Assessing Meaninful Learning

I enjoyed watching the two videos Inspiration and kidspiration. I'm telling you I am so grateful to have taken this class I have learned so much about all of the different apps and software tools that are out there to help students learn. The first video I watched kidspiration was very interesting what I learned about watching the video is that this software is a visual learning tool for K-5. Kidspiration helps student to me by watching the video to develop confidence as they learn to organize information, understand concepts, create stories, and express and share their thoughts. You can do all sorts of things using this software. It has two ways in which students can view their work. These two ways are integrated so that with one click a student can go from a visual to a written of their work. Whereas Inspiration is designed for k-adult. It is a visual mapping and diagramming program that will help put your ideas to a solid action plan. So this software can be used not only for school but for businesses as well.


like I stated earlier I have learned so much in this online class. I have learned about tools I have never ever heard of and if I had of never taken this course I probably would of never knew about these different tools. I am going to try and use as many of these tools that I possibly can in the classroom. I will most definitely introduce these tools to my students, because again it gives the students self confidence and independence. I feel that by letting the students use these tools to their assignment it makes the students feel good about themselves and it encourages them to actually want to do their assignment because it is hands on and kids loves hands on assignments. So I will most definitely use these tools what I have learned in this course in my classroom.

Technology Application Standards

I will teach Elementary school (5th grade) Math
under "Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills by Chapter"

1. Click on "Chapter 111, Mathematics"
2. Select "Subchapter A. Elementary", then
3. Scroll down and find §111.12.  Mathematics, Kindergarten


Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Mathematics, Grades K-5.
 The provisions of this subchapter shall be implemented by school districts beginning with the 2006-2007 school year.
 Source: The provisions of this §111.11 adopted to be effective September 1, 1998, 22 TexReg 7623; amended to be effective August 1, 2006, 30 TexReg 7471.
  §111.12. Mathematics, Kindergarten.
 (a) Introduction.

(1) Within a well-balanced mathematics curriculum, the primary focal points at Kindergarten are developing whole-number concepts and using patterns and sorting to explore number, data, and shape.

(2) Throughout mathematics in Kindergarten-Grade 2, students build a foundation of basic understandings in number, operation, and quantitative reasoning; patterns, relationships, and algebraic thinking; geometry and spatial reasoning; measurement; and probability and statistics. Students use numbers in ordering, labeling, and expressing quantities and relationships to solve problems and translate informal language into mathematical language and symbols. Students use objects to create and identify patterns and use those patterns to express relationships, make predictions, and solve problems as they build an understanding of number, operation, shape, and space. Students progress from informal to formal language to describe two- and three-dimensional geometric figures and likenesses in the physical world. Students begin to develop measurement concepts as they identify and compare attributes of objects and situations. Students collect, organize, and display data and use information from graphs to answer questions, make summary statements, and make informal predictions based on their experiences.Elementary §111.A. October 2013 Update Page 23

(3) Throughout mathematics in Kindergarten-Grade 2, students develop numerical fluency with conceptual understanding and computational accuracy. Students in Kindergarten-Grade 2 use basic number sense to compose and decompose numbers in order to solve problems requiring precision, estimation, and reasonableness. By the end of Grade 2, students know basic addition and subtraction facts and are using them to work flexibly, efficiently, and accurately with numbers during addition and subtraction computation.

(4) Problem solving, language and communication, connections within and outside mathematics, and formal and informal reasoning underlie all content areas in mathematics. Throughout mathematics in Kindergarten-Grade 2, students use these processes together with technology and other mathematical tools such as manipulative materials to develop conceptual understanding and solve meaningful problems as they do mathematics.

(b) Knowledge and skills.

(1) Number, operation, and quantitative reasoning. The student uses numbers to name quantities. The student is expected to:

(A) use one-to-one correspondence and language such as more than, same number as, or two less than to describe relative sizes of sets of concrete objects;

(B) use sets of concrete objects to represent quantities given in verbal or written form (through 20); and

(C) use numbers to describe how many objects are in a set (through 20) using verbal and symbolic descriptions.

(2) Number, operation, and quantitative reasoning. The student describes order of events or objects. The student is expected to:

(A) use language such as before or after to describe relative position in a sequence of events or objects; and

(B) name the ordinal positions in a sequence such as first, second, third, etc.

(3) Number, operation, and quantitative reasoning. The student recognizes that there are quantities less than a whole. The student is expected to:

(A) share a whole by separating it into two equal parts; and

(B) explain why a given part is half of the whole.

(4) Number, operation, and quantitative reasoning. The student models addition (joining) and subtraction (separating). The student is expected to model and create addition and subtraction problems in real situations with concrete objects.

