Formative Assessments: How to...

If you missed last Tuesday's Globalmath you need to go watch it here... Formative Assessments for Math Learning

Pam J. Wilson and myself spoke on a lot of good topics..

Here is the link to my part of the presentation so you can see what I used, but listening to the presentation is key as well.  Formative Assessments


I am working on a post that may take me a week because I write slow and have a ton going on about a comment that I made in the presentation that I believe to be true..

"You can't wait for the quiz to learn what your kids know. You need to know today."

This cause quite a discussion on twitter some people agreed with me, one didn't and asked what is the purpose of the quiz then and that my statement means that there is no distinction between kids of different abilities. Which is not true.

Which is not the purpose of a formative assessment, in my opinion  I will speak on that more in my next post on how formative assessments lead to summative grading. Bloom's Taxonomy and Marzano based grading, the use of Level questioning.

So I ask you guys, what is the purpose of a formative assessment to you?

MyFavFriday: Properties of Logarithms Foldable

MyFavFriday: Properties Of Logarithms Foldable

I haven't done a favorite friday in a while so I am back with one.

I use foldables a lot in my Math Support class, I thought I would share one that I created for Preoperties Of Logarithms with you.

We used this in class to help with the product, quotient, and power property while working on condense, expand and change of base with logs.

Here are some pictures of the foldable:

Here is a link to the foldable:
Properties of Log Foldable

Also don't forget to join me and the the wonderful Pam J. Wilson for GlobalMath on Feb 19th, we will be talking about Formative Assessments.

#MSSunFun Favorite Math Practice Website

Middle School Sunday Funday!!

I know I don't teach Middle School, but Julie's topic was to good to pass up today.. (and I like some future topics as well)

Favorite Math Practice Websites!!!

I want to share with teachers a fun website that allows students to play games, you to use differentiated instruction and to check progress..

www.mangahigh.com and Yes, IT'S FREE! All you have to do is register your school, there are some pay parts but they have an amazing amount of free material available.

Here is a link to some resources MangaHigh Resources, to get you started.

When a student logins all they see is the games and they have them from order of operations all the way up to factoring..

But the best part is the Quizzes only teachers can upload for their students, called challenges.

Here is a view of one of the challenges

Also as a teacher you can view what level each student scored on the current challenge. (who is doing great and who needs extra help)

For more information on how to set-up mangahigh and use it visit here: Manga High How 2

I go to the lab every Friday with my math support class and they love it! Check out Manga High, I am sure you will love it 2!