Mr. Tam's Website - Thinking Classroom Exemplars

I conducted a Thinking Classroom activity where students explored rational functions. The only instruction I provided was for students to find two numbers that multiplied to equal 24 and 36. This open-ended task led students to discover the equation for a rational function, xy=constant. We then extended the exploration by discussing how the function changes when the constant is negative, smaller, bigger, etc.

In my Science classroom, we explored various body systems, including the digestive, respiratory, circulatory, nervous, muscular, skeletal, and cardiovascular systems. Students worked in groups of 3-4 to create detailed diagrams, explore the essential functions, and label the key parts of each system.

In this review activity, college math students created a summary of what they learned in the unit on chart paper. This hands-on approach encouraged collaboration, reinforced key concepts, and allowed students to visually organize their understanding.

In the activity students were provided with different rational functions that had different forms of transformations. They were to state the different features of the rational function that were provided and explain it to the class in a gallery style presentation.

In this exercise, students had just been introduced to exponential functions and their transformations. They learned that the parent function of an exponential is in the form y = b^x, where b is the base. Students were given a variety of transformed exponential functions and were asked to: 1. Identify the parent function & 2. Describe the transformations that were applied (e.g., shifts, stretches/compressions, reflections).

Students in MAP4C are working together to create reference sheets for the Algebraic Models unit, with a focus on exponential relationships. This collaborative activity helps students review key concepts, clarify their understanding, and prepare for the upcoming test. Everything they write will be considered for the reference sheet they’re allowed to use during the test — making this both a learning tool and a valuable resource.