The Effective Tutor by Dr. Thatch

Positioning Students for Success

2013-02-19T19:17:00.000-06:00

While it is difficult to identify specific skills that will be most valuable in the years to come, The Thatch Method endeavors to help students develop their multiple intelligences, to better position them for success. While a child may not have a specific skill, they will be able to learn what they need to in order to thrive and flourish in this digital age.

Tips for fostering Visual/ Spatial Intelligence:

Those who prefer visual or spatial intelligence typically learn through visual aids and images. These are people who use mental imagery to accomplish their goals. Individuals with strong spatial intelligence tend to gravitate towards creative forms of communication.

Design a building
Narrate a story for someone who can’t see—describe the scenes, events and characters
Tell a story using only illustrations
Create a maze or crossword puzzle
Develop a visual presentation for a current area of study

Here are some key terms that are related to spatial intelligence:

Imagery
Imagination
Color schemes
Designs
Painting
Drawing
Sculpture
Pictures

Tips for fostering Naturalistic Intelligence:

Those who favor a naturalistic intelligence cultivate nurturing skills and prefer learning through exploring nature and their surroundings. These students thrive when they are able to use nature, or natural settings in which to accomplish their goals.

Take field trips

Plant a garden and care for it—use a journal for illustrations and observations

Read books and articles about nature and the environment

Categorize and interact with something natural, such as bugs, weather, type of rocks

Here are some key terms that are related to naturalistic intelligence:

Observer
Manipulation
Nature
Conservation
Patterns
Growing
Environment
Collect
Awareness

Science at home with ElKe - We study and learn about all the animals that visit our yard. Here are two tree frogs hanging out on the side of the house.

Individualize study towards interests and needs

2013-02-12T18:22:00.000-06:00

As we continue to build on our knowledge of multiple intelligences, we can foster meaningful learning experiences for both teacher and learner. The Thatch Method desires to create a framework that helps identify how children learn and then build on their strongest assets. To better individualize their study towards their interests and needs, utilizing strategies that make learning more successful and enjoyable for all.

Tips for fostering Kinesthetic/Physical Intelligence:

Children who favor a bodily-kinesthetic intelligence will typically be adept at controlling their bodies. These learners tend to learn through physical contact both with their surroundings and in interacting with others. This intelligence is activated when a student uses their body, or physical action to accomplish a goal.

Get involved in building or constructing something
Learn to play physical games that are popular in other cultures
Get a student involved in teaching others how to use a physical device
Act out scenes of scientific processes—for example, how planetary rotation works

Here are some key terms that are related to kinesthetic intelligence:

Dance
Role-play
Gestures
Drama
Body language
Exercise
Mime
Sports games

Tips for fostering Musical Intelligence:

Children who favor a musical intelligence typically enjoy musical forms of interaction and communication. They focus on sound and have the ability to process information through auditory stimuli. This intelligence is activated when a student utilizes music or rhythm to accomplish a goal.

Listen to different types of music before an activity—for example, listen to soothing music before taking a test
Create a song about something you’re studying
Listen to various sounds found in nature—try to find patterns and rhythms in bird song
Listen to a well-known piece of music and describe its mood

Here are some key terms that are related to musical intelligence:

Rhythm patterns
Tones
Composition
Vibrations
Humming
Nature sounds
Instrument sounds
Singing
Tonal patterns
Musical performance

Have students visualize, verbalize, socialize, and dramatize the material.

2013-02-11T18:19:00.000-06:00

The Thatch Method believes that anyone—teacher, tutor or parent can help a student discover all eight intelligences simply by tapping into their students' cognitive faculties while they are working with them. Have students visualize, verbalize, socialize, and dramatize the material. Once you start to do this, you will begin to see both learners’ and teachers’ intelligences emerge. For example, if you have a child draw their concepts as well as write about them, you give the kids who draw well the opportunity to shine. Also, it important that teachers themselves use their own intelligences, or teaching style as a multiple intelligence vehicle. This will help reshape the dynamics between teacher and student. The Thatch Method strives to create and develop life long learners!

Tips for fostering Linguistic Intelligence:
This intelligence is activated by the spoken work, by reading and by writing one’s own thoughts. Focus on words and language. Children who favor a linguistic intelligence typically have strong verbal skills and favor learning through reading and writing.

