Our link in the chain and Tagxedo

This week in Math we have continued our study of Geometry.  As I study our new standards, I have realized  how important my "link in the chain" is.  Conceptual knowledge is imperative in math instruction.  We have a tendency to simply want to teach what we were taught or what is in our textbook.  Instead we have to study our "link in the chain."  What I mean by that phrase is to teach our grade level standard to mastery for all students.  We must make sure the conceptual knowledge is developed so that our "link" doesn't break.  In first grade one of our Geometry standards is to partition shapes into halves and fourths.  Most of us want to begin to teach symbolic notation.  However, what happens when we do that is our students never develop the conceptual knowledge behind the notation.

In addition to my weekly thoughts, I would like to introduce to you a website entitled www.tagxedo.com.  This site allows you to create word clouds.  There are numerous ways to use this tool in the classroom.  One way I would use the word cloud is to create a shape with geometric terms included to introduce or to review the vocabulary within the unit.  Another way might be to include a word cloud in parent communication with information about the subject that I was discussing.  This would be eye catching, which would possibly encourage parents to read the information.  A third way to use word clouds in the classroom would be to allow my students to create their own, possibly as a gift for a parent or to summarize their learning for the day or the week.  This tool seems like a great way to engage your audience.


Try it out for yourself by clicking on the link below!
Word Clouds
Aimee