How can we engage students? Meaningful Contexts!So let's nab two birds with one stone and use core curricula to teach social understanding. Here are some links for lesson plans that combine Math & Social Justice. (I will re-post as I try some lessons out for lower elementary)
First Grade
Algebra/Discreet Mathematics and +
Quick Ideas Across The Grade Levels
Relevance Project
It is vital that we teach children to have a moral compass, and also help them see the practical applications for the math "they are never going to need in real life." I've heard these anti-math comments as early as first grade! (Hopefully not from my students)
I really believe children naturally want to be good and protect each other. Let's let them exercise that in constructive, standards-based ways!
Here's a Counter Argument to My Post for Fun:
http://instructivist.blogspot.com/2005/06/social-justice-math.html
(I truly think application is vital to fostering a child's love for math - politics, per say, can be neutral from the teacher)
Some REALLY great resources here! - thanks for all these helpful tips!! Now all that's left is to try them!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a firm believer that engagement has to start with the teacher-if I am not engaged myself, how I can expect my students to be? Also, engagement is sometimes masked my compliance, be sure to gauge engagement by student product, not just behaviour. Engagement comes from engaging supplemental texts, classroom environment and culture, and most of all-RELEVANCE. It's up to us as educators to make the connections from the known to the unknown...so why not make it connect to their 21st century lives?
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