Teaching Direct Variation through Proportions

Now it's time to meet our other resident teacher expert, Ms. Ogan. We'll compare her approach to that of Ms. Barney.

Ms. Ogan's Biosketch: When she's not on her motorcycle, Lisa is busy teaching at Travis Ranch Middle School, where she's taught for ten years. It's in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, home also to Morse Elementary (where she taught one year as well). She began her career at El Camino Elementary School in the Ontario Montclair Unified School District, following that with nine years in Walnut, California, at Chaparral Middle School teaching 6th grade science and language arts. In all, Lisa's been guiding students for 21 years.

Lisa received her Bachelors (major: Child Development; minor: Math) and Masters in Administration with a Preliminary Administration Credential from California State University at Fullerton. Her Credential is a Multiple Subject/Special Authorization in Mathematics. All this, and Lisa has received a PTA Honorary Service Award, too. Oh, and in addition to riding her motorcycle, Lisa enjoys camping and scrapbooking. (Don't you wish she was your teacher?)

Her quote to note: "I like seeing the 'light bulbs' go on in the kids' heads when they finally get it."

Lesson Plan Summary: Ms. Ogan's lesson uses proportions to solve direct variation problems. She utilizes direct instruction, class discussion, pair-share problem solving, and the use of a trade book to keep students engaged. As if that weren't enough, she employs vocabulary as a tool for understanding. See the full lesson plan for Ms. Ogan's lesson, The Math Curse.

Classroom Setting: This lesson occurs in a third period Pre-Algebra course, consisting of 26 seventh and eighth grade students.

School Setting: Travis Ranch School is a K-8 school in the Placentia Yorba Linda Unified School District. The school is a California Distinguished School. Over 85% of 750 students are Caucasian.

Let's jump across city lines now to hang out in Ms. Ogan's classroom. In this clip, Ms. Ogan shows her class an actual problem from the CAHSEE-- and yes, it involves trees.

Teaching Direct Variation through Proportions (0.5 minute)
Lisa Ogan: Ogan 01