yay!

I love to see this kind of classwork, not only because it gets kids exposed to the MR hobby, but because ti gets kids thinking!

I'm looking forward to more of your story.

Sharing with your students

Good for you and thank you.

I work in an elementary school and have shared my hobby extensively with my students. Several of them have expressed an interest in model trains. I invited students, their parents and siblings to see my layout. The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. One father and son went back home and immediately began designing their own layout.

On one occasion where I did a teacher show and tell, I brought a carrying case with examples of the models I built. The students were impressed that I actually assembled the models and painted them. The students were assigned a one page commentary with follow-up questions. Many of them, boys and girls, liked the "orange and silver trains".

It is a real treat to see

It is a real treat to see kids get involved with things like that. It is also impressive to see them react to a good teacher that can maintain their interest. I did a project with kids in science classes and math classes when I was reconstructing traffic accidents. The kids hated math and worst of all story problems. I also told them that is what I did to earn my living, solve story problems. That really got their interest, how can a guy make a living solving story problems? After a little bit the kids were all involved in doing math problems far beyond what their teachers were having them do and having a great time. The main theme is get them interested just as you have done with the railroading and they will apply themselves. It is a thing of beauty to watch youngsters learning.

Rob in Texas

Up until a moved forced me

Story Problems

The almost universal dislike of "story problems" always makes me a little sad.

Life is a story problem.  The whole point of math in the lower grades should be to solve story problems.

Making math useful by bringing in your hobby and showing a concrete application is a great idea.

Keep up the good work.

gs

kids' interests

Yeah, the resistance to story problems as presented in a typical math class is pretty widespread. But, some kids do enjoy puzzles, and some kids enjoy mysteries. Most (but not all) kids enjoy working together with other kids regardless of the task at hand. 

Too few children have regular opportunities to make something real and feel the satisfaction of being able to point at what they've accomplished. 

I actually suspect that every kid could enjoy thinking activities and learn effectively from them if they were at the level of challenge that's just right for them. Associating those tasks with the satisfaction of making something helps provide some positive feedback around math as a tool and as an art. 

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

Jeff

It's Maths

I wonder why you refer to it as Math, surely that is singular. Or are we brits wrong to call it maths. Still what ever, if it gets you're kids think and enjoy both school and a possible new hobby, keep it going .

I always have to laugh...

...when somebody doing the 'correcting' gets the rest of it wrong.

whatever, your, & to.

and that concludes today Math & Grammar lessons.

Sorry Ted!

Running and ducking for cover now....

Could that have been humor or

Could that have been humor or "Colour"?

Rob in Texas

hmmm... perhaps

...But since Ted is Canadian, that would be humour

...running back to my cover...

I know I shouldn't, but can't resist

Bill as the "teacher" you really need to be careful...

and that concludes today Math & Grammar lessons.

I'm not a grammar expert, but shouldn't that be "todays' Math & Grammar lessons."  ?

this could go on forever...

Well...

Shouldn't that be "today's", etc., ?

I won't even get into the period - quote - question mark, one of which - the period, it seems to me - is unnecessary.  As for whether or not the '?' should then go inside the quote or out, I really don't know, although a friend wrote a whole book on that sort of thing, so evidently It Matters.  To some.

David

Some how I am thinking of the

Some how I am thinking of the Dick and Jane early readers and their dog Spot. See Dick run. See Jane run. See Spot run. Now I am tired, and I am thinking of the old dog and new tricks.

Rob in Texas

yup!

I'm off to kindergarten tomorrow. lol.

Maths? Math?

It's Maths

So what does Mr. George

So what does Mr. George Bernard Shaw have to say about the plural of Caboose, is it Cabesse, or Cabooses or something else entirely, like on the Pennsey they were called Cabin Cars so it was a non issue.

Rob in Texas

If we are going to parse grammar...

Perhaps it's time for a review! I hope you enjoy this...!

-Eric

Returning to the rails...

Dear Sun, MRHers,

Getting back on the rails...

In related "trains in education applications",
may be worth revisiting Episode 003 of the Model Railway Show podcast?

http://themodelrailwayshow.com/ShowNotes/?p=57

Mike Hamer is a middle-school teacher who has had his charges building and learning on layouts for some years now, IIRC MR covered his efforts back in a mid 90's issue?

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Inspire and Encourage the Next,
Prof Klyzlr

Working together - not so universal

I suggest varying ways kids can be involved, both working together and working solo.  The idea that "most" kids like working together is a culturally reinforced myth.  In Susan Cain's book "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking", she debunks the myth and explains how America has evolved as a society that glorifies and tries to promote extroversion, and as a result loses some of the value and contributions introverts bring to the table.  Yet somewhere around 50% of individuals in our society are introverts for whom interactions with others drains energy.  Among others things, Ms Cain points out a flaw the myth has created in much of current education in the US where the pendulum has swung from almost totally individually oriented work to almost all group work in some classrooms.  That just trades leaving one set of kids behind for leaving another set of kids behind.

We see it in our hobby.  We have both those who prefer to be lone wolves and those who prefer operations with others and lots of variations.  I absolutely applaud this effort to get kids involved in school as well as other groups, both boys and girls.  They are the future of our hobby. But to interest the maximum audience you need to appeal to both the extroverts and introverts through a mix of approaches.

Keep up the great work!

-Ed

A middle school model railroad - templates

Peco has good templates for planning track:  http://www.peco-uk.com/page.asp?id=pointplans

 The printouts are free, and they include a ruler to verify the size.   They are an ideal resource to see what fits. 

For learning about wiring switches, this is a good site.  http://www.proto87.com/page124.html  It's got good graphics, and it makes insulated frogs looks very attractive for simplification.

Math and Maths...

Highway70,

America has used the singular term math while our cousins over the pond use the plural term Maths.  Not sure why, just one of those funny language things.  

Dave

Wow, thanks for that link.

Wow, thanks for that link. Curiously, just a few days ago I saw a reference to Mike Hamer's around-the-perimeter staging strategy in an old-ish track planning article. I'm looking forward to listening to the interview. 

I see he also has several blogs. Who knows, maybe I won't be a lone wolf forever! Thanks.

Jeff

re: working together

Thanks Ed, very well put, you are so right.

It's a difficult dynamic to measure, but I see it clearly enough in school just as you describe - a sort of tyranny of collaborators, and I often find myself having to champion the needs of the kids who prefer to work or play alone. One of the reasons I think building a model railroad is a sweet match for kids is the tremendous range of complementary engagement options it provides. And regardless of what each individual finds satisfying I think it leaves plenty of room for appreciating the diversity of other choices and interests.

What I try to do is lower the risk of exploring other "ways of being" for all kids. 

Jeff

Great Job

Jeff,

I would like to commend you on your program.  I have been trying to start something similar with our club and the local school in support of their Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Design, Mathematics  (STEAM) program. 

Art