Write a sequel to a favorite story
Use collaborative learning techniques—involve students in group activities when possible
Give a speech on a relevant topic
Encourage keeping a journal or a place to log about daily experiences
Expose the child to different types of reading and writing, such as poetry

Some key terms related to Linguistic Intelligence:

Reading
Vocabulary
Formal speech
Journals
Writing
Poetry
Debates
Speaking
Humor
Storytelling

Tips for fostering Logical-Mathematical Intelligence:

This intelligence is activated in problem-solving and or challenging situations. Children who favor a logical-mathematical intelligence will typically be good with numbers and numerical concepts. They will be drawn to patterns and solving problems of logical complexity and scientific reasoning.

Create a detailed outline on a favorite subject to study
Compare and contrast objects (physical things) or concepts (mental things)
Develop a logical argument for a process or concept
Analyze a series of events or phenomena to find underlying patterns

Some key terms related to logical-mathematical intelligence:

Symbols
Outlining
Graphic organizers
Number sequences
Calculations
Codes
Concept relationships
Syllogisms
Problem solving
Patterns

Multiple Intelligences a STREaM Perspective 5

2013-02-08T19:08:00.000-06:00

The eight multiple intelligences outlined by Howard Gardner show the importance of these different aptitudes and how they shape our perception of the world and process the information all around us. They influence how we learn and interact with others. As a result, learning how to engage a student’s unique set of multiple intelligences and further empowering them to tap into the full range of multiple
intelligences is one of the most important skills our children can have in this digital era. The Thatch Method understands that the world our children face is rapidly changing and information is conveyed in a complex array of formats.

Children around the world are starting to use the computer/technology at younger and younger ages. They are starting so young that we find ourselves questioning their Literacy level if they do not show a certain level of proficiency by age 2.

Any person who can draw on all of their multiple intelligences is better able to make sense of the world around them. This will ultimately impact an individual’s ability to problem solve in new ways. It will enable a child to engage his or her mind and body in a more insightful way, thereby adding value to not only their own lives, but also the lives of those they will interact with.

We are so happy that there are programs providing computers for students in hard to reach places. We want better global education outreach because our children are going to have better ways to easily communicate around the world.

While we may favor one or several intelligences over others based on various factors—our personalities, needs and cultural influences—we each have the ability to use all eight. Next week we will focus on resources and activities that will help develop not only a student’s multiple intelligences, but those of the teacher and parents, as well.

Multiple Intelligences a STREaM Perspective 4

2013-02-08T18:50:00.000-06:00

With an understanding of Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, teachers and parents can better understand their learners. The Thatch Method believes that allowing students to safely explore and learn in many different ways is key to helping students begin to direct and manage their own learning.

Learners:

Interpersonal
Intrapersonal

ElKe reading a picture book to Amari, ages 3+ and 1+.

Interpersonal - These are the learners who have a knack with people—they are “people-persons!” They understand and can relate well to others. As they thrive on person-to-person contact and being engaged in social activities, these students learn best by sharing and participating in group settings. They are comfortable using both verbal and non-verbal forms of communication with others.

Intrapersonal - These students are in touch with their own feelings, strengths and weaknesses.While on the surface they may appear shy or introverted, these learners are quite independent thinkers who are happy to work on their own. They are curious about themselves and are highly motivated and self-confident when it comes to what they like. Pacing their own instruction is important to them and they learn best by engaging in self-driven, independent projects.

Plato, the Greek philosopher and mathematician would be considered an intrapersonal learner!

Multiple Intelligences a STREaM Perspective 3

2013-02-07T18:34:00.002-06:00

As we continue to explore Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences, it is apparent that not all students learn in the same way. Paramount to effectively engaging a student is the ability to reach that student—to speak their learning language, so to speak. The Thatch Method definitely incorporates the concept that a happy child is an engaged child!

Learners:

Kinesthetic or Physical
Musical or Rhythmic
Naturalistic

Kinesthetic or Physical - These children learn best by being hands on, actively involved. You know the type—likes to get their hands dirty, take things apart and put them back together. Physical learners flourish when they can learn by trial and error, or get their bodies involved in a project. They generally have a good sense of balance and coordination and know how to use their body language to get
their point across.

Musical or Rhythmic - These students are often natural born musicians—early on they respond to and
prefer rhythmic patterns and sounds instead of words or pictures. In tune with their environment, musical learners learn best by putting the information their learning to music. The use of music and other sounds related to the topics their learning is key to reaching these students.

