"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,

nothing is going to get better. It's not.

-Dr. Seuss

My name is Hannah Bernardi and this quote motivates me to become a

teacher, and to make a difference in students’ lives. When I tell people

that my major is middle school math, I receive the same response each

time, “Good luck with that.” It baffles me, and I never really know if they

are referring to middle school students or the fact that I want to teach

math. To me, I see this age as a time for them to find out who they are,

and I would love to be a part of that. They bring such a spontaneous,

unique outlook on life. On top of that I have always enjoyed math, and

I feel that I have the ability to teach math. My creativity will allow me to

approach math concepts in all sorts of ways to help students

understand. The patience I have acquired from being a nanny for

almost four years will certainly roll over into the classroom as well. I

hope to create a comfortable, fun environment for my students.

When I’m not at school or working, I am enjoying every

minute of my spare time. The traveling bug bit me about 5

years ago, and I haven’t shaken it. I gain a little something

from each of my trips. My first trip was a 4 day, 3 night

backpack trip in the Grand Teton, and that has inspired me

beyond words. Besides traveling, I love to play tennis and

enjoy the outdoors. I always enjoy cuddling up to a good

book or watching movie. If I couldn’t teach math, I would

have taught art. Art relaxes me and I can get lost in

whatever I am working on for hours. Making a difference in

students’ lives is what motivates me and pushes me to be

the best teacher I can be, and I look forward to the day I get

the chance.

Left: Grand Tetons in

Wyoming.

Below: My boyfriend and

I mountain biking in

Telluride, Co.

How do YOU use math?

Middle School Math

Hannah Bernardi

Fall 2012

Rationale:

This lesson will provide the students with the opportunity to be a part of something as a whole. By creating a magazine

students will learn interpersonal skills, and build on their writing skills. They will see how math is involved in all sorts of

different jobs by interviewing, exploring and researching. Students will be able to answer their own question, “When will

we ever use math in real life?” Having students investigate their question deepens their understanding and gives them

satisfaction for solving their inquiry.

Summary:

Students will be given a handout, rubric and calendar to inform them and keep them on track. The class as a whole will

be responsible for creating a magazine. Each student will be creating their own page on their own unique job they

choose. They will describe the job, and find out how it uses math. Students will need to provide an example of the math

to the best of their ability. If the student knows someone in the field they are researching, they will be encouraged to

interview them. Students that would like to create a cover for the magazine will present their ideas to the class, and the

class will vote on the one they like best. When each student has finished their page, they will all come together to

complete their magazine. The magazine will be displayed in the class and eventually be put in the library for all students

to check out and read!

Objectives:

Students will learn about all different jobs that use math. Students will expand upon their own curiosity and deepen

their intrinsic motivation to drive their learning. Students will be responsible for gathering, analyzing and applying

information to their magazine article. Responsibility will roll over to students for their work. They will need to keep on

task and monitor their progress.

Length of Curriculum:

6 class meetings

Writing Strategies:

Play by Play, Exit Slip, KWL

Materials and Resources:

a) The School

-computer lab /library time

-time allotted for interviews if job is within the school

b) Teacher

-example, hand out, rubric, student calendar

c) Student

-their very own magazine page!

Assessment:

Summative- Students will provide a final magazine page being sure to include all the necessary components.

Formative- A chart will be provided in the classroom for students to check off what they have done so far and what they

will be working on for that day. As the teacher I will be using my own checklist to ensure all the student are on track, and

will be using Sessions to allow students a meeting with me, and to help keep students on track.

Teacher Calendar

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Introduce

Magazine concept. Play by Play & Exit Slip

KWL Research & Rough Draft

Magazine Sessions -cover options Rough draft needs to be completed by next class

Small-Group feedback Final Drafts due Friday

Final Drafts due. VOTE for cover!

FINISHED MAGAZINE REVEALED!

Lesson Plan #1

Heading Math Hannah Bernardi

How do YOU use math? Time Frame - 50 min

Instructional

Framework

Constructing Utilizing

Lesson Plan

Format

Student Centered:

Cooperative Learning

Problem Solving

Grouping Individual, pairs and whole class

Materials &

Resources

School – Computer lab time, interview opportunities if job is within the school

Teacher – handout, examples of magazine articles

Student – paper, pencil, research

Literacy Strategy Play by Play, Exit Slip

Phase One Introduce the idea of a Magazine, and that it will be about how different jobs use math.

