Triple Helix

I think I am making some inroads with the girls in period 6. I have started to go up to them and ask them how they are doing?, do you have any questions?, do you need any help? This is an engagement tactic that I have had great success in the past with in all of the math groups I have been involved with. Where a student would be unwilling to request help, if it’s routinely offered, then it become something they are used to. I don’t know why this didn’t occur to me earlier – it’s very exciting that I have found a successful strategy for engagement.

Last week science club succeeded in almost putting the motherboard into the case. Organizing the tools and materials while I’m waiting for the students to come up from lunch with Mrs. Carey helped enormously that I think that will be my routine from now on. I used to go down with her to get the kids and something to eat, now I just skip doing that.

Once the students finished eating, they re-lined up the MOBO with the posts and figured out how to proceed in getting the board into the case. This is the first week I have noticed that they are beginning to come together as problem solvers. What a nice thing to see! I no longer need to enforce taking turns – they are just doing it. If they encounter a problem they have stopped asking me and have started consulting the documentation.

Success – the board is in – unfortunately we forgot something. Elliot questioned about the piece that goes around the ports that closes that whole with the case. Ahh – you’re right! I asked them if they wanted to fix it or if I should, and they decided that I should just do it so that they can move on to the next component.

images courtesy of tigerdirect.com, our vendor for this project.

Mrs. Carey and I plan to start a Science club in Science 7A that will meet during 7^th period lunch. Our goals for the club include presentations of science topics beyond the science curriculum as well as encouraging students to create projects for the Joseph Henry Science Fair. Students will first compete in the Hackett Middle School science fair, with the winners of the school competition moving on to participate in the Joseph Henry Science Fair. Joseph Henry is being held at The College of Saint Rose on Friday March 25, 2011.

Clubs and competitions can encourage participation and academic growth in ways that typical classroom experiences do not. One of the wonderful things about the Joseph Henry Science Fair is that in addition to being local, they recognize all students for participating. This is so important and aligns with my feelings concerning competitions. Not everyone can win, but we want as many students as possible to participate. Recognizing all students is crucial to all students having a good experience and creating the desire to compete again next year.