Weeding and Teaching classes.
This week has been a blast as far as teaching my specials classes. I have been working with the 3rd, 4th and 5th-grade students on how to solve the 3x3 Rubik's cube. A couple of years ago I saw how it helps them develop pattern recognition and problem solving skills. I talk with them about how there are algorithms to solving the cube. This ties closely to the coding stuff we do as well. There is a program called "You Can Solve the Cube" that comes with solutions books as well as videos to understand solving the cube. Once the students can solve the cube there are many grade level standard lessons that I adapt for the learning commons to tie in with concepts they are studying in math and science. We will then hopefully be able to do collages with the cubes. The kids have fun for the most part however, they do get rather frustrated at times too. I explain to them that failure happens and it will give them stamina and perseverance.
I also weeded a few reference books. Anything older than 5 years when it comes to encyclopedias and such should be weeded from the shelves. I had several versions as well as dictionaries and thesauruses. The English dictionary also changes quite a bit as well over only a few years. We have online access to encyclopedias, as well as dictionaries, so at the elementary level I will probably not replace them.
This week has been a blast as far as teaching my specials classes. I have been working with the 3rd, 4th and 5th-grade students on how to solve the 3x3 Rubik's cube. A couple of years ago I saw how it helps them develop pattern recognition and problem solving skills. I talk with them about how there are algorithms to solving the cube. This ties closely to the coding stuff we do as well. There is a program called "You Can Solve the Cube" that comes with solutions books as well as videos to understand solving the cube. Once the students can solve the cube there are many grade level standard lessons that I adapt for the learning commons to tie in with concepts they are studying in math and science. We will then hopefully be able to do collages with the cubes. The kids have fun for the most part however, they do get rather frustrated at times too. I explain to them that failure happens and it will give them stamina and perseverance.
I also weeded a few reference books. Anything older than 5 years when it comes to encyclopedias and such should be weeded from the shelves. I had several versions as well as dictionaries and thesauruses. The English dictionary also changes quite a bit as well over only a few years. We have online access to encyclopedias, as well as dictionaries, so at the elementary level I will probably not replace them.