-Give out handout

Brainstorming strategy, Play by Play, will be used. Students will be given a minute to brainstorm

some jobs that use math and how they think they use it. They will then share with a partner,

extending their list by writing down items they hadn’t already thought of. Finally a class master

list will be created, and student’s names will be drawn from a hat to pick which job they want to

investigate.

-Rubric will be provided to clarify what needs to be included in the magazine article.

Phase Two Once each student has chosen a job, class will head to computer lab.

-At the computer lab, teacher and librarian will be around to help students with their research.

-The rubric will be used to guide students in the right direction of what needs to be researched.

Phase Three Class will return to class and fill out an exit slip.

-Exit slip will ask students to write down any questions they may have so far or any comments

they have.

Formative

Assessment

Teacher will have a checklist, while walking around the room to keep track of how far along

students are in their research. The exit slip will be used to answer any questions students may

have. The questions/answers will be shared next class incase other students have the same

questions.

Lesson Plan #2

Heading Math Hannah Bernardi

How do YOU use math? Time Frame- 4 days

Instructional

Framework

Constructing Utilizing

Lesson Plan

Format

Student Centered:

Cooperative Learning

Problem Solving

Grouping Individuals, groups

Materials &

Resources

School – Computer lab time, interview opportunities if job is within the school

Teacher – handout, examples of magazine articles

Student – paper, pencil, research

Literacy Strategy KWL, Small-Group feedback [Reading Aloud],

Day 2 Students will begin by making a KWL list.

Students will jot down what they know about their job already, what they want or still need to

find out about their job, and save the L for once all of their research is complete.

This rest of the day will be used to research, and begin writing rough draft for magazine.

At the end of the day all research should be complete, and students will fill out the L of the KWL.

-Teacher will look over the L to make sure the students have completed all necessary research.

Day 3 During this class period the class will be split up into groups, and the class will be broken down

into sessions.

The sessions include meeting with the teacher, asking questions and working on rough draft, and

lastly students will be working on a math problem they can include in their article.

Students will also be offered the opportunity to create the cover of the magazine. Those who

want to will create a cover and the class as a whole will vote on the one they like best.

- The rough draft should be completed by next class period.

Day 4 Students will return to the group they were in for their sessions.

Small-Group Feedback will be used.

Each student takes turns reading their work, and the listeners provide feedback on how the ideas

were presented. Students will be given a tip sheet which directs students about which aspects of

the writing to attend to and how to give helpful feedback.

-By reading aloud to others most writers spot their errors on their own.

Once groups are finished, student will have the time to fix their rough draft.

Their final draft will be due next class period.

Day 5 Final drafts will be turned in.

Voting on magazine cover will be today!

Formative

Assessment

KWL will be used for students to check their progress.

Class checklist will be used for teacher to keep track as well of student’s progress.

Having a session with the teacher provides students the opportunity to sit down and ask about

any questions, concerns.

Lesson Plan #3

Heading Math Hannah Bernardi

How do YOU use math? Time Frame- 30 min

Objective Students will see their hard work pay off by having a full magazine created by them.

Instructional

Framework

Utilizing

Lesson Plan

Format

Teacher Centered:

Presentation – demonstrating, lecturing

Student Centered:

Discussion

Grouping Whole Class

Phase One Teacher will present the final magazine to the class!

The class will have a discussion about the magazine, discussing how they thought the process of

the magazine went, what the learned throughout the process, what they found interesting about

the jobs and the math involved, etc.

- There will be two copies of the magazine, one will stay in the class for the students to take turn

reading, and the other will go in the library for other students to read and learn.

Everyone will be responsible for

creating a page!

Each page will describe a job that

relies heavily on math, and how they

use it!

Gathering this information will be

done by interviewing and

researching!

The cover page will be designed by

those who want to create one and

the class will vote on the one they

want!

How do YOU use math?