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FINAL BLOG POST - OUR "DAILY TRIPLE" (DUE 12/1).
This week I would like you to use your imagination. You have just won the lottery and will leave your teaching post immediately to travel around the world. As you leave your keys you meet your replacement. You are asked to give this new teacher just ONE piece of advice. What would that be, and why? Enjoy your world expedition!

Blog Post - Week 7
This past week in my own teaching I felt a little disconnected which prompts my question to you, "What was the moment (or moments) when I felt most disconnected or disengaged as a teacher - the moment(s) I said to myself, I'm just going through the motions here?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 6
For the past couple of weeks you have experienced asynchronous online learning (doing modules by yourself). Previously this semester you have experienced synchronous online learning (all together in the Collaborate room). Which do you think is more effective and why do you think that? Which do you like better, and why?

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 5
This week we have what we call "open mic." You can write a post about anything related to your teaching that you would like responses from your classmates.

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 4
Here is this week's question: "What was the event that most took me surprise this week - and event that shook me up, caught me off guard, gave me a jolt, or made me unexpectedly happy?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 3
Please write a post about the following question, "In thinking about my past week teaching what is one thing I would do differently, and why?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 2
Please write a post about the following question, " In thinking about my teaching activities this past week, of what do I feel most proud? Why?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 1
Describe something you used in your program in the first weeks of school that you learned in the summer NTI program. How did it work? Did it get you off to a stronger start than last year?

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Real World Application Not Reality 9/3-10/13



September 3 - September 10

Question: What surprised you the most this week at school and why? (This could be something about your own reactions to what went on, or something that someone did, or anything else that occurs to you.)

Part of my standards are to teach culinary students how to price out menu items - or as its called in the industry:  cost control.

I was shocked when so many of my students struggled with the math process involved.  While some of the kids admitted to being 'bad in math', even those that self proclaim to be decent math students, couldn't wrap their head around taking their math skills and applying it in the kitchen.

1 case pork chops is $25.00 and = 10 pounds; each pork chop is 4 oz.  What is the cost of 1 pork chop?

1 case of corn is $20.00 and = 20 pounds.  What is the cost of 2 oz of corn? 3oz of corn?

After dividing the students into groups - placing at least one 'stronger math student' in each group, I sat with them group by group to discuss the math steps involved in costing out these items.  Once they realized they were multiplying  and dividing like they would in math class they broke out their calculators (yet another surprise) and began to work out the problems but still with great difficulty.

It was really surprising to see that not only did they lack the math skills to figure out these situations but that they couldn't see how their math lessons applied to  these real world instances.  

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Ray,
I totally understand where you are in the classroom. It is so sad that kids don't have a good foundation of skills they need for the real world. I am afraid we have put so much emphasis on getting them ready for college, that we have left out necessary life skills. I would much rather have an employee with no formal education that has the ability to think quick on their feet than to have one with a four year degree with no common sense. Where or how do we fill in the gap? That is the question I ask myself everyday in the classroom.

Shirley said...

Believe it or not, although it can become frustrating as a teacher to see students lacking basic skills, I believe it will later become refreshing to a student to experience using these skills in the real world.

I have students who constantly challenge the common core standards taught in class, yet sooner or later they realize those skills are essential in our everyday lives. You would be surprised to know how incorporating those basic math skills can enhance their ability to appreciate life in general.