A statistics unit for sixth grade students, how to establish a makers’ engineering and creativity space and connecting cultures through music, will be the focus of three presentations offered by Mount Madonna School (MMS) faculty members Lisa Catterall, Premdas Rohan and Sarojani Rohan to educators attending the Northern California Regional Meeting of the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) on March 9 at Head Royce School in Oakland. All MMS faculty members will be attending this biannual conference.Catterall, who teaches high school science and established The Factory at MMS in 2014, will present ‘The Factory: Implement a Makers’ Space or Tinkering Studio at Your School.’ Her presentation will include the process MMS used to start a makers’ program on campus, including finances and curriculum design, as well as an overview of activities that she used at different grade levels (specifically 3rd-11th grades), the role of the teacher and classroom set-up for a “tinkering” mode of work, assessments and data on the first term of the program and resources for activities, supplies and equipment. There will also be a sample hands-on activity.
‘I wanted to give the presentation because I’ve used The Factory makers’ space here to do graduate research on how makers’ activities address gender disparity and general motivation for creative kids in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects,’ explained Catterall. ‘Currently women receive only one out of every five engineering degrees in the U.S.,’ she noted, ‘and I’m finding that having a functioning makers’ space goes a long way toward drawing artistic students of both genders into engineering topics. I also want to share the mechanics and cost of the process of starting it up as a learning tool in case there are educators who are thinking of it and may be scared of the cost or complexity of doing so.’Middle school math teacher Premdas Rohan will present an ‘Analysis of Measures and Variability and Central Tendency Using Box Plots,’ a workshop on a CORE statistics curriculum for middle school students.
‘This is one of the last lessons of a four-week statistics study unit that can replace or supplement the Common Core statistics unit for sixth grade,’ he explained. ‘Students learn how to analyze data organized into a box and whisker plot, defining and demonstrating quartiles and understanding how additional data added to data sets may affect computations of central tendency measures. This lesson uses super-relevant, student-generated data and was developed by a Common Core study team from Pajaro Valley Unified School District and myself.’
Rohan and the other teachers in his study team asked their students to track their ‘screen time’ — computers, phones and television — for two consecutive weekends, noting how much time they spent watching a screen vs. engaging in outdoor activities. In graphing students’ screen time versus outdoor activity time as box plots, students were able to see more clearly class behavior, individual behavior, and how their individual data point fit into the whole. Through analysis and reflection, students were able to propose possible changes in behavior to more align with their personal health goals of a balance between activity and screen time in their daily lives.
Pre/K program director and elementary music teacher Sarojani Rohan will present ‘Wake Up the Brain. Open the Heart and Build Bridges,’ a workshop on connecting cultures through music and designed for educators who work with students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Her presentation will include stone passing games from Ghana, Maori stick games from New Zealand, hand-clapping games from Afghanistan, Indian stick-dancing, puili stick games from Hawaii and even some bucket drumming! A CD of songs used and resource notes will be provided.
‘As a musician, I have always had an interest in music from other cultures,’ she shared. ‘As a teacher I feel it is very important for children to see how they are joined to other cultures through music; experience what joins us in our affinity for community and play and for expressing our innate sense of musicality. Hearing other languages, as well, helps us to realize we are just part of one big human family. My hope and faith in a future of peaceful relations is inspired by our children’s ever-developing sense of respect and appreciation for the diverse world they share with others.’####
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Nestled among the redwoods on 355 mountaintop acres, Mount Madonna is a safe and nurturing college-preparatory school that supports students in becoming caring, self-aware and articulate critical thinkers, who are prepared to meet challenges with perseverance, creativity and integrity. The CAIS and WASC accredited program emphasizes academic excellence, creative self-expression and positive character development. Located on Summit Road between Gilroy and Watsonville.
