Chapter Nine: Similarities and Differences

This was an interesting chapter. Sorting and classifying are very important skills for kids to learn. In kindergarten/first grade we sort in all subject areas. In reading we sort words by letters, sounds, syllables, and number of letters. In math we sort by shape, size, and color.In science we sort many different ways living--non-living, hot--cold, and animal--plant. We play oral games to guess sorting rules a student used to sort their pictures, words, etc.

Normally, I use labels on paper and/or pocket charts to sort, venn diagrams, and manipulatives in baggies to sort various items. The children enjoy these activities; however, I think the older children I now teach will enjoy doing similar activites using technology. I look forward to using Inspiration/Kidspiration to make Venn Diagrams to sort. I can integrate this into my math tutorials. We can oractuce comparing and contrasting skills in Math. How are addition and multiplication alike? Different? How are triangles, squares, alike? Different? The categories are endless.

I use excel for my own personal and professional uses, but have not used in in my actual classes. I use excel to balance checking accounts. I use excel to create tables and graphs to show my student progress -- show growth, how they perform on benchmarks, district assessments, and TAKS tests. I need this technology to show data to evaluate my program.

This was another interesting chapter.