Mathematics is an area of study that students either really like or they strongly dislike it. I love the idea behind mathematics. You are able to use a formula to find an exact answer to a given problem. You plug in numbers to the formula, do some calculations, and you’re satisfied with an answer. This subject is very different from others because of this. Many students like getting a definite answer at the end of a problem. It is reassuring that you understand the question being asked.
Math instruction at the elementary school level is essential for students learning as time goes on. It is at this age that students develop a relationship with the subject. It is at this age where students learn the basic ideas or starting ideas of math. In order for students to gain this relationship the teacher must help create one in and out of the classroom. To do so, it is important for the teacher to understand that all students learn differently, which implies that differentiated instruction should be used. Some students are visual learners, while others are auditory learners. Being able to see the work behind a problem helps process the steps and the idea of the problem.
My students have unique interests and different strengths. In order to make a topic interesting hands on activities will be used. A hands-on activity will be created for most lessons in order to help students see the problem in front of them. These activities will also help drill the concept into their heads. Something also frequently used is differentiated instruction. This will provide students with different avenues of learning. In order to accomplish this, I will vary learning activities and materials by difficulty. Students who understand a concept will receive a more challenging activity, whereas a student who is struggling will receive a less challenging activity. In the past I have seen this work at hand, so I will continue to tie differentiated instruction into my classroom.
Manipulatives are a key object in mathematics. They serve as a hands-on activity for students. My students will use manipulatives to help them figure out certain problems. During my student teaching placement I used manipulatives daily. During a multiplication lesson, where students had to create an array or tape diagram, I had students use Hershey kisses. The students were able to create a multiplication array using the candy pieces. Once the lesson was over they fully understood the concept. Manipulatives are a great tool to use and my student will learn to use them. They allow students to see a problem at hand instead of just on a piece of paper.
Being able to connect math to the real world is a critical trait students must gain as they go through their school career. Some people say, “Math is barely used in the real world”. When I was younger I believed this statement to be true. I always wondered how math was used, as I grew older and wiser. As I began to work hands on with math problems I started to convince myself that math was used all the time in everyday life. Think about constructing a house or building a car. If math was not “a thing” then some items we have in this world would not exist. Getting students to think about math in this way will allow students to gain a love and understanding for mathematics.
Math instruction at the elementary school level is essential for students learning as time goes on. It is at this age that students develop a relationship with the subject. It is at this age where students learn the basic ideas or starting ideas of math. In order for students to gain this relationship the teacher must help create one in and out of the classroom. To do so, it is important for the teacher to understand that all students learn differently, which implies that differentiated instruction should be used. Some students are visual learners, while others are auditory learners. Being able to see the work behind a problem helps process the steps and the idea of the problem.
My students have unique interests and different strengths. In order to make a topic interesting hands on activities will be used. A hands-on activity will be created for most lessons in order to help students see the problem in front of them. These activities will also help drill the concept into their heads. Something also frequently used is differentiated instruction. This will provide students with different avenues of learning. In order to accomplish this, I will vary learning activities and materials by difficulty. Students who understand a concept will receive a more challenging activity, whereas a student who is struggling will receive a less challenging activity. In the past I have seen this work at hand, so I will continue to tie differentiated instruction into my classroom.
Manipulatives are a key object in mathematics. They serve as a hands-on activity for students. My students will use manipulatives to help them figure out certain problems. During my student teaching placement I used manipulatives daily. During a multiplication lesson, where students had to create an array or tape diagram, I had students use Hershey kisses. The students were able to create a multiplication array using the candy pieces. Once the lesson was over they fully understood the concept. Manipulatives are a great tool to use and my student will learn to use them. They allow students to see a problem at hand instead of just on a piece of paper.
Being able to connect math to the real world is a critical trait students must gain as they go through their school career. Some people say, “Math is barely used in the real world”. When I was younger I believed this statement to be true. I always wondered how math was used, as I grew older and wiser. As I began to work hands on with math problems I started to convince myself that math was used all the time in everyday life. Think about constructing a house or building a car. If math was not “a thing” then some items we have in this world would not exist. Getting students to think about math in this way will allow students to gain a love and understanding for mathematics.