Background:

My students are amazing, while I admit I am impartial it is impossible not to just be joyful at the thought of them. Despite so many obstacles they never stop trying. They always chase the unknown. When a problem is presented they make it their duty to solve it. Admittedly, I wasn't prepared for this thirst for knowledge when i began teaching them. Every teacher dreams of classroom full of sprouting roses just waiting to be given more knowledge. I am honored to be their teacher. My school is in the south-side of Chicago, it is a title one school where 100% of our students receive a free breakfast and lunch. A good portion of my students receive their only meals of the day in our lunchroom. They are aware of their present circumstance and know that a great way to improve their lives is education.

Last year  my students showed deficits in statistics , estimation methods, and interpreting data from graphs and charts.  Students as a whole are strong in computation. Previously we focused on Algebra and implemented major steps to help assist our students become algebraic thinkers. Trend data over the past 4 years indicated that mathematics scores were exponentially improving, academic growth is constant but in the areas previously mentioned attainment isn’t as steady.

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Learning experience:

I want to build mastery through conversation. I think my students prefer to learn through discussion. It’s neat to see them build through knowledge verbally with each other.  So to help encourage this i will have my  middle school students create their own podcasts about mathematical topics. Math will take a majority of their podcasts time  but i really want them to also things in their academic life. I want them to discuss  persuasive messages they find in their favorite books, television shows, video games, and movies. A discussion solely about the standards would negate the type of environment i want to encourage. Things like  posting a monthly puzzler or a brain teaser as an audio recording. Giving the podcasters the opportunity to share their own math stories and problems, and  create a podcast with your students on math related subjects. The podcasts will serve as informal and formal assessment. Depth of knowledge will be evident through discussion.

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Technology:

The students will have  access to the award winning image line software fruityloops. They will also have access to a snowball studio mic to record. Extensive training will be given so that students will have the freedom to edit and master their own podcasts. I really want my students to take ownerships of this podcast station and value how conversation, technology and learning should be cohesive.