Working with stations

We want to do so many things in the class: working visual, hearing, kinesthetic… we want to make a project, we want to work with new technologies, we would love our students throwing conclusions, reading articles, writing, analyzing…
However, we don't have time or it seems we don't have enough time. Or we don't have enough calculators, or enough computer… or enough patience.
Have you tried to work with STATIONS?
"What's that?"
Create different spaces in your class, let say around 5 or 6. In every space you are going to create a different activity. Let's see an example.
Let's say we are working with equations:
Station 1: Solving equations using algebra tiles and modeling some equations
Station 2: Solving equations using a calculator
Station 3: Solving real world problems using an equation
Station 4: Explaining in a wiki using their own words how to solve equations.
Station 5: Watching videos on how to solve equation or some inter actives activities.

The students should move around the room discovering the different stations and completing some assignments.

HINT: Duplicate some stations so the students don't have to wait to move from one to the other.

Try it and tell me your experience!!!

The art of questioning

I know… There is nothing new. Plato used the "Maieutics" long time ago. The method seems really basic, just keep asking questions until the students discover by their own answer the knowledge. It could see also old fashion, but it works!!!!
After attending a Professional Development I started to apply this technique. Your first impulse is going to be to grab the pencil of the students and scream: "I will do it, it is so easy, just add those two terms and you will get the answer…" However, if you cool your jets, if you achieve to be patient enough… and you have the ability to ask the right question you will be really surprise.
It is not easy to come up with the right question. When a student says "x+x is equal x or 1 or 0 or I don't know". You shouldn't ask: "Are you sure it is not just 2x?". You need to develop the ability to keep asking question kind of: "Ok, so how much is 2 + 2?" "and 3 + 3?" "Could you express that just in general?" What's the meaning of the x?"
You also discover where your student got lost, what misconception he or she had… and you can treat the problem from the root!!!
I know, it takes time and we don't have time…
But What's the real purpose of Education?

Students and Wiki

It is important the students create, their write with their own words, they express themselves!!! It is really important they connect knowledge, they look for information, videos, use internet to investigate!!!
For that purpose I have created a wiki. My AWESOME students of this year they are doing an AWESOME work. Have a look for ideas:
http://mathswithmrcarrero.wikispaces.com