Podcast in the classroom

Grammar Girl: She gives you short and friendly tips to improve your writing skills. She helps you remember complex rules with short little memory tricks. She will make you a better and more successful writer! She believes learning is fun and wants to help you become a successful writer!

                                            “How Do Words Get in the Dictionary?”

This episode describes the issue of the number of dictionaries in print. The judges try to find a definition of the word that suits their purposes. There are over 120 different dictionaries in use today! A dictionary is seen as a rulebook for acceptable and unacceptable words, but dictionaries can contradict each other. People who make dictionaries spend lots of time reading, and find different meanings for existing words, or new words. In order to change the dictionary you need to make the word popular and widely used for it to be added to the dictionary.This article shows how judges use dictionaries in their courtroom to make decisions. Words can be very powerful!

                                            “Who says ‘Fun’ Can’t Be an Adjective?
This episode deals with the tenses of words. This episode sprung from the fact that Grammar Girl used “fun” in a controversial way. The word fun can be used as a noun, and is usually done so. It can also be used as an adjective, but some people are against that usage. Fun can also be used as a verb, but it is rarely used in this form. Word usage also becomes an issue when words are spelled close to the same way, but have different meanings. This interview with grammar girls explains when to use which word for which context and how to decipher between the two (ex. affect vs. effect).

Math Dude: He strives to make math easier to understand and more fun to do. He gives clear explanations of math terms and explanations, as well as well simply tricks to solve math problems. His main goal is to strengthen your fundamental math skills, and help you to better understand math language. He will have you looking forward to solving problems and doing math in school!

                                                         “What is Modular Arithmetic?
This episode describes what modular arithmetic is in terms of using a clock. Cyclical arithmetic deals with the numbering of hours and the order in which the clock moves (in a cycle). Modular arithmetic can be used for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division where numbers can curve in a number line. When using time, we use a module of 12, because there are 12 different numbers. The different amount of numbers is how you label the module. Module math is done the same as normal math until you reach the maximum number of your module and you start over. Example: 9 + 5, in module 12 is equal to 2. It is easiest to do this problem by using a clock and seeing what number you end on. This website provides you with an example of a modular arithmetic problem as well as more examples and a definition.

                                  "How to use Venn-Diagrams to Solve Problems" 
Before you watch this episode, this link will refresh your memory of when to use a Venn Diagram, and how to draw one correctly. The episode described how to fill our Venn Diagrams with information and use it solve problems. Also, explains how to set up a Venn diagram in order to create an intersection between two sets. Once we have the diagram set up, all we need to do is fill in the numbers and the answer will present itself! Venn Diagrams are great visual tools to use with students when doing word problems.