Teachings for today:
Lessons about Teaching
1) The Fibonacci Sequence! Everything you ever wanted to know about circles that doesn't deal with Pi....but Phi. Not Phi Kappi Pi or "I Felt a Thi", but just plain Phi. 1.618 will never be the same. Read about it here: http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/prime/articles/fibonac/index.asp
2) A cool game that will help students visualize numbers, work on strategy, and much more is the mathematical wonder game called "Closest to 100". Not to be confused with Bob Saget's
3) A great resource for best practices in the math classroom is a book Written by Jo Boaler titled What's Math got to do with it? You know the Pointer Sisters gave their point of approval. Check it out.
Hip things for Kids:
4) Jack Johnson. The kids, for some insane reason, just love Jack Johnson. Never head of him? There is a reason for that. He is a singer/songwriter with a laid back way to his music. It helps soothe the soul when you have 18 credits worth of classwork to prepare for and hundreds of other responsibilities on your plate. But then again, orange juice also soothes the soul under the same circumstances.
5) Comics!! Comic Con is always great with the kids (and some adults). In fact that is where Triumph the insult dog made his debut. (I'll let you look it up on Youtube). Beyond all the clutter and underneath all the wannabe comic writers stands Jeff Smith and his mega comic book "Bone". Although finished in 2004 this storyline still draws in the kids. Hugely imaginative to kids and adults alike. Bravo Jeff!
6) The Seattle Sounders FC: If you want to sound hip to your students, you will first need to explain that you LOVE the Sounders. Then you will gain their respect by declaring you know what the heck that "FC" stands for in their name. Read carefully....FOOTBALL CLUB. Share that and say simply "With players like Kasey Keller and Fredy Montero how can you not like this team?" You will be the envy of the entire school! Plus they just won the U.S. Open Cup for the 2nd straight year. These guys are good.
Totally random things:
7) Edmonds Woodway HS, where we will be on Saturday, ranks #318 in the country for best school. It also serves the largest population of deaf students due to the range of programs it offers. The more you know.
8) I've printed over 400 pages of reading in the past two days from our Public Library system. Thanks taxpayers.....I mean thanks me! Now the trick will be to read them.
9) John Stewart vs. Rick Sanchez. Now this is funny television. Check out the dailyshow.com and relax. That man Stewart is pretty darn good with his humor.
Funny for the day:
An elderly couple had been experiencing declining memories, so they decided to take a power memory class where one is taught to remember things by association.
A few days after the class, the old man was outside talking with his neighbor about how much the class helped him.
"What was the name of the Instructor?" asked the neighbor.
"Oh, ummmm, let's see," the old man pondered. "You know that flower, you know, the one that smells really nice but has those prickly thorns, what's that flower's name?"
"A rose?" asked the neighbor.
"Yes, that's it," replied the old man. He then turned toward his house and shouted, "Hey, Rose, what's the name of the Instructor we took the memory class from?"
A few days after the class, the old man was outside talking with his neighbor about how much the class helped him.
"What was the name of the Instructor?" asked the neighbor.
"Oh, ummmm, let's see," the old man pondered. "You know that flower, you know, the one that smells really nice but has those prickly thorns, what's that flower's name?"
"A rose?" asked the neighbor.
"Yes, that's it," replied the old man. He then turned toward his house and shouted, "Hey, Rose, what's the name of the Instructor we took the memory class from?"
Cheerio
Very entertaining, my friend. If you want to be hipper, let me know and I'll show you how to size your You Tube video clips!
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