A. Sure students can memorize dates and facts, but what is that teaching? Its easy to memorize those things, but it you don't know why it exists then you loose the whole importance of it. A student can learn the slope formula, but if they don't know what it really means then they will have a hard time understanding derivatives later on and solving application problems will be nearly impossible. Multiple choice is perfect for checking their calculating abilities, but not necessarily for understanding. Assessments, like having the students create and solve their own problems, shows understanding from all angles.
B.
I) Answering homework questions from previous night's assignment. This allows me to see if they have any particular area of the lesson that they didn't understand.
Group discussion throughout the lesson. I ask questions while we work through examples to check for understanding. Calling out individual names when I ask the question help me eliminate the problem of only one or two students answering all the questions.
Walking around the room at the end of class while they begin doing their homework. This gives me a chance for one on one time with the students who are still a little fuzzy on the lesson.
II) Chapter test (not multiple choice) These help prepare students for the STARR test. Even though the STARR test is multiple choice, the chapter test will still cover the same information and be presented in a similar manner. Not to mention this will get students used to completing a test in a given time limit.
Projects- One great project is Whitebeard's Treasure. This project has then use everything they have learned about about different parallelograms and information from Algebra (line properties). This partner project requires both students to turn in a completed set of the work that way both students have to do the entire project. If the students don't understand parallelogram properties it will become obvious very quickly.
Homework- The students have homework assignment due every class period. This not only gives grades but it gives them a numerical assessment on which sections they are struggling with.
III) Well first of all you need grades, but not everything needs a grade. Many of the formative assessments can be done on a daily basis and on the group level. This is great, but you also need more specific and individualized assessments, which tests and homework are great for.
IV)
1. Bell Ringers- I would like to use these once a week. It will be a short 5min exercise that will cover a topic from the previous week. I will collect these and review them at the end of class. The total 6 from a 6 week period will be counted for a daily grade. I don't want to put a big emphasis on the grade, just on the understanding.
2. Smart board with multiple choice answers. If I have the resources, this would be an amazing tool. Each student would have a clicker with answer choices A-E on it. I would present a multiple question and the board and each student would submit their answer. I would then immediately have access to how many students answered each choice on a question. If the class is struggling with a particular concept I will know it right away. I have seen this work first hand in a classroom. It was also engaging for the students.
3. I think oral presentations would also be a good tool. Have the students explain things out loud and essentially teach the class what they learn would show complete understanding. Besides the best way to learn is to teach. I could have the students find geometry in the real world. They would have to find certain shapes and then determine wether they are similar figures or not by comparing ratios.
