Fractions

Fractions are one of the more challenging concepts in math. After you get beyond the shaded parts, it gets hard!


Our math class is using Fraction Bars to explore fraction topics such as:

Numerators
Denominators
Arrays
Equivalent fractions
Proper fractions
Improper fractions
Mixed Numbers
Simplifying

Soon, we'll continue on to learn adding and subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions. We plan to "test drive" some online fractions games, too.

Getting Ready for College

 Stephanie Keeble is the GEAR-UP Coordinator for Tiospa Zina Tribal School. She came to our classroom and talked with us about college.

Before she came, we worked together to list questions. We wrote them on an index card. Then, when she visited with us, we asked her the questions.


She said she was a little bit nervous when presenting, but we thought she did a good job. She responded to our questions. She also told us about her experiences. Even though some of us may not go to college right away, we know we will want some post-secondary education or training. So, we all learned a lot.

Each of us also sent a personal thank you letter to her.

Driving4Life Success

When you are a young adult, you know how important driving can be.

A few of us already have our license. Several of us are studying for the driver test.

Sister Patrice is putting together a web page so we can use the links to study. She will keep adding new links. 

You can use this set of materials at home. You can use them during study hall. 

There's a lot to learn! 

Check it out here: drivingtz101.blogspot.com

Hands on Makes Sense

Remember learning "fractions and decimals?"

2.25 "Two and twenty-five hundredths"
Photo by Hoksina Bull Bear

It is not easy for most people! It is definitely hard when you have a math learning disability. However, that is exactly what our "Math Hacks" small group math class is doing.

We're using base-ten blocks. We made place value charts. We're also learning (or reviewing) the algorithm (method) for doing the arithmetic.

Place value chart. Whole numbers to the left. Decimals to the right.

To be honest, it's easier to add and subtract decimals (line up the decimal points, use an "invisible zero" if needed) than it is to represent them using base-ten blocks.

But, for some of us, this is the very first time we've actually understood what "doing the math" (including borrowing and renaming) really means!

Earning XP in our Epic Quest class game.

During math class, we also earn XP (experience points) in our Epic Quest class game.

We can earn up to:
3000 XP each for being on-task
3000 XP each for learning
And
3000 XP each for completing assignments

We can also earn 1000 XP if we are an "Early Bird" winner- meaning we arrive at class and get to work before the bell rings! (Hoksina and Jaden are the top Early Birds so far this quarter!)

If we have a day when we ALL earn full points (3000+3000+3000= 9000 each), then we roll the "Magic Cube" and can multiply our points by whatever the dice shows.

Today, for example:

• Nyton earned 9000 XP 
• Jaden earned 9000 XP
• Hoksina earned 10,000 XP (Early Bird bonus)

We rolled a 2. So we all got DOUBLE points.
Check this out! We're competing with the upper-class students.
US:                1,468,500
THEM:          1,215,800

We are ahead and earning our way toward our class prizes:

• Pizza party- order in Pizza Hut as soon as at least one member of our team gets Level 20
• Basketball in the gym- if our team beats the Upper-Class team.

That is a ... brain.

A brain with neurons talking through their synapses.
What is it saying?

Sister Patrice is not a gifted artist. But, that does not seem to slow her down.

Earlier this week, we were learning about learning. We read an article called "You Can Grow Your Own Intelligence." It was a long article, so we listened to it, too. (Want to try? Here are the links: Article    Audio)

After we all read the article, we talked about it. We learned how neurons (brain cells) talk to each other. We discussed how brains are like muscles- you need to exercise them to get them stronger. 

We made a mind-map together:

We discussed brain "plasticity." We learned how, if you have learning disabilities, some neurons do not work well. We learned that other neurons can be taught (by practice or brain exercise) to do the job instead. 

Brain exercise!

After we finished the mind map, we wrote our essays. We used the mind map to create sentences and paragraphs. We used a spell checker and a grammar checker to make our essays stronger and better. Then we submitted the essays.

Mind-Craft

Landscape in Maggie's Minecraft world.

 This quarter, our Technology for Life Success class is digging into learning using Minecraft. 

We're not just learning Minecraft. We're learning about learning by USING Minecraft.

Side Note: "Digging"- Minecraft- get it? That's a play on words- a pun!

Modern architecture in Minecraft. Here is a night view with torches providing lighting.
Design is by Lorelei. 

We're calling that Mind-Craft. Digging into reflecting on our learning is an adult life skill. If we know how we learn and if we understand what happens as we learn, we are able to be a lot more successful as adults. 

Here is how it works.

Jaron explores his world and develops new skills.

We log in to our Minecraft accounts. We each have a school account and an avatar that we are using this semester.

We do our assignment for the day within the Minecraft world.

Sometimes we work in our own personal world. Sometimes we work together in a world. Sometimes some of the computers do not work, so we end up sharing.

After Sister Patrice calls time (we spend between 15-30 minutes, depending on what else we have to cover that day), we take some pictures. They are called "screen shots."

Then, we log out of Minecraft. We log into our personal Google Drive and open our template for our reflection and writing.

