Mathy Math Mom

           21 st century classrooms are looking for exciting and meaningful ways to incorporate technology into the classroom. While basic technology can be fun, just like anything else in education, making it intentional and meaningful needs to be the focus.  I always try to ask myself questions like:  “Why am I adding technology?”  “What about this technology makes this lesson better?”       Many times, giving students hands on opportunities can still be better than superfluous technology. Something to keep in mind. I was introduced to the SAMR model which fit these questions I had been asking myself.  Are you using technology to enhance the lesson (S, A) or are you transforming your lesson (M,R)?       Although enhancement can seem appealing, it is a superficial change. The real power of technology can transform a lesson to do things we have never done before. QR Codes are an ...

         Growing up, we had homework. So as a new teacher, I assigned homework. Nothing special, 1-33 odd on whatever nonsense page we had “learned” that day. In all honesty, I talked and they listened, hardly learning, but that is another can of worms. I graded it, and hated every moment. Then I decided to really think about what I was assigning. Maybe 2 from this section, 3 from that, and always some word problems. Cue late and missing assignments, full lunch sessions of make-up work, etc. I am sure everyone knows the scene.   “I am teaching them responsibility” I would tell myself. “But what about the curve of forgetting?” the little voice in my ear would say when I wanted to skip it. Back then, my son was in preschool. He never wanted to sit with me to talk about letters or numbers, but he could build a Lego set for 8 year olds.     Then, he started Kindergarten. Besides the adventure of learning that he had ADHD and all that ens...