I mulled around some things, and came up with my preliminary First Day Activity for Precalculus. I could still change things, and I don't know the timing of it, so maybe I'll add more "mathy" things just in case the kids end up having a vast amount of time at the end. I'm excited about it because I'm nosy and curious and want to see how they answer the various quesitons.
Here it is:
I love this. I might steal #3, but only offer the first question (and maybe others like it). Good way to get at mindset issues.
ReplyDeleteWhat are you hoping to get at with #1?
Hi Sue. Number one ..... Mostly I am just curious what they will come up with when they are faced with such open endedness. When I step out of their way, they mostly surprise me. I also want to do more of this later, and so I am also testing if I need more structure or different pictures or what.
ReplyDeleteI would love it if you would post some of their responses to #1, and what you make of them. When the time comes. (I start on August 19. You?)
ReplyDeleteI'll update ... Our PD is on the 19th, and the kids come back on the 26th. Good times. Have a great start of your year ... What the heck, have a great WHOLE year!
ReplyDeleteYou too. May your students be entranced by your passion, may they work and think like never before.
ReplyDeleteOh you are way ahead of me. Today was the first day I even thought about this year's courses. I love starting my precalc kids with math on the first day, but nothing I teach and not really the new content- just math. I also like to get an idea who works with others and who can't or won't yet. This looks like a neat idea to get them going without a right or wrong answer. That always throws them so at the start of the year.
ReplyDeletetrish
I like to see that, too, Trish, (work habits and social habits). Also, I think I would go nuts with myself if it was all administrative tasks. I try to rush through the basics (seating chart set up and name pronunciation and such).
ReplyDeleteHi! I love, love your ideas, and appreciate you for sharing! I will be "borrowing" your work and I've already shared with others at our school. I can't wait to see what the students do with such open ended questions, and I have been searching for something, so you've made my planning much easier. Love to get their thoughts on mindset, too. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteThanks, K. :) Borrow away and I'm glad someone else can experiment with it. I was also thinking of making the 1st question ultimately a wall thing. The students would get sticky notes, and put one or more of their thoughts on each and everyone would paste it around the blown up picture ... somewhere in the hall, so others could see it. I'll think on that.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently a college student studying math education and I stumbled upon your blog. I love the idea of the first day of school activity because I can see it won't scare students away from precalc and you can also get a feel for what your students are like and where their minds may wander when given a chance. This isn't something often found in math classes so it was nice to see you reaching out in different directions :)
ReplyDeleteI was looking for something fun to do the first day back in my precal class, and I came across this activity. It looks like a lot of fun. I was interested to know how it went when you used it in class, and if there was anything you would change. I think I might like to borrow it to try the first day if it's okay with you.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeaneen. I honestly can't remember back that far. I think they were engaged the whole period. If I used it in the future, I might have them put their thoughts of the space station on sticky notes and have them post them and then read other notes and then add on to thoughts or expand on other people's thoughts. Hope you have a good experience with it if you use it.
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