From http://raisesavvykids.com/

Naturalistic - A naturalistic learner is similar to a kinesthetic learner in that they are both tactile learners who love to be able to touch and feel while they learn. Nature lovers, they prefer to do their learning outdoors, in natural settings. Engrossing a naturalistic learner in a hands on project that interests them will guarantee a student who absorbs all the information on that topic.

Multiple Intelligences from a STREaM Perspective 2

2013-02-06T18:50:00.000-06:00

Multiple Intelligences

According to Howard Gardner, keying into a person’s intelligences will have long lasting consequences in the learning process. If a child's intelligence is identified, then teachers can reach children more successfully, according to their style of learning. Gardner believes that our minds are more separate than whole—meaning, our minds do not work as a single machine but rather as many

machines working together.

Let us look at three of the multiple intelligences:

Visual or Spacial – These are children who learn best visually and organize things spatially. They prefer to see what you are talking about, in order to better understand. They enjoy learning with visual aids, such as maps, charts, graphs, illustrations, art and puzzles. Things that catch their eyes will capture their attention, too.

Verbal or Linguistic – These are children who are strong in the Language Arts: Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening [The quintessential Literacy skills (QLS)]. These learners are good listeners, storytellers and speakers. They love to play word games, use big words, and often enjoy writing.

Mathematical or Logical – Logical/mathematical learners are very good at reasoning children and display an aptitude for numbers and problem solving. A logical/mathematical learner is one who enjoys counting, math games, computers, and recognizing patterns.

Albert Einstein was a mathematical/logical learner!

The Thatch Method facilitates teaching and learning processes by saying the right thing in the right way at the right time. Spending time learning about the different multiple intelligences and how to effectively apply that knowledge is an important part of The Thatch Method.

Multiple Intelligences from a STREaM Perspective

2013-02-05T14:44:00.002-06:00

The traditional classroom structure has teachers teaching and students learning. How do you transform these relationships so that both teacher and student redefine their roles? How do get them to teach and learn—together and from one another?

This week we will focus on Howard Gardener’s Multiple Intelligences and how The Thatch Method ties in with encouraging parents and children to look beyond the traditional concepts of teaching and learning.

Dr. Howard Gardner

Howard Gardner, Ph.D is a psychologist and professor at Harvard University's Graduate School of Education. Through the extensive study of people in everyday circumstances and professions, Dr. Gardner developed a theory of multiple intelligences. In Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences (Basic Books, 1983) Gardner's claim that there are several different kinds of intelligence helped those involved in education begin to look at students differently—to focus on what each student could do well, instead of what they could not do.

In Multiple Intelligences: The Theory in Practice (Basic Books, 1993), we begin to understand how multiple intelligences can help reach and evaluate students in new, more effective ways. Through interviews he conducted and extensive research, Gardner discovered that intelligence can be broken down into three aspects:

The ability to create an effective product or offer a service that is valued in a culture
A set of skills that make it possible for a person to solve problems in life
The potential for finding or creating solutions for problems, which involves gathering new knowledge

In addition, Gardner claims that:

All human beings possess all intelligences, in varying amounts
Each person has a different intellectual composition
Education can be improved by addressing the multiple intelligences of our students
These intelligences are located in different areas of the brain and can either work independently or together
These intelligences may define the human species
Multiple intelligences can be nurtured and strengthened, or ignored and weakened
Each individual has nine intelligences (and maybe more to be discovered)

Stay tuned, as we begin to explore each of the intelligences over the next few days!

“I hear, I forget I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”

2013-02-03T19:00:00.000-06:00

“I hear, I forget

I see and I remember.

I do and I understand.”

This old Chinese proverb underscores the concept of teaching and learning I embrace. The method of interactive teaching and learning I created with The Thatch Method reshapes the conventional relationship between teacher and student. In this day of social networking and instant gratification, strategies for reaching children need to be adjusted and revamped.

The Facebook, Twitter and Instagram culture has impacted the way we interact with one another. The best way to develop life long learners is to create a system of teaching and learning that gets children involved, engaged and inspired. The Thatch Method strives to re-define both the student and teacher roles into interchangeable teaching and learning roles—teaching and learning from each other, in a productive and interactive model.

Observations From the Thatch Patch

As the adventures unfold on a daily basis, you begin to understand why each day is different and you never know what is going to happen at the Thatch Patch! Creating this interactive setting has provided many opportunities of collaboration and communication between student and teacher.

These photographs show ElKe hanging out with Chomper. Chomper lets ElKe stroke his head. She describes the texture of his skin as bumpy and smooth at the same time. So many questions come up with each interaction!

