I am going to write in my mathematics journal as if I were a student in Grade 9 academic mathematics.
Today in mathematics we learned about probability and how it effects us on a daily basis. I have often thought about casinos and how they make so much money. Today Mr. L. taught us about roulette and the probability of winning if you bet on 'black' or 'red' or if you bet on a number. He explained that most games at the casino are games of chance and that you can make money however the odds are stacked against you. He told us that according to statistics he has read on the Internet - that people who play blackjack have the best chances of winning. He also told us about the movie '21' in which some M.I.T. students won millions of dollars by counting money at various casinos.
Personally I do not like casinos as it promotes addictive behaviour. I try to not get involved in anything that can be addictive. I did find Mr. L's class to be quite interesting. I learned a lot and hope that my fellow students learned a lot too.
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Hi John,
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of doing journals with math students. I have done journals with my grade 9s before and have had modest success. I usually tell them "you get out of it what you put into it". In journals, I usually make them review a concept or answer a more difficult question. I like that you have asked them to relate something in real life that involves math, it would be really useful, especially in grade 9 applied math (from experience, journals have never worked as well with my applied students).
Great example of how to involve non-fiction writing in math. I've always been a fan of math journals but I, like Kristin, have focused more on summarizing concepts or explaining different math methods. This seems like a great way to make the writing relevant to each individual student. I wonder what the response/benefits would be if it was taken one step further and the students were asked to also include a personal example of where they see probability at play in the real world.
ReplyDeleteKristin / Steph,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your input on math journals. I think keeping a journal in any class can be beneficial. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
Joh