Cherry Luma is one of those teachers that makes you wish you were in 5 th grade again. She has a unique way of engaging students, always including a student’s interests into her instruction. According to her principal, she is energetic and charismatic. Whether it’s dressing up in costumes, using props, or just talking to kids in “their lingo,” Cherly can always find a way to get on their level and relate. Many of her students come from Caribbean and Central American backgrounds. As a Florida native and Haitian-American, she can relate to many other students’ experiences.
She recalls the teachers she liked the most when she was growing up, and how she wanted to be like them. “They were the teachers who made learning fun and inspired me with a passion for math and science.” She understands the value of this type of learning, and knows how important it is to “just let them be kids. Part of being a kid is getting tired of always hearing the grown-up talk, and that is why I really like Gizmos. It helps students take control of their learning. It’s hands-on and fun. Students can learn as they play.”
Every year, there’s always that one concept that students seem to struggle with. For Cherly’s class it was order of operations. She shares, “Students would look at the long sequence of numbers and symbols, and they were like, ‘what!?!?!’”
Of course, that is until she introduced them to the concept with the Order of Operation Gizmo. “As students were doing the Gizmo, the kids were like, ‘Oh, I get it now.’ They had a lot of ‘aha’ moments with order of operation. Students get so excited, they want to show everyone what they are doing.”
“To start, I usually walk through the Gizmo warm-up and complete the first few questions with the students. The first few questions are always the same, so it makes it easy. Then the questions change randomly. My students then work in pairs to complete the Gizmo or work independently. In the Gizmo, students choose the correct order in which to evaluate numerical expressions. The Gizmo itself provides feedback for incorrect choices.”
After further discussion and review, her students complete the assessment questions. Assessment questions help her see who gets it or doesn’t. For students that the experience challenges, she works with them on the interactive whiteboard in a small group. It’s a great way to engage multiple students at the same time.
Cherly’s Gizmo Tips:
- Collaborate with other teachers as you plan your lessons.
- Get parents on board so they encourage students to practice Gizmos at home.
- Always make sure to have students complete the prior knowledge questions.
- Review new vocabulary with students and make the words visible throughout the lesson.
- Adjust the lesson materials to meet your students’ needs.
Cherly Luma teaches math and science at Fulford Elementary, a Title I school in North Miami Beach. She graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at the University of Florida in Gainesville. In addition, she was her last school’s 12-13 Teacher of the Year. She has been teaching for 9 years.