(5) Patterns, relationships, and algebraic thinking. The student identifies, extends, and creates patterns. The student is expected to identify, extend, and create patterns of sounds, physical movement, and concrete objects.

(6) Patterns, relationships, and algebraic thinking. The student uses patterns to make predictions. The student is expected to:

(A) use patterns to predict what comes next, including cause-and-effect relationships; and

(B) count by ones to 100.

(7) Geometry and spatial reasoning. The student describes the relative positions of objects. The student is expected to:

(A) describe one object in relation to another using informal language such as over, under, above, and below; and

(B) place an object in a specified position.§111.A. Elementary Page 24 October 2013 Update

(8) Geometry and spatial reasoning. The student uses attributes to determine how objects are alike and different. The student is expected to:

(A) describe and identify an object by its attributes using informal language;

(B) compare two objects based on their attributes; and

(C) sort a variety of objects including two- and three-dimensional geometric figures according to their attributes and describe how the objects are sorted.

(9) Geometry and spatial reasoning. The student recognizes attributes of two- and three-dimensional geometric figures. The student is expected to:

(A) describe and compare the attributes of real-life objects such as balls, boxes, cans, and cones or models of three-dimensional geometric figures;

(B) recognize shapes in real-life three-dimensional geometric figures or models of three-dimensional geometric figures; and

(C) describe, identify, and compare circles, triangles, rectangles, and squares (a special type of rectangle).

(10) Measurement. The student directly compares the attributes of length, area, weight/mass, capacity, and/or relative temperature. The student uses comparative language to solve problems and answer questions. The student is expected to:

(A) compare and order two or three concrete objects according to length (longer/shorter than, or the same);

(B) compare the areas of two flat surfaces of two-dimensional figures (covers more, covers less, or covers the same);

(C) compare two containers according to capacity (holds more, holds less, or holds the same);

(D) compare two objects according to weight/mass (heavier than, lighter than or equal to); and

(E) compare situations or objects according to relative temperature (hotter/colder than, or the same as).

(11) Measurement. The student uses time to describe, compare, and order events and situations. The student is expected to:

(A) compare events according to duration such as more time than or less time than;

(B) sequence events (up to three); and

(C) read a calendar using days, weeks, and months.

(12) Probability and statistics. The student constructs and uses graphs of real objects or pictures to answer questions. The student is expected to:

(A) construct graphs using real objects or pictures in order to answer questions; and

(B) use information from a graph of real objects or pictures in order to answer questions.

(13) Underlying processes and mathematical tools. The student applies Kindergarten mathematics to solve problems connected to everyday experiences and activities in and outside of school. The student is expected to:

(A) identify mathematics in everyday situations;

(B) solve problems with guidance that incorporates the processes of understanding the problem, making a plan, carrying out the plan, and evaluating the solution for reasonableness;Elementary §111.A. October 2013 Update Page 25

(C) select or develop an appropriate problem-solving strategy including drawing a picture, looking for a pattern, systematic guessing and checking, or acting it out in order to solve a problem; and

(D) use tools such as real objects, manipulatives, and technology to solve problems.

(14) Underlying processes and mathematical tools. The student communicates about Kindergarten mathematics using informal language. The student is expected to:

(A) communicate mathematical ideas using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology; and

(B) relate everyday language to mathematical language and symbols.

(15) Underlying processes and mathematical tools. The student uses logical reasoning. The student is expected to justify his or her thinking using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.
 Source: The provisions of this §111.12 adopted to be effective September 1, 1998, 22 TexReg 7623; amended to be effective August 1, 2006, 30 TexReg 7471.
First I would say that I need to become familiar with the TEKS in order to effectively use them as teaching objectives. How I would utilize these TEKS that I listed above is by giving the students test over what they have learned over the course, and I would do assessment testing.  I also would use a Venn diagram and do compare/contrast. I would also use these TEKS through hands on experience, technologies, PowerPoint, real life experiences, I will utilize anyway that I can to make sure my students are covering everything that they need to cover to make it to the next level. I also want to make sure that they understand exactly what they are doing and that they are comfortable in doing these TEKS that I have listed above.

The most important TEKS in my opinion  is identifying mathematics in an everyday situation and use patterns to predict what comes next. The reason why I picked these two is because we use math everyday and we do not even think about it. it just comes natural to us. We look at the time to see what time it is, we buy our food, put gas in our car, etc. I mean we deal with math every single day in our lives. Not only that but patterns is the same way, just about everyday we have the same routine we can just about predict what will happen next. The things I would do to make sure these TEKS are covered is by doing different hands on assignments, we would deal with real life situations, activities, have speakers come out and talk to the students about whatever we are covering that day or week. Again I will  do whatever I need to do to make sure my students are successful and that I am implementing these TEKS to my students.