Middle School Math // Chalk Math!

A man named Edgar Dale was famous for research around learning and the different experiences that can help us remember what we learn. He said that "We remember 10% of what we read, 20% of what we hear, 30% of what we see, 50% of what we see and hear, 70% of what we discuss with others, 80% of what we personally experience, and 95% or what we teach others"

Increasing the number of "senses" that are a part of the learning is a huge focal point here at DAA. We look to make our students "life-long" learners both in terms of desiring to gain more knowledge their whole lives, but also in wanting that knowledge to stick. I teach middle school mathematics and sometimes adding in those additional learning modalities becomes a challenge, especially when the sun starts shining again in the spring!

What's my solution?! CHALK MATH!  Spring comes around right as 8th grade math begins to focus more on geometrical concepts and what better way to "personally experience" and "teach" our material than make it life size for all to see.  This year our DAA family walked in and out of the building to images of right triangles as 8th grade learned about the Pythagorean Theorem. They walked to recess over top of pair after pair of parallel lines as students worked through angle relationships, such as Alternate Exterior Angles (remember those?).  Students even had their dismissal paths covered with a dozen coordinate grids as students learned to apply Transformations to points and shapes.

Peaking student interest in younger grades about all that was to come in their mathematical journeys, but most importantly, giving 8th grade a chance to step into their learning and quite literally get their hands dirty with applying the strategies from class with one of the most timeless manipulatives available. So if you're ever walking the grounds of Detroit Achievement Academy when the weather is nice, take a minute to look around and refresh your knowledge on some 8th grade math standards!