Question: What is "discrete math"? Answer From: Prf PLndmn Discrete Math is the name given to a number of topics that have to do with objects that are separated from one another, such as integers. This is as opposed to algebra, calculus, and the like, which have to do with the real and complex numbers, which form a "continuous" set. (To see the difference, look at the integers and the real numbers. In the integers, you can find two numbers which are "next to" each other with nothing between. You can't do that with real numbers.) Topics that you will see in Discrete Math include: Combinatorics -- sort of a prelude to probability. This is the analysis of how many different ways you can take a subset of a set of objects. Basic Set Theory -- the study of groups of objects, which need not be numbers. Relations and functions between sets. Graphs, Trees, and Networks -- the study of points that have particular connections between them. The basic graph is a map of cities and the roads which connect them. These topics have applications in computer science. Question: Which learning and development theories relate to the reading process? Answer From: TeachConi It is usually true that the more experiences in life that a child comes to school with, the better that child will be equipped for learning. Before I continue, it must be remembered that not all students learn at the same rate. If a child is the product of a home where reading was a way of life, then learning to read will be a natural process for most of those children. One good way for checking on readiness is by having the child to write, either in a journal or on paper to be kept in a portfolio. As the year progresses, you are able to see the growth and progress of each student. For some, it may be from scribbles to actual words and stories. As an educator, I have found it impossible to divorce writing and reading. A good reader breeds a good writer and vice versa. By incorporating writing into the reading you help determine the various purposes of reading. Secondly, reading to the students and running your own finger under the printed text gives the student the idea and concept that the words are saying something. This helps students become aware that reading and writing have voice. Thirdly, in most cases if a child does not recognize the alphabet, then chances are he/she is not ready for reading. It doesn't take long to determine where a child is and to set goals for that individual. My favorite saying is, "all students come to school with luggage, some just have packed better than others." Meeting the needs of every student is not an easy task. But, it is one for which we have the responsibility. I think it is essential to build self esteem in all students and help them to enjoy the school setting. If this is accomplished, then half the battle has been won. You might devise your own test for a starting point to see the level the students is on. For this, you would need the 20 basic sight words, the color words and the numeral words, 0-10. I personally found this to be the very best of all tests. Question: In reference to the Intelligence-work of "splitters" (Gardner, Sternberg) - and current publications on Gardner, will new ideas change our teaching methods? Answer From: TeachConi Howard Gardner's book on the different intelligences and learning styles is really not all that new in concept. Many teachers use some if not all of these approaches even though they didn't give them a name. The newest approaches to learning that I see, are more hands on activities, more performance-type based teaching and authentic assessment. Many schools call this Outcome Based Education. Question: How can I prepare to take tests? Answer From: Testdoctor A lot of students don't deal with this until they are in high school and college, so you are already doing the right thing by starting early. Let me give you two specific suggestions. First, test taking is a skill -- just like kicking a soccer ball or shooting a basketball. Tests don't tell how smart you are -- they just tell how good you are at taking a test. Now -- if you were helping a younger student learn to kick a soccer ball, what would you do? You'd have that younger student kick the ball -- over and over again -- very slowly at first, and then with more confidence. I want you to do the same thing with test questions -- take practice tests at home. Don't wait until you have a test in school. You wouldn't wait until the first soccer game to kick the ball, would you? It's the same when you learn the skill of test taking. So -- practice. Ask your parents or the school librarian to get you the book "How to get better tests scores, grade 4". It's published by Random House and is available at most book stores. It costs $9.00. Tell the book store clerk that the book number is 0-679-82109-0. It has practice tests in all the major areas -- math, reading, English, and social studies. I want you to practice these tests at home. Don't try to do a whole test at once -- just start with one or two questions -- take them slowly. Then build up to a 10 minute test, then 20 minutes, and then 30 minutes. This will really help you not only in school, but also in other situations where you have to do something difficult. So -- the first suggestion is -- practice the skill of test taking. My second suggestion has to do with your attitude toward tests. You are pretty nervous about them -- perhaps because your teachers and parents are telling you how important tests are. They are right, of course, but you know something that perhaps they don't know -- and that is that tests -- any test -- are not as important as how good a person you are. Tests don't measure kindness, consideration of others, and all the other things that make for you being a great kid. So my second suggestion is this -- whenever you take a test, you say to yourself, "sure, this is important and I want to do my best, but whatever happens, this test doesn't have anything with who I am as a person." Once you know that in your heart, you'll be a lot more relaxed and probably do a lot better. Question: How can I help a young child want to read? Answer From: Teachbug Reading is a very tough area to redirect. It CAN be done...but it's slow- going...no great revelations. Try to acknowledge him for every positive move in the right direction. Find out what motivates him...in this way you will hold the "carrot" that will get him through his daily assignment. It might be something as small as stickers of his choice (they're got some good ones out these days), posters, points, something edible, even earn a party for his fellow classmates. Make sure that his peers see a chart with his name and something positive inscribed on it. These are some of the materials we use in our classroom: comic books, Hooked on Phonics, Reader Rabbit CDROM (it's the best reading program I'm used, ever, but you need a computer with the CDROM hardware), a low vocabulary high interest, newspaper called "EXTRA"...put out by the Weekly Reader Co. If you're interested, let me know; I'll send you the address, or an issue so that you may see if it's appropriate. In 32 years of teaching I've had only one student who hasn't broken the reading barrier, yet....am presently working with him....he seems to be filled with anxieties about "other issues." Whatever is REALLY troubling him is probably blocking his energy...which is contributing to the reason why he hasn't been able to read in the first place. Also, check that his eyes have been examined recently. Most of all, give him lots of genuine affection and recognition for what he CAN do. You have a difficult task; however, seeking assistance is the right move...he is indeed fortunate in having you on his team. :) Answer From: TeachConi I would do a couple of things that I have found to work with any age child at all grade levels. Choose a book that the students can understand. I am just thinking of "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs". I read this orally to my students when I taught in the lower grades. I then rewrote the story on one sheet of paper, so that when it was folded it became 4 pages. I also illustrated each page for the students to color. Later, when I knew they could, the students became the illustrators. I extended this theme and wrote another story for the students. This time my title was, "Cloudy With a Chance of Something Strange". Students do a lot of peer reading. Additionally, I use a lot of writing on a daily basis, because I have found that good readers breed good writers and vice versa. Also, using a hand- held tape recorded is an idea they love. Question: How can adults learn to spell? Answer From: PrfChiron You could try making flash cards, to help you embed the correct spelling of words you commonly misspell: using the clearest, cleanest (not ornate!) font / typeface / handwriting face on both sides would help: write the definition of the word on the front, or part of the word -- the part you usually spell right. Then, put the whole word, spelled correctly, on the back. The thing is, that to learn to spell, you'll have to study it and memorize some basic words that give most people trouble. There's no cute way around it. It's simple, grown-up WORK. Answer From: TeacherMR Learning to spell correctly is not something that happens overnight. It is essential that you spend as much time reading good literature with minimal use of slang. Spelling, to some extent is like speaking - we begin to emulate good models. The best advice I can give you is to read, read and read some more - and don't expect to win the national Spelling Bee within the next few weeks. Answer From: TeachJUDE There are really not that many "hands on" activities for spelling at your level. It is a matter of applying the "rules" and knowing the exceptions. The more reading and writing you do, the easier it becomes. Teachers for younger children will often have them work with magnetic letters, write in sand, and use the alphabet noodles from alphabet soup to spell. Sometimes they cut out letters from magazines to spell words. But, at your level, this would be too tedious.