Constructing ideas about number combinations

by Sandra Ward

FOR GRADES 1-3. IN CONSTRUCTING IDEAS YOU CREATE MATHEMATICAL ENVIRONMENTS AND ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO THINK, TO INVENT, TO INVESTIGATE, AND TO MAKE CONNECTIONS. YOU ASK QUESTIONS AND SET UP CHALLENGES, THEN OBSERVE, QUESTION, AND LISTEN AS STUDENTS GET BUSY CONSTRUCTING MEANING FOR THEMSELVES. EVERY STUDENT WILL BRING SOMETHING PERSONAL AND UNIQUE TO THE EXPLORATION AND WILL GLEAN SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM THE EXPERIENCE. KNOWING THAT DIFFERENT WAYS OF THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING ARE ACCEPTABLE AND, IN FACT, ENCOURAGED HELPS STUDENTS GAIN CONFIDENCE AND A WILLINGNESS TO TAKE RISKS. IT GIVES THEM A HEAD START ON THE FUTURE. IN CONSTRUCTING IDEAS STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO FOLLOW LOGICAL PATHS THAT MAKE SENSE TO THEM. WHEN YOU FOCUS ON STUDENTS' WAYS OF THINKING RATHER THAN SOLELY ON THE ANSWERS, YOU SET PRIORITIES FOR STUDENTS. STUDENTS SEE THAT YOU ARE MORE INTERESTED IN THEIR RASONS AND EXPLANATIONS FOR SOLUTIONS AND DISCOVERIES, THAN IN WHETHER OR NOT EVERYONE GETS THE SAME SOLUTION IN THE SAME WAY. WITH THIS APPROACH STUDENTS DEVELOP AUTONOMY AND A MORE COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF MATHEMATICS.

104 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1995