A New Semester

     A new semester has dawned and I have begun my program in elementary education at the University of Central Florida. It's wonderful! I had my first class last night, Methods of Instruction for Elementary Mathematics, and I loved it! The entire class was focused on different, creative approaches to the same problems and the validity of multiple approaches and answers. We had a sheet of ten math problems that had multiple answers. We solved them in small groups (without the use of algebra or higher math) and then discussed the answers that the groups had come up with, and their reasoning behind their answers. We then applied this to how we could foster independent and creative thinking in our future students. 

     We also did these really fun word problems where you turn one word into another by changing one letter at a time (every time you change a letter you must form a dictionary word). I was the only one in the class able to change chin to nose and apparently the teacher was impressed because he told me that in the 15 years he had been doing the exercise he had never seen my particular answer. (I'll post my solution later and I'd love to see any solutions that you all come up with.)

     Michael and I also began moving into the house in Orlando yesterday. Unfortunately, the bank has still not accepted our offer yet, so we are currently renting the house from the seller. We spent the morning cleaning the house and making appointments to have the water turned on, the locks re-keyed, and cable internet installed. The dogs love the new house and spent their time running circles around the fireplace (it's in a central wall/pillar thing).