This little one is Zoey Saldana Thatch.

The great educator and physicist, Richard Feynman perhaps expressed it best when he said, “What I cannot create, I do not understand.” The Thatch Method is a means of guiding a student down the path of understanding until he or she is able to walk that path alone. This statement aligns with Lev Vygotsky's work, specifically the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).

Teaching and Learning through Science

2012-04-08T15:09:00.000-05:00

Elke and I building a new home for Annie Cash, fall 2011

Annie Cash Thatch looking on as we build the new home

Elke and I created this poster about Annie Cash Thatch, her pet turtle, last November 2011. We used an online application called a Conceptboard. The poster has been lying around in the home office for a while. About two weeks ago, Elke took the poster to school to share with her class. She was so proud that teacher, studied the poster and the next day presented it to class. The teacher read all the details aloud and posted it on the wall for all the children to read.

A poster all about Annie Cash Thatch.

It very important that I model in our home, what I do as an educator, for other people's children.

Professional Tutor

2012-03-13T18:14:00.002-05:00

Blackboard Table Top

There are five 8' x 4' white boards on the walls at the shop.

Square Root and Square Numbers

Square Root: In mathematics, a square root of a number a is a number y such that y² = a, or, in other words, a number y whose square (the result of multiplying the number by itself, or y × y) is a. For example, 4 is a square root of 16 because 4² = 16. [from Wikipedia]

Square Numbers: In mathematics, a square number, sometimes also called a perfect square, is an integer that is the square of an integer; in other words, it is the product of some integer with itself. So, for example, 9 is a square number, since it can be written as 3 × 3.

The usual notation for the formula for the square of a number n is not the product n × n, but the equivalent exponentiation n², usually pronounced as "n squared". The name square number comes from the name of the shape. This is because a square with side length n has area n².

Square numbers are non-negative. Another way of saying that a (non-negative) number is a square number, is that its square root is again an integer. For example, √9 = 3, so 9 is a square number. [From Wikipedia]

Below is an image of the cheapest way to get your pre-schooler ready to learn Mathematics. My mother did not believe in giving non-educational gifts. We were given books. The abacus is one of the gifts I received at a very early age. I spent many hours counting on that abacus before I started kindergarten. I continued to use it long after kindergarten. When I found out that I was pregnant, it was the first teaching aid I bought before Elke, my daughter, was born.

On my desk at the tutor shop+ An Abacus

Abacus (abaci): The abacus, also called a counting frame, is a calculating tool used primarily in parts of Asia for performing arithmetic processes.

Around the world, abaci have been used in pre-schools and elementary schools as an aid in teaching the numeral system and arithmetic.

In Western countries, a bead frame similar to the Russian abacus but with straight wires and a vertical frame has been common (see image). It is still often seen as a plastic or wooden toy.

The type of abacus shown here is often used to represent numbers without the use of place value. Each bead and each wire has the same value and used in this way it can represent numbers up to 100. [Wikipedia]

Technology in Academic Tutoring

2012-03-05T23:05:00.000-06:00

Elke is an eight year old second grade student at Lewis School, Okaloosa County School District, Florida.

Elke was teaching her cat Mary and a few stuffed animals. This was the Mathematics question and answer she had on the whiteboard.

When I came into the family room to enquiry about her activities.

Elke asked, What if the number on top is bigger than the number on the bottom?

Elke and I had done a couple of lessons on adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators.

Me: Let us review some vocabulary -

fraction
numerator = the top number
denominator = the bottom number
division

New Vocabulary -

improper fraction
mixed fraction
greater

Let us rephrase the question with the requisite vocabulary.

New question: What if the numerator is greater than the denominator?

I explained that, when a fraction has a greater numerator than denominator it is called an improper fraction.

Elke asked, What can we do with an improper fraction?

Me: We can change it into a different number called a mixed fraction.

A demonstration was done using the Showme app on an iPad.

A mother's mission to take Action - Bored or Boring at School _Part 1

2011-10-25T17:26:00.001-05:00

This is a photograph of my daughter, we visited the New York City area and stayed about a month in the summer of 2010. In this photograph she is sitting in the backseat of my sister's car. My sister was taking us from Brooklyn to Manhattan.

Elke was doing Mathematics in a book my sister bought for her at Barnes & Nobles. The book was Elke's selection and covered Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division. We left division for later ---

Here she is using an Abacus to do Mathematics, independently in the same book. We were still on summer holiday.

