Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Kinesthetic Right Triangle Trig with the Flip Video


I tried to reach my kinesthetic learners with this activity. Basically, the students are laying down on the floor and making right triangles. Then there is some right triangle trigonometry going on. I think it reinforced the SOHCAHTOA concept in a new way.

Here are my instructions:
1. Your group of four will make a single video of some Trig problems.
2. Each person will take a turn taking the video. (with a FLIP Video Camera)
3. The other three people will form a right triangle on the floor by laying down. Make sure you make a CLEAR right angle. When you are laying down, make sure you are in a head to feet order.
4. The person running the flip video will explain where the right angle is, and then call out a trig function and an angle like SIN of ALEX.
Once the trig function is named, the person who is the Opposite side will wave and say "opposite". Then the person who is the hypotenuse will wave and say "hypotenuse".
5. Change the person who is taking the video and form another triangle with the remaining people.
6. Repeat the process for each person who is using the flip.
We watched some of the videos after they finished. I think this just further reinforced the concept. You will get the idea with the video below. This is just a clip of a 2 minute video.


Saturday, January 1, 2011

What are the 13 vitures of a TEACHER?

What do you think should be in the list of the 13 most important Virtues for TEACHERS? It was extremely difficult for me to choose only 13. I'm sure that yours would differ. It is a good exercise for all teachers. Try it yourself and leave your 13 virtues in a comment to this post.
I got the idea from Ben Franklin, who came up with 13 Virtues that we all should live by. They are at the bottom of the post.

Dave's 13 Virtues of a TEACHER
1. Adaptable
2. Collaboration
3. Communication
4. Discipline
5. Empathy
6. Explanation
7. Helpful
8. Humor
9. Integrity
10. Knowledge
11. Patience
12. Organization
13. Respectful

Here are some words that were close but didn't make my list.
Attitude, Caring, Compassion, Consistency, Determination, Dignity, Facilitate, Fairness, Forgiveness, Hopeful, Humility, Instruction, Intelligence, Passionate, Professionalism, Organization, Questioning, and Trust.





Ben Franklin's 13 Virtues
1.Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2.Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3.Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4.Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5.Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6.Industry. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7.Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8.Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9.Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10.Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
11.Tranquillity. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12.Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
13.Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.