In this last entry, I would like to remark that the experience of doing this blog has been really enriching, because it has given me the opportunity to reflect, look for information and share all my ideas about measurement in Mathematics.

My biggest thought after finishing the blog is that Maths teachers should always be in continous development and never stop learning about new approaches, tasks or dynamics that they can apply in class. Only if we look for engaging activities that boost students' motivation and create a significant knowledge, we would be developing our children's abilities in the greatest extent.

Thanks to the development of this blog, I have discovered a lot of interesting tasks that I am sure I will carry out when I become a teacher. Finally, I hope that they've also been useful for you guys, as a starting point for your own ideas and dynamics.

We, as teachers, have the power to change the world!

We handle money since we are born...

Hi guys!

It is clear that money is something indispensable in our current society so that we should learn as soon as possible how to "measure" it. For this purpose, teachers can put into practice a wide range of possibilities in class to make children work with different amounts of money in a practical way.

One activity that has come to my mind to learn these contents consists in creating a kind of street market in the classroom. Some students would be "sellers" and others would be "consumers". They can even exchange their roles during the development of the dynamic. Thus, through this type of activity, students would learn in a significant way how to get on with money by measuring and counting it.

As materials, students can bring some "plastic food" or toys that they have at home. It would be also a great idea if somebody brings a "cash register". In this way, the task would become something really appealing and attractive for children!

I've found a video where students do a "street market" in class. I attached it so you can see it!

Projects that motivate!

Hi guys!

Nowadays, there are a lot of new methodologies at their peak. Change, innovation and creativity are some of the words that surround education. Thus, an approach that is very mentioned is "learning based on doing projects". It is for this reason that I will propose you a kind of project you can do in class to work on measurement changes.

This project is about creating some stairs that represent the conversion of length measurements. For this purpose, we can use different materials, including cardboard, sheets, sellotape and colours. A good idea would be to divide our classmates in little groups of three or four students each and give them autonomy to carry out the project.

As I see it, a project of this type greatly favours the autonomous learning of students, the development of their intelligences and teamwork. For all these reasons, I recommend you to put into practice this activity in class!

A fun way to measure the perimeter!

Hi guys!

As I said in previous entries, manipulation and experimentation are very important aspects when learning Maths. It is for this reason that I will propose you a visual, manipulative activity that we can carry out in class to work the concept of perimeter and its measurement.

It is a fact that measurement and geometry are perfectly related. Therefore, the contents of one block and another are linked. In this way, the activity I propose also includes geometry.

For this task, the only material that we need are ropes and cork figures. As far as I'm concerned, it is a good idea to ask children to bring their own resources, but the teacher can have some extra material.

With regard to class management, the teacher can organize pupils in cooperative groups composed of four o five students each. Thus, each group will have some flat geometric figures in their tables and they have to measure their perimeter. These figures can be made of cork. And how are they going to do it? Well, they will do it using ropes and then measuring the piece of string that corresponds to the outline of each figure.

Personally, I think it is not a difficult task to carry out in class and it can be really interesting for children. After doing the activity, children are more likely to acquire some significant knowledge about measuring perimeters in a manipulative way. I pretty recommend this activity for your class!

The potential of Jclic in Maths classes

Hi guys!

As we all know, ICTs are an extremely powerful tool in our society in general and in education in particular. Thus, technology is a very useful tool that, if we use it properly, it opens a wide range of didactic possibilities. What is not good is to use ICTs to project the textbook or put a video from time to time. As teachers, I strongly believe that we have to be aware of the potential of ICTs and put them to good use, because we can do wonderful things with a computer and a digital whiteboard.

To work measurement in Maths class, we have many opportunities to include technology, for example through games, videos, images or projects. One of the most useful resources we can use is "Jclic". But... what is "Jclic"? Well, it is an environment for the creation, realization and evaluation of multimedia educational activities, developed in the Java programming language. Here, we can look for the tasks related to the Maths' topics we want to work with our students and choose those which best fit with our students' needs and interests.