Below, there are two photos of Elke 1) On the ferry heading to the Statue of Liberty and 2) At the Central Park Zoo, looking at the Sea Lions and waiting for the show to begin. She loves animals!

She is eccentric in her manner of dress. She never gets embarrassed even when people make comments. For example, we were standing outside the American Museum of Natural History in New York waiting for my nephew to join us. Three little girls walked by, laughed and said "Look at her cowboy boots." <--- [A different pair of cowboy boots, not the ones pictured above. See, below...]

Elke turned to me with a puzzled look on her face and said, "Don't they know, I am a Texan?"

While in New York, I purchased this Barron's Geometry Regents book because I was coaching a student for a retake on the examination. He wanted to get a better score. Elke was fascinated with this book.

She kept flipping through the pages of the book. Finally, she sat down and started drawing some of the diagrams from the book.

Then, she brought the book and the drawings she made to me and said, "Momma, how come I do not understand this book?" I replied, this book is on Geometry, which is a part of Mathematics and you will learn this type of Geometry in the 10th grade. This past year, in kindergarten, you learned about some shapes that you will need to know when you get to more complex Mathematics.

The four photographs above, were from a dinosaur dig that she completed with a kit we picked up at Cracker Barrel. Cracker Barrel is one of Elke's favorite stops when we go on road trips.

+ All images above were from Summer 2010, which we called Our Summer of Science.

This was Elke on her Ipad doing Mathematics, as we waited in the hotel lobby for the thunderstorm to pass so that we could get back into the pool. We were in Orlando for a short weekend visit towards the end to August 2011.

A mother's mission to take ACTION - Bored or Boring at School _Part 1 --- More to come....

Free Tutoring at the Local Library

2011-10-24T14:11:00.001-05:00

_____________________________________

The library directors and I are hoping that the free tutoring service at the library will pick up some steam in the community.

Almost everyday, I hear parents, grandparents and teachers talking about children needing additional help in Science, Mathematics and Reading. We live in Florida and our school district is Okaloosa County, which is one of the highest achieving districts in Florida. The Florida standardized tests are called the FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test).

Our students begin taking standardize examinations in the 3rd grade, in the subject areas of Reading and Mathematics. At the 4th grade, they are tested in Mathematics and Writing. In the 5th grade, they are tested in Reading, Mathematics and Science for the first time. I believe some states have begun testing in Social Studies during the elementary grades, I must check my facts on whether that particular implementation has begun.

Today is a teacher work day in Okaloosa County, the students are off from school. My daughter will accompany me to the library. She is very excited!

We do not promote or use gimmicks!

Google+ Hangout - Education Theorists, Sketchpad, Conceptboard and a great conversation

2011-10-16T15:52:00.002-05:00

Saturdays and Sundays, I spend time discovering, using and sharing new Web tools and applications. Today, I conducted two Google+ hangouts.

1. I used hangout with extras, I was able to use Sketchpad to insert an image, use shapes and text to create this document:

2. I used just hangout, I was able to work on a Conceptboard by myself. Then, I was unable to save until I created and account. I like the finished product.

I person joined me in this hangout - We had a great conversation --- Vygotsky, Chomsky, Piaget with a brief mention of Bruner. He was in Amsterdam, Holland and I was in Valparaiso, Florida.

Three Educational Theorists --- whose works influence the educational system -

Educators and psychologists agree, disagree and find conflict with the intended outcomes, of teaching and learning using one, all, two, none .... and so on of these theorists toil. We educators spend so much time bickering so much amongst ourselves that we fail to see the child/student for the theorists.

A note from the field, a mother's perspective:

2011-10-07T15:51:00.001-05:00

I took my second grader to school this morning. I always walk her to the classroom and watch as she gets herself ready for the day. Most of the students get in between 7:10 - 7:25 for a 7:30 AM. This morning the teacher had stepped out for a few minutes, three boys were fouling around.

This is what happened, after fouling around was no longer fun:

T: Elke's mom, can you tell Mrs. D that B kicked me in the nuts.

Me: Oooo, oh my ... [I was taken aback by the use of the word 'nuts.' Of course, I have heard the word used before.]

B: I did not kick him in the nuts.

- Mrs. D walked in right then.

Me: Oh look, Mrs. D is here to save the day!

T has been in the same classes as my daughter since kindergarten. During the kindergarten year, my daughter once asked me --- "Momma, why do some people call a penis nuts? I thought nuts were what squirrels hold in their cheeks and store for winter?"

