Math Links for Week Ending Sept. 9, 2016

Well it's that time of year. Yes, yes, the start of a new school year but what I am referring to is when the Provincial EQAO results go public and then it happens: The public goes a little nutty with "we need to get back to basics" posts and articles. This is as if we don't teach "basics" anymore or that somehow that teaching the "basics" is all that is needed to be done to fix all of our math problems. I'm not gonna post all the articles I saw but I think I liked this one the best. It seemed to give some nice examples of why we try to do the things we do.
Curriculum Tags: All
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/09/03/no-teaching-math-the-old-fashioned-way-wont-work-wells.html

 The first of a couple "first day/week" posts. The thing that caught my eye right away was the title on this post from @DaveLanovas: "Can't we just take notes?". Sure he talks about all the neat stuff that he did this week (be sure to check that out) but the sentiment that students feel the game has always been: Teacher tells us stuff, we copy it down and then repeat it back runs up against all we know about engaging students in a rich curriculum where they experience struggle as part of the design. We still have a long way to go.
Curriculum Tags: All
http://sine-of-the-times.blogspot.ca/2016/09/can-we-just-take-notes.html

We are lucky that so many teachers are willing to share their stories. And I especially like when a teacher tries to give the full story. Here @MrOrr_Geek starts off with a "First Day" post talking about all his classes but focussing on his MEL3E class. He then proceeds to do a post a day the rest of the week with all of his Essential Math antics. In this time of the "Renewed Math Strategy" here in Ontario, the focus in secondary math is supposed to be grade 9 applied. But who are we kidding, for so many schools and school boards that has been the focus in years. So it is great to see someone focussing on a course that often is given to teachers as an afterthought. This is a course that needs some tender lovin' care. If you are interesed in the overview/day by day check this link out. One thing I like about this post is that he basically does the same activities with his MHF4U class and his MEL3E class.
Curriculum Tags: MEL3E, MHF4U
http://mrorr-isageek.com/it-begins-mel3e-day-1/
http://mrorr-isageek.com/mel3e-day-2/
http://mrorr-isageek.com/mel3e-day-3/
http://mrorr-isageek.com/mel3e-day-4/

Of course people had opinions about the calls for "back to the basics". I liked this one from @msbjacobs. 

Curriculum Tags: All

http://themathguy.blogspot.ca/2016/09/dont-blame-curriculum.html

I totally forgot to post this a couple of weeks ago when the news broke but after a several year hiatus, the Canadian Census was back and we had a 98..4% response rate, the highest ever. Way to go Canada. This is surely a great thing to add to any discussion of the census and surveys.
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MBF3C, MDM4U, MAP4C

This is old but I was reminded of it earlier this week. If you are looking for something to connect quadratics to gravity then you might ask "Can you survive a jump from a building?". The original post was about the analysis of the fall using a neat and free piece of video analysis software called Tracker (you can read my blog post about Tracker here). It's pretty involved but really shows how you can analyze the real world with the right app.
Curriculum Tags: MCR3U, MBF3C, MCF3M
https://www.wired.com/2010/12/can-you-survive-a-jump-from-a-building/

Via @DataIsBeautiful here is a graph about the average weight of NFL rookies by position that you could use to ask inquiry questions
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MAP4C, MDM4U
http://regressing.deadspin.com/chart-the-average-weight-of-nfl-rookies-by-position-a-1490494148