Mr. Rennie's Class

It seems like only four days since my last blog.....oh.....it was. This week I'm all over it. We have reflected in our learning logs about decimals, research, noise, time management and goal setting  The students continue to be welcomed each time t o use pictures, sketches, numbers, webs and words to show and explain their thinking. One of the topics/questions for today was:

 Using the math vocabulary discuused, tell how well you are understanding the decimal  topics listed.

A follow up question was:

Which of the concepts do you still need to do further work with to really start to understand?

The kids took ten minutes to respond then shared with a partner. Some then volunteered to share  theirs with the class. It has been going really well. The students are so used to it now that many just keep the log on their desk all day. I read them as I walk around and collec tthem on Friday to read. I thanked them for sharing but otherwise I don't comment. It informs me how the class is understanding things overall and lets me see which individuals need help with specific concepts or processes. One student said today during the math period share that he knew he didn't quite get the difference between 0.07 and 0.7 because in his head he sees the same picture for both. Iasked what everyone thought we could use to help him get that different picture. A classmate suggested he think of or use hundredths grids while doing decimal calculations. Pretty cool that they see why we use them and how they represent the number so graphically. A good idea.

I really apppreciate how many different ways they are using to show their thinking. Those wo would rather not write are showing great skill and originalityin using the other options available. At first I wondered, "okay what do I do with this info?" After giving myself a V8 pound on the head I realized I'm doing it.

 I'm using what I see in the logs as a means to discover how everyone is doing individually and as a group..

I'm teaching lessons again differently as needed.

I'm having kids share their thinking and representing strategies to help others see them and to help the sharer hear their thinking out loud, a different way of experiencing their metacognition.

I guess what escaped me originally is how easy, natural and powerful this reflective activity can be.