Me: In this family, we use the proper term "penis."

Elke: Okay momma...

A turtle and a turd

2011-09-30T22:03:00.000-05:00

Some days, I am too curious for my own good! And, I have the nerve to wonder where Elke gets it from!

Last year, I think it was August 9th, 2011, I was driving home after dropping Elke off at school. I saw what looked like an odd object in the middle of the road. I swerved to the side, stopped my car and walked back. The object moved, it was a turtle. I brought it home. That night, Elke and I did some Internet searches to learn more about the turtle.

We learned that the turtle was:

a girl
a reptile

cold blooded

loves to eat worms, fruits, vegetables
an Eastern box turtle
Classification [Information retrieved from Wikipedia]

More importantly, we learned that this kind of turtle has a tendency of walking into traffic, getting caught under lawnmowers --- more so, they get hurt or killed often especially since so much of their natural habitat are now occupied by homes for humans. So, we went to the local pet shop to learn more about these turtles. We found out that many people keep them as pets. We kept Annie Cash!

This is a photo of our Sweet Little Annie Cash Thatch underneath one of the plants in her new habitat. Elke and I built her the new home last Saturday.

As you can see from the images below, Annie Cash loves her food wiggling. She waits until the Super Worms move before she grabs up and eats them. We can hear smacking when she eats.

Annie loves her water murky!

This morning after I found a turtle in the yard, I decided I wanted to do a comparison lesson with Elke.

I found a big turtle in the backyard this morning. It is about five times bigger than our turtle, Annie Cash Thatch. I was going to keep it until Elke got home at 7:00 PM.

That meant it had to share a room with Annie Cash. I got worried thinking, "This turtle could eat our turtle!" I made it a plate of lettuce and apple salad. It did not eat it but it did leave a large turd on my Florida room floor.

I put that turtle back in the yard. I hope to never see this turtle again!

When we say we TUTOR

2011-09-29T15:21:00.000-05:00

The STREaM above TUTOR stands for Science.Technology.Reading.Engineering.and.Mathematics. The melding of academic, professional and research experiences formed this link ----

National Science Foundation (NSF) gave us STEM and I went a step further and included Reading. If the child cannot read or does not read well, then she will struggle to learn Science and Mathematics. I gained that understanding from real experiences in the classroom as a teacher of Science and Mathematics.

The Effective Tutor by Dr. Thatch: About

2011-09-29T15:09:00.000-05:00

The Effective Tutor by Dr. Thatch: About: This blog will serve as a platform for sharing ideas and the practical things that we do, teaching and learning with our daughter (Elke). E...

New Web site -

2011-09-21T20:31:00.001-05:00

Please visit our new Web site at http://theeducationstreaminc.com - We will still activily post from this Blog.

Do people still use Calculators?

2011-09-21T20:22:00.001-05:00

I gave my old TI-85 graphing calculator to my daughter last year when she was six years old. I used that calculator a lot in graduate school during the 1990s. Now, the batteries need changing. I hope it will still work because she uses it---oh, she is not graphing, well not yet!

It is interesting that she plays with this calculator and another less complex one --- because as she puts it, "Momma, there are times when I like to use paper and pencil."

If you love Batman, then you can love Mathematics...

2011-08-13T12:50:00.001-05:00

Mathematics teachers can be Cool too...especially when they are writing Equations.

College Placement Tests

2011-06-22T13:13:00.001-05:00

The purpose of this test is to determine a student's level of preparation for credit-bearing college courses.
If the results indicate that additional preparation is needed, remedial English and/or math courses will be incorporated into his/her class schedule.

Site Design and Layout are Under Construction

2011-06-14T10:41:00.003-05:00

The thatch-talk.com site was evaluated by an outside agency. Over the next few months, please be patient with us as we work on this Blog.

Thank you,

The Thatch TALK Team

#thatchTALK - Problem Solving Student Solution

2011-04-22T19:08:00.001-05:00

Using VoiceThread as a teaching and learning tool fosters conscious Actions, on the part of the students , where they want to:

Write/rewrite scripts for their spoken parts,
Practice/rehearse their spoken parts,
Develop a list of of Vocabulary words they specifically want to incorporate in their written and spoken words,
They ask the more experienced other (Vygotsky and Bruner) for advice and direction,
They record and record their spoken parts...
...I am sure this list will get much longer...
...Every action leads to Practice, Practice, Practice, which they willing do for sports, music lessons, ... and we all wish they would eagerly do for academics.