Content Area Specific Collection of Resources

Our course has asked us to complete the following task.

You will curate a useful collection of resources and teaching ideas for a content area of grade 7 or 8 mathematics.

1) Choose a content focus that will benefit your own teaching of grade 7 or 8 (or both, especially if you are preparing for a split class) math.   

The content area can be very specific or broader. For example, if you are thinking of fractions or proportional reasoning:

• specific: adding and subtracting fractions;
• broader: fractions
• even broader: fractions, decimals, percents.
• very broad: proportional reasoning

Please beware that a broad focus may be difficult to manage. If you are unsure about what to choose as a content focus, or if you are unsure of your choice, ask your instructor for feedback before you begin.  The choice of focus area is really up to you and should meet your needs.

2) Gather resources and ideas related to your content focus.

These may include pretty much anything that you may find helpful:

• manipulatives (concrete and digital/virtual)
• websites
• games
• lessons (including rich tasks, 3-Part lessons, guided instruction)
• assessment tools and ideas (for, as, of learning; including feedback)
• report card comments
• differentiation
• learning environment aspects that encourage the learning

3) Choose a presentation format.

You can choose to present your assignment in a format of your own choosing (e.g., PowerPoint, Prezi, Google slides, word document, etc.). If it is not a typical presentation format, please check with your instructor to make sure it is okay and that she will be able to access it.

• Include examples, visuals, active web links and perhaps embedded videos. 
• Note all of your sources and include a list of references at the end.

Keep in mind that you want this assignment to be easy to use for yourself, and hopefully for a colleague if you wish to share it.  For this reason, make sections and headings, use sub-titles, and make captions or anecdotal notes.  

*This assignment could become part of your teaching portfolio and be a good artifact to share during an interview.

Success Criteria

• I have included a variety of resources and ideas that show my understanding of effective learning of the math content area that I selected.
• My collection will be effective in helping students to develop enduring conceptual understanding.
• My collection shows thoughtful reflection on course content.
• The format of my assignment is organized, is easily enhanced by adding other resources that I find, and allows for easy use by me or by another colleague.  My communication is clear and concise.
• I have included a page of references (see Assignment 1 for an example).

What I am asking myself now is, what area do I particularly need to grow in? Looking at a more difficult perspective, I may refer to Grade 8 Mathematics Curriculum's "Patterning and Algebra" strand. Overall the expectations I will refer to will be, more broader and generalized really (so, all of them).

What do I have so far-probably more than I know. I will certainly use this opportunity to unveil the 3-Act Math Lessons I have been working on as well-more particularly to this project, the other subject specific ones will be unveiled at a later time.

Here is what I have for Algebra so far (overused and unknown).

kahnacademy.com

Socrative.com

Edmodo.com/Spotlight

Kahoot.com

https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-algebra-why-take-algebra-2311937 (rationale of algebra)

https://www.thoughtco.com/top-apps-for-algebra-2312096 (apps)

https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-write-expressions-in-algebra-2311934

https://betterlesson.com/lesson/521023/solving-multi-step-equations-with-candy-day-1-of-4?grade=20&subject=1&from=bl_directory_no-keywords_eighth-grade_algebra_mt-lesson_521023_title

https://www.thoughtco.com/exponents-and-bases-2312002

https://www.thoughtco.com/improve-algebra-content-vocabulary-poetry-4025375

https://www.thoughtco.com/report-card-comments-for-math-2081371

https://whenmathhappens.com/3-act-math-alg1/

https://mathscribe.com/algebra1/index.html?grade-8