One Teacher's Adventures

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Are you looking for a way to help your middle school students understand probability? These hands-on math stations are a great way to help students understand the difference between theoretical and experimental probability.  In these stations, students use common materials to complete simple tests in order to calculate probability of a specific event. My students loved these stations so much that they asked if we could spend an extra day with them to see whether the experimental probability would change.  These allowed for rich classroom discussions on the difference between theory and practice, and some students were able to show extension of the topics by suggesting further tests and trials - including testing 50 times instead of 20, with a hypothesis that the experimental probability would more closely match the theoretical probability with more trials.  My probability stations come with 8 different station cards, teacher notes, and almost all materials needed to run the stations. I

  If you are looking for a way to help your students with self-assessment of the Core Competencies in BC that doesn't feel like a challenge or a burden, look no further! This weekly reflection page has been a game changer in my classroom. Here's how I use it: In the first few weeks of school, I teach the language of the Core Competencies to my middle schoolers. We break apart all seven sub-competencies and create "I Can" statements that are in student-friendly language. Students won't be able to self-assess if they don't have the language of assessment. After they are comfortable with the language, we reflect on lessons where one or more competency was really highlighted. For example, in a lesson about finding reliable sources, I can bring the conversation back to the competency of critical thinking.  Then, starting in mid-late October, we begin a weekly reflection of Core Competencies. I use the page below with my students. (If you click on the image, you can