New Insights and Their Implications

The last two weeks we have been working with the area activity and the national and state standards. Although the activity itself proved to a little challenging at times it addressed so many styles of learning. The table that we used showed the pattern that was emerging and asked to produce a generalization of what the equation for area would be. For people who can visualize something in their head this works well. For others who actually need to see a physical representation we were able to use the geometry shapes as well as the website online. I also liked how the activity could have an extension into another, such as having your students design a house from the scale drawing much like an architect would. Having a real world connection would help some kids find a purpose to what they are doing. We also focused on the standards. The SD standards seem to be plentiful yet vague at the same time. In a way it could give a teacher the leeway to be inventive with the standard. The national standards were not as long but they seemd to to more effectively state what was expected. I know that we need to adhere to our state standards, but by using the national standards and doing activities with strong content wouldn't we also be using the state standards? I think that as long as children are given the tools to solve problems and think creatively they will do well on standardized tests even if not every single state standard was met, but the national ones were.