Based on my own experience, I encourage you to use this programme in your Maths classes! Here I show you two screenshots I made from two different Jclic activities related to measurement:

Let's not forget that we can also measure time

Hi guys!

I've thinking about what kind of things we can measure in our diary life and the first magnitudes that come to my mind are: Mass, Length or Temperature. It is true that all these magnitudes are extremely important day-to-day, but there are others that are equally significant.

Thus, one magnitude I see very important to learn to measure correctly is "Time". Although we all know that time is relative, we are fully aware that, at the same time, it is something totally measurable. Therefore, we should work with these concepts with our students. For this purpose, we can carry out different kinds of activities. For example, during my last general intership, we created in class an "analog clock" made of cardboard to measure minutes and hours.

The truth is that the task was so successful, because children found it really fun and interesting at the same time that they acquired some significant knowledge.

Here I show you the result of two students to encourage you to carry out this activity in class!

Open your mind to create your own materials!

Hi guys!

I think that producing our own materials can be a really positive didactical tool to work with our students. In fact, Mathematics is a subject that require the maximum degree of manipulation and experimentation. Thus, if we dedicate some sessions to create some new resources with recycled materials, both from class or students' house, we can promote a creative and challenging environment.

With regard to this topic, I've found a really interesting video which shows an instrument made with recycled materials to measure the weight. To make this resource, we only need a pair of scissors, a ruler, a marker, two bottles and some colouring. Therefore, it is easy to do in class with our students.

Here, I attach the video for you. Hope you like it!

Use your body!

Hi guys!

What better instrument to measure than our own body? When children learn from close experiences or references, they become actively involved in the teaching-learning process and develop their personal autonomy.

A really good idea would be that students measure some parts of their bodies, such us theis nails, handspans, steps or fingers. After that, they can use these references to measure different objects of the classroom (walls, windows, tables, etc.). In this way, children have to take into account what part of the body is more appropriate to measure each thing. For example, to measure a small thing, it would be appropriate to use nails or fingers but for bigger things it is better to use steps.

This task could be even more engaging if we organize our students in cooperative groups so that they can work together to reach a common objective. We can give prizes to winners or create a kind of "competition"... Moreover, the cooperative methodology is the most appropriate in order to attend to diversity correctly.

I'm sure that I will carry out this activity when I become a teacher. Do you?

Let's play

Hi guys!

I've been reflecting on how children better learn Maths in general and measurement in particular. In this way, I have come up with the answer easily. When they are actively involved during the session, they are much more likely to acquire significant knowledge. The question is: how can we encourage our students to be actively involved in our classes?

Firstly, it is essential that we take into account children's interests and needs in order to make our classes meaningful and interesting for them. Secondly, it is so appealing if we use games in our Math class or if we relate it with other subjects, such us Physical Education. Thus, including movement in our sessions, we are contributing to the acquisition of significant knowledge and the development of Multiple Intelligences.

I found a really interesting video that I would like to share with all of you to see some examples in which we can relate Maths and Physical Education through gamification. I'm sure I'll take these ideas to my future Mathematics classes!

My presentation

Hi everyone! I'm Laura Ramírez, I'm 21 years old and I'm studying to be a Primary School teacher. I love what I'm becoming (as a teacher) and the passion I always demonstrate for my future job. During all my internship periods, I have enjoyed a lot and have always tried to give the best of myself and also get the best out of my students.

When I was at school and even at higher levels, one of my favourite subjects was Maths. Therefore, I find it a pleasure to teach it when I become a teacher. During my last general intership, I made my didactic intervention on this subject. To achieve my teaching objectives, I prepared many manipulative and visual materials as well as games. As I see it, my didactical proposal was successful with my pupils so that it encouraged me to continue investigating, studying and learning.

Through the subject "Didáctica de la Medida", I would like to learn in a practical and real way what kind of activities and methodology I can carry out to work the contents referred to this block of Mathematics.

To support my own learning process, this blog will be used to express ideas and share information about how we can work the measurement in a different way with our students!