Past projects 13
Making Geometric Art!
Funded Sep 20, 2016This fall, students reacted with surprise as 3 large cardboard boxes arrived full of brand new compasses, erasers, and felt pens. "For us?" they said, with enthusiasm. We ripped open the new compasses and set our old, broken compasses in the back file cabinet. Before, it was difficult to make a simple circle due to the poor quality of the compasses. Now, we have the capability to create the designs of our imaginations with our new tools.
Since then, students have spent hours creating beautiful art that relates to a course theme of unity and is inspired by traditional geometric patterns found in Islamic Art. This type of work is frustrating; we start over and we revise constantly. It's all part of the process in our math class. However, students are no longer frustrated by the tools themselves. They now are free to think more deeply about the mathematics and artistic components of the task.
Having these compasses makes a difference in our ability to produce work of high quality, and we see students taking more ownership over their own work. We are looking forward to displaying our final projects in a gallery display for our students, families, and community. Thank you for supporting us.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Abby
Reenergize Our Calculators!
Funded Dec 20, 2015Thank you so much for ensuring that all of our students have working calculators in the classroom. Calculators allow for the exploration of advanced math concepts and support students who have low numeracy skills. In order to be college ready, students need access to relevant tools such as calculators.
Recently, my students completed a linear regression project. They analyzed the correlation between class attendance at my school and grades. When using real data, the amount of data is great; technology is imperative. Because we had a class set of working calculators, students were able to do a complete analysis and discover the strong, positive relationship between showing up to classes and achieving academically. Students cited this project as eye-opening and useful in understanding their own lives - for some, it was the favorite project of the class.
Future courses include financial literacy, a statistics class around water taste and use in the world, a geometry class about beauty and mathematics, and a class to prepare students for success on the SAT. In all of these classes and others, the calculators will be well used. Thank you again for supporting my students!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Abby
Interactive Notebooks for 2nd Semester!
Funded Jan 26, 2015As our semester comes to an end, I would like to take time to thank you all for your generosity. When I introduced the course requirements on the first day, I explained the learning target of keeping a notebook as a resource for learning. Students immediately asked what to do if they did not have a notebook. Because of your help, I was able to give every student a notebook for the class.
Throughout the term, we have filled the notebook with definitions, examples, and reflections. Every day, our class starts with a mathematical warm up in the notebook and during class students record learning in various ways. The notebook is created by the students and is individualized in a way that textbooks cannot be.
Students are currently preparing for their final papers and presentations. When they don't remember a definition or concept, I remind them of the resources they have created. Students have started to remind each other of the notebook as well, saying, "Hey, that's on page 42!" or "Did you check your notebook?" This notebook has not only been a record of learning and a review resource, but has supported students in building independence, note-taking skills, and organization skills. I have no doubt that students will take these lessons to their future classes in both high school and college.
I appreciate your support so much!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Abby