The purpose of week of inspirational math is to help students develop a growth mind set. An exapmple of having a growth midsent is beliveing that you can learn math to the best of your abilities. The week was basicaly to insprie students trough diffrent pieces of work troughout the week.
|
Activities done troughout the week
1. Building Shapes- We used a piece of rope to build 3-D Shapes, we had to justify our answers and prove that our shape was built accurately.
2. Number Visual Pennies- For this activity we fouced on identifying patterns and we did this to think about numbers and find a total amount (100 Pennies).
3. One-Cut Geometry- In this activity we had draw a scalene triangle in the middle of a square, then we had to cut it out with just one straight cut.
4. Square Mania- For this activity we were given a paper with a diagram with a pattern on it, our job was to verify the number of squares and lines on the diagram.
2. Number Visual Pennies- For this activity we fouced on identifying patterns and we did this to think about numbers and find a total amount (100 Pennies).
3. One-Cut Geometry- In this activity we had draw a scalene triangle in the middle of a square, then we had to cut it out with just one straight cut.
4. Square Mania- For this activity we were given a paper with a diagram with a pattern on it, our job was to verify the number of squares and lines on the diagram.
Video 1: Strategies for Learning Maths
The first video we watched talked about diffrent strategies for learing math and working on problems. They talked about how working in groups help and drawing it out when working on math. This video really gave me ideas on strategies I can use when learing math, because usually when I get stuck on math problems I just quit, but now I know diffrent strategies that can help me move past that.
Video 2: Speed is not Important
This second video talked about how when working on math problems speed is not inportant. Because most mathmaticians think very deeply and just because you can't do it fast, does not mean you aren't good at math. This video was really inspring because when I do math it takes me a really long time to solve a problem, because I am not that good a simple math.
Video 3: Brains Grow and Change
This video destroyed the myth that people were just born with a math brain. It talked about how when you are thinking very deeply your brain is actually growing our making more connections. This video really helped me understand that I can learn math to the best of my abilities. This is because when I was in middle school I always thought I was not a math person, but no I know that I can learn anything I put my mind too.
Video 4: Believe in Yourself
This video talk about believing in yourslelf. This is because believing in yourself is very important when doing math this is because your brain will actually believe what you think. So if you are thinking you can't do this and you aren't a math person you will acutally believe it (fixed mindset). If you believe and yourself and your abilities you will succeed as a mathmatician (growth mindset). This video really incouraged me to believe in myself because I will do better if I do.
Video 5: Mistakes are powerful
This video talks about how mistakes, challenges, and struggles are really good for your brain. This is because when you make mistakes your brain grows, your brain is like a muscle the more you work it the stronger it gets. This video helped me come more comfortable making mistakes because now I know that if my brain is challenged that more stronger it will get.
Square Mania
For this problem we had to confirm that only ten line segments were used to create this figure and that there are 17 squares in the figure. I chose this problem because it really challenged my perspective and the way I look at things. The way I first approached this problem is by first counting the line segments and making sure that one ten were used. Than I counted the squares to see if they were 17 squares in the figure, but I only counted 12. So I could confirm that only ten line segments were used but I couldn't say there was 17 squares. After some indivudual work time I talked to my partner and she said that there was 17 squares but In my mind there was only 12 so I said there is only 12. Then she showed me something that completly went over my head when working on this problem, you can make five 2 by 2 squares. After that I started color coding all of the squares, I colored all the obvious squares pink and the 2 by 2 squares I traced them each a diffrent color.
A challeged I faced when working on this problem was not being able to see the other squares, I wan unable to see past my perspective. I overcame this challenge by talking to another person and listing to their perspective. That really was eye opening seeing how they saw the diagram, they were able to see the 2 by 2 squares while I could just see the 1 by 1 squares.
A habit of a mathematician I used when working was Collaborate and Listen this problem this is because I shared my perspective and explained how I only saw 12 squares and I had to listen to my partner explain how she got 17 squares. Another habit of a math matematician I used was Take Apart and Put Back Together this is because I had to break down the squares to find all 17 squares. Listing and collaborating was imporantat for me to understand this problem.
A habit of a mathematician I used when working was Collaborate and Listen this problem this is because I shared my perspective and explained how I only saw 12 squares and I had to listen to my partner explain how she got 17 squares. Another habit of a math matematician I used was Take Apart and Put Back Together this is because I had to break down the squares to find all 17 squares. Listing and collaborating was imporantat for me to understand this problem.
Reflection on Week of Inspirational Math
A reflection of your work and effort during the Week of Inspirational Math: how will this week inform your effort and participation in math for the rest of the year.
Reflecting back on the week of inspirational math I would say that this week just made me even more comfortable with my skills in math. I really feel like I needed to hear that mistakes are okay in math and that everyone can learn math to the best of there abilities. Because those are the two I struggle with the most. For me mistakes in math are embarrsing but this week made me remeber that they help you grow as a mathamatician. Also I really need to keep in mind that everyone can learn math because I am used to saying I am not a math person. The skills and information I gained this week will really encourage me to put in all of my effort in everything I do in math this year. I will always try my best to participate in class because I know my perspective is benifical for other people.
Reflecting back on the week of inspirational math I would say that this week just made me even more comfortable with my skills in math. I really feel like I needed to hear that mistakes are okay in math and that everyone can learn math to the best of there abilities. Because those are the two I struggle with the most. For me mistakes in math are embarrsing but this week made me remeber that they help you grow as a mathamatician. Also I really need to keep in mind that everyone can learn math because I am used to saying I am not a math person. The skills and information I gained this week will really encourage me to put in all of my effort in everything I do in math this year. I will always try my best to participate in class because I know my perspective is benifical for other people.