The
most important thing I have learned is that math doesn’t have to be a word that
evokes anxiety; it can actually be fun, engaging, and even entertaining. I will be able to model the excitement
I now have for learning math, which will be contagious to my students.
What
makes math fun? One thing that
makes it fun for me is using manipulatives to help with concepts that were only
taught to me in the abstract.
Manipulatives do not have to be fancy gadgets; they can be ordinary everyday
objects (like colored beans or folding paper). You can use your whole body as a manipulative (ex. moving
yourself up and down a life-size number line), or use good old-fashioned items
such as miras. The most important
thing about manipulatives is that using them helps get kids (and adults) to
move from the concrete to the abstract. Setting a solid foundation helps students learn more, more
quickly, as well as helping them move on to different types of problems
beginning with the abstract. In
addition, students will feel more comfortable pushing themselves further when
learning feels fun rather than boring or risky.
Another
way to make math fun is to make it interactive. (Rather than giving students a
boring worksheet assignment- they should be given a fun and interactive group
learning activity). As social
beings, group work is a natural way to figure out how to solve problems. Having students take on roles (such as
facilitator, etc.) keeps them engaged and accountable for their own learning.
Students need to make sure that everyone at their table understands, and
can explain, the material. This helps them learn how to care for others’
learning, as well as their own.
Also, changing up the projects and rotating their roles, which is
important in terms of giving the students different points of entry.
Giving
students an interactive math project also allows them to put a little of their
own flair into the assignment, making it mean more to them, while helping them
understand an abstract concept. Students who wonder how or why would they
need to know a certain math concept in "real life" will benefit by
physically doing an activity like this.
Interactive projects also spark students' curiosity and creativity as
well as their desire to learn - without making them feel anxious.
Removing the anxiety helps kids feel safe allowing them to take risks
with their learning.
Having
individuals take turns sharing out and rephrasing what others have shared keeps
them invested in, and accountable for, their own learning. Having students make sure that everyone
at their table understands and can explain the material keeps them accountable
for others’ learning.
When
planning group activities it is important to help your students see how and why
the assignments are connected to real life, and why they need to be able to
understand the concepts, etc.
Connecting the assignments and activities to things that matter to the
students gets them interested in solving the problem and keeps them engaged in
the activity as well.
The last thing I would like to mention in regards to what I
will take away from this class- is that a new teacher should not expect herself
to have the all the wisdom of a seasoned teacher, and that she should focus on
improving her instruction by 10% each year. I plan on doing that!
I have really enjoyed this class.
I think I would have taken higher-level math classes if math had been
taught to me in this manner. Thank
you for opening my eyes to the endless possibilities of teaching math in fun
and interactive ways.
