Standards & Classroom Change
There are many changes to make in order for students to become proficient in math, understand concepts, and truly be engaged in the subject. The biggest thing I learned this semester is asking students 'why'. They always need to be asked why so they can confirm to you their understanding of the concept or where they need more redirection and guidance to explore more. The SMP and Process Standards allow for students to collaborate with one another and learn from one another. When they are giving critiques, they can explain why they believe something to be true and students can make reform in their own math education. They can argue what they believe to be true and why, and support it with different concepts.
I also learned that students must constantly be engaged in active learning. There is no better way to learn than solving problems yourself and searching for what makes a good problem. Students can become engaged in a problem and use manipulative tools to help them learn. I learned that while teaching a concept, you can present different tools they are able to use, but when they work independently, they should be able to pick which ones work best for them. This also shows the teacher how well they know the tools and the concept. If they are able to take tools and apply them to a problem appropriately; it is likely they know the concept. Becoming familiar with the SMPs and Process Standards has changed the way I look at mathematics. Students need to learn how to communicate their thinking and express it to the classroom. They also need to represent the problem they are solving and have valid reasoning and connections from one concept to another. Their problem solving skills will improve if the SMP standards are utilized because they will be taught how to reason abstractly, use the tools and create viable arguments. They will also be able to see repeated reasoning in one concept and apply it to another concept.
Communicating in mathematics is another big topic we learned about. Students will not only learn skills to discuss math but also conveying an idea to another person and being able to constructively critique their peers. This is something I was never given the opportunity to do in grade school, but it is something I will incorporate into my classroom because it has such a big impact on students from what I have read about and from videos I have watched. They should also learn how to communicate math at a young age so they can carry those skills throughout their elementary years and on to their middle school and secondary education.
I also learned that students must constantly be engaged in active learning. There is no better way to learn than solving problems yourself and searching for what makes a good problem. Students can become engaged in a problem and use manipulative tools to help them learn. I learned that while teaching a concept, you can present different tools they are able to use, but when they work independently, they should be able to pick which ones work best for them. This also shows the teacher how well they know the tools and the concept. If they are able to take tools and apply them to a problem appropriately; it is likely they know the concept. Becoming familiar with the SMPs and Process Standards has changed the way I look at mathematics. Students need to learn how to communicate their thinking and express it to the classroom. They also need to represent the problem they are solving and have valid reasoning and connections from one concept to another. Their problem solving skills will improve if the SMP standards are utilized because they will be taught how to reason abstractly, use the tools and create viable arguments. They will also be able to see repeated reasoning in one concept and apply it to another concept.
Communicating in mathematics is another big topic we learned about. Students will not only learn skills to discuss math but also conveying an idea to another person and being able to constructively critique their peers. This is something I was never given the opportunity to do in grade school, but it is something I will incorporate into my classroom because it has such a big impact on students from what I have read about and from videos I have watched. They should also learn how to communicate math at a young age so they can carry those skills throughout their elementary years and on to their middle school and secondary education.
What about the content standards that you aligned with for the curriculum plan?
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