We answer all of these questions.

What is Mind-Craft? Hard thinking about thinking!

Finally, we send Sister Patrice our written reflections by "sharing" our document to her.

These questions are HARD! The last few questions are especially difficult because we have to think about our learning. It's like stretching our brains.

In some ways, working in Minecraft is getting us ready
for our FUTURE world!

Here are a few comments we've made in our Mind-Craft diaries as we reflected on the PBLOs:

• I was a creative thinker... I used my creative mind today to build my "place" in a mountain. I learned that being creative is fun.
• I was a self-directed achiever... I figured out how to take a screenshot and save it for myself to remember or for someone else to see.
• Figuring out how to take screenshots is being an effective communicator because we had to work out together how to do it. I can use this idea in the future because if there's something important I can screenshot the computer screen for later. Or, I can use my phone's camera to take a video or pictures. 
• I used creative thinker and balanced individual because I planned out where to build a farm and what I need for a farm so I can grow my own food. 
• I used self-directed learner because I learned a lot of new things by figuring them out. I tried to understand the gaming system and how the game works (new for me). Also, we are learning to control our attitude and anger and I think that will be good to use in the future so we don't use our anger and attitude to put us into bad situations.

More About NO DAPL

Do you remember when we did a petition drive and made signs because we agreed that we wanted to "Stand with Standing Rock" because the NO DAPL movement was important and we wanted to be part of it? 

We talked a lot about solidarity and  non-violent resistance. Some of us even went up to Standing Rock to join in the prayers and to protect the water and the Earth.

Now, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has issued an "Urgent Call to Action." They are asking everyone to please send a letter to the US Army Corps of Engineers as part of an official process. 


They want to get 102,400 letters sent in. As of tonight, they already got 78,485!

The official process they are using is called "submitting a Public Comment." The Corps of Engineers will look at how many letters are sent. They will look to see if the letters are for or against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).

"Public" means "the people." The Corps of Engineers will look at what we (the public) think might happen if the pipeline is built. 

The EIS is part of a decision-making process.

The public comment process is part of the Environmental Impact Statement that is now being done. The Environmental Impact Statement is also called EIS. It is a big investigation to try to find out if finishing the DAPL will be safe for the environment or not. The EIS report will be used as the US Government makes a decision.

The public comments are only allowed until February 20.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe would like your opinion.

Here is a link to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's page for sending in your comments.

if you decide to do this:

• You will need to give your address and name.
• If you are under 18, you will need to check with your parent or guardian before you put your name and address on the website.
• You will need to write a short note telling why, in your opinion, it is important for the DAPL to be stopped.
• They are mostly interested in why it is not safe for Earth or why it is not safe for people.
• You can use the words we have learned about: Mni Wiconi (Water is Life) and Maka Ina (Mother Earth) if you want to.
• You can also talk about why DAPL is bad for the sacred sites near the digging area.

Here is a link to a newspaper article from the Indian Country Media Network if you want to learn more about why making a public comment will be important.

You can share this information with others. 

And, of course, you are free to choose to do this, or not to do this. It is totally up to you!

Congratulations!

Our class is very proud of our classmate Ian Wynde.

This week he was sworn in as a United States Marine!

He will go to basic training in the summer after he graduates.

We are all very excited for him. This has been a dream of his for a long time and he has worked very hard to make it come true.

Congratulations, Ian!

Hey, your ATTITUDE is showing!

Around here, that could be a GOOD thing!

This is the booklet we used.

No matter what kind of job we get, it is helpful to understand how to succeed. We got a booklet from the HR (Human Resources) office at our school. The book is really for the teachers and staff. But Sister Patrice got the ok to get a copy for each of us.

We did a few pages each day. We talked about what a good work attitude looks like. We did self-evaluations in the booklet too. A good attitude is very important for keeping a job. It also helps you if you have problems with a co-worker or your boss.

We also talked about what to do in case of harassment. Harassment is like bullying. It is words or behavior that you do not like, It makes you feel uncomfortable. It might scare you or confuse you. Harassment can be about race, gender, clothing, disability, or almost anything. 

If you feel like you are getting harassment, you have to do four things.
1. Say "Stop. I feel ___ when you ____. I need you to stop it."
2. If that does not work, say "I asked you once to stop. Your behavior is harassment. If you continue, I will report you for workplace harassment.
3. If it does not stop, go to a supervisor.
4. If you need to go further "up the chain of command" you should so that because you do not need to suffer harassment at work.

We made notes together so we could then decide on our mini-poster topic.

After we finished the booklet, we used our graphic design skills and our notes from reading. We made some "mini-posters" for a hallway display. We will also put the mini-posters into our portfolios.

Hallway Display so the whole school can learn about Work Attitude

Here you can see a close up of some of our mini posters for this unit:

Graphic Design: Shelby Neilan

Graphic Design: Raycee Brown

Graphic Design: Tyrone Lawrence

Graphic Design: Ian Wynde

Graphic Design: Jaron Wilson

How is your attitude today?