Ms. Tsitsopoulos's Math Blog

Hello everyone and welcome back to my third blog for this semester! For the last two classes, we had two more leading learning activity presentations, where my colleagues both did a presentation on resources for grade 11 and 12 university mathematics, including both functions strands, data management and calculus and vectors. It was interesting to see how to take a university preparation course and find different ways to make math engaging! We have only had leading learning activity presentations on both academic and applied grade 9/10 mathematics. Therefore, it was a good learning experience to expand my tool box with ways to integrate both motivating and engaging activities and include technology to learn mathematical concepts in all strands of grade 11 and 12 mathematics.  The first presentation day included two different activities that covered grade 11 and 12 university preparation functions. The first activity was for MHF4U, grade 12 advanced functions jeopardy....

Hello everyone,              This week I would like to reflect on two activities that were presented in class today for grade 9 and 10 applied mathematics. The first activity was for grade 9 applied math and our class got to learn all about spiral curriculum using a relay race which was extremely engaging and fun for the whole class to participate in and compete. The second activity was also for grade 9 applied and was an online website called Pixton.               The first activity deepened my understanding of the spiral curriculum and we had the chance to discuss pros and cons of this way of teaching mathematics. I also was able to compare this particular activity to a similar relay race activity I used in my practicum which also used the idea of spiraling, however, the curriculum in my classroom was still taught unit by unit. This activity motivated the peers in my class ...

Block One Reflection Hello and welcome back to my Blog for 2019! I haven't blogged for awhile as I was a student teacher for the first time. My first teaching practicum as a Teacher Candidate was an outstanding experience filled with a tremendous amount of learning and professional growth. At the beginning of placement I had the choice to either teach Grade 12 or 11 university functions or grade 9 applied math, I chose the grade 9 class. At first I was extremely intimidated to teach an applied mathematics class, however, I am glad that I had the opportunity to challenge myself. Applied classes are stereotyped to as a “nightmare” to teach, but I had the chance to test a variety of classroom management techniques and was exposed to learning styles and teaching methods that are different then the way I learned growing up in an academic classroom setting. Additionally, I was able to build a positive and professional relationship with students, my associate teacher and oth...