PNC's 3rd Annual Early Childhood Conference

EVERYDAY WONDERS is PNC's 3rd Annual Early Childhood Conference that will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2009. We would like to invite you to participate in our conference either as a participant or as a presenter. A presentation that you could possibly focus on would be how you have implemented math enCOUNTers into your early childhood learning environments or how you integrate math and literacy. I have included the proposal form (which is due Nov. 15th) under resources. We hope to see you become a part of PNC's Early Childhood Conference.

Math/Literacy Activities

You can find the lesson plan template on the blog in the upper right hand corner under resources. Please download the template and type in your ideas for the books you worked on during our Counting on Each Other Workshop. Don't forget to save your work and send to djpratt@pnc.edu as an attachment. Mary Jane and I are excited about going out and purchasing all the supplies that will be needed for these math/literacy kits. With our T.E.A.M. (together everyone always achieves more) approach you should have the Math/Literacy kits in your school by the end of February.

Counting on Each Other

Event: Counting on Each Other
Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Time: 3:45-7:00 p.m.
Place: Purdue University North Central
Room: Technology Building 007

Dr. Mary Jane Eisenhauer and Professor Deb Pratt will be conducting another math encounter as a follow up to the summer workshops. At this workshop we will begin developing math/literacy kits for each of the Michigan City Area Schools.
Things to bring: A copy of Math Standards for your grade level.
A Stuart Murphy math book (from this past summer’s workshop)
A lesson idea for the Stuart Murphy math book
Cash for dinner (we’ll be graphing to decide if we should eat at Subway, Arby’s, or McDonalds)

RSVP to djpratt@pnc.edu by October 1, 2008

Using Technology in the Classroom

Hi,
Hope you are all doing well after our last math enCOUNTer. Mary Jane and I analyzed the workshop evaluation information and discovered that using technology to teach math was a weak area for math enCOUNTers 2008. Thanks to the blog we can supply you with some information pretty quickly. By the way, the brain responds well to immediate feedback. Did you know giving and receiving immediate feedback provides a brain-compatible learning environment.

Check out the following websites that are located in the upper right hand corner of the blog. Just click on the name of the website and you will be transported to the website. Do you believe technology enhances learning? Are there any challenges that you are faced with to use technology in your classroom? Do you know of any good math websites to share with our community of learners?

Begin with the Brain

After seeing, listening, and participating in the brain presentation today what are some ways that Mary Jane and I have created a brain compatible learning environment during math enCOUNTers 2008. What can you do in your classrooms to ensure that your students' learning experiences will be brain compatible?

Timed Tests

After reading "Timed Tests for Tykes?"By James Popham do you believe timed tests are beneficial or detrimental to learning and understanding? Describe how your school has used or uses timed tests. What types of alternatives can educators use to increase learning?

Welcome

Hi,
Welcome! This summer we will be taking a trip to a destination known as Math EnCOUNTERs 2008. Math EnCOUNTers will meet on Monday June 23-June 26th from 1:30-4:45 p.m. At Eastport Learning at Eastport Learning Center. As we prepare for our journey we would like to get to know all of our travelers. Some of you are new travelers and some of you are returning travelers. On this blog introduce yourself by sharing with us what types of journeys or excursions you enjoy taking. Identify yourself as a new traveler or a returning traveler and describe what you believe is a math encounter. Share any past trips you may have had or a trip you wish to take. Also on our first day of Math EnCOUNTers please bring a souvenir from a trip you have had and be ready to share with the group how your souvenir connects to a math encounter.