5 Effective Math Strategies to Enhance your Instruction
- 1. 5 Effective Math Strategies to Enhance your Instruction Kristina Bowerman – EDIM 510 http://flic.kr/p/72gX58
- 2. Real-life Applications • Talk about when and where the skill will be used • Choose examples that are meaningful to the students • Ask the students to name some more examples • Discuss jobs that use the skill http://flic.kr/p/6DPLSC
- 3. Modeling & Practice • Teach by example • Outline Steps • Talk through the process and provide opportunities for your students to do the same • Include time for individual and group work http://flic.kr/p/djaFtt
- 4. Technology • Videos • Games • Presentation Tools • Research • Blogs • Virtual Field Trips http://flic.kr/p/9DEfrS
- 5. Multiple Problem-Solving Strategies • Show one way • Then another • Try it a different way – there are never too many problem-solving strategies • Ask for ideas from students • Reference skills previously covered • Reach more learners http://flic.kr/p/daEfxQ
- 6. Peer Instruction Beneficial to advanced learners – time to showcase skills •Practice explaining steps, processes, reasons •Inhibits boredom & feels good to help others http://flic.kr/p/di1LZa Aids reluctant learners – can be less threatening •More chances to discuss learning and ideas •More 1-1 opportunities
Editor's Notes
- #3: Math is always easier and more applicable when we understand how we will use the info, so be sure to share that with your students. Always base discussions around examples that appeal to kids – sports, games, shopping, etc. After you start the discussion, ensure you allow opportunities for the students to share ideas about how they might use the skill. Your initial discussion ideas will hopefully get their creative juices flowing!
- #4: Your students really do pay attention to what you do and say, most of the time! Show your students example of you problem-solving as you self-speak through the steps, explaining your reasoning along the way. Along with good instruction, students need practice and opportunities to apply their new-found skills, and it’s important that you be available to help and answer any questions.
- #5: Let’s face it, technology often makes learning more interesting, fun, and grabs your students’ attention. Why not make use the readily available tools that will help your students learn while appealing to how they want to learn? Don’t get caught up in the flash of technology though – always be sure your technology choices support your curriculum, not the other way around! There are countless Web 2.0 tools available to enhance your teaching. The links provide some great resources worth checking out, and could be useful to share with parents too.
- #6: We don’t all learn the same way. Luckily, there are multiple strategies/approaches for most types of problems. Show your students multiple ways to problem-solve and allow them to choose the one that works best for them. I always have a plan to show multiple strategies during a lesson, and I can’t tell you how many times my students think of a way to solve a problem that might not have occurred to me. When your students really think about problem-solving, they can provide a plethora of ideas, so don’t forget to tap into them as extra resources!
- #7: Think you have the perfect explanation? Sometimes your students would disagree. It’s amazing how hearing information from someone else, someone of their own age, can impact learners. There are times when all it takes is a little different explanation to make it all stick. Plus, it helps all learners, both advanced and reluctant. Sometimes students who struggle in one subject excel in another, and this strategy allows everyone to work together and shine.