Transcript Improving Access to Mathematics: Strategies for Elementary

Presented by
Heather Sparks, NBCT
2009 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year
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Lack of prior knowledge
Missing foundational skills
Limited experiences with “doing” math
“One right answer” approach
“Permission” to be “bad” at math
Others?
Every day, provide meaningful math
investigations through manipulatives,
games, puzzles, and stories.
Content example: True Blue
Love Box Company
Trina wants to win a goldfish at the carnival.
In order for her to win, she needs to pick 2 blue
tiles out of the “True Blue prize bag,” without
looking. If the prize bag contains 3 blue tiles
and 3 red tiles, what is the probability
of winning the game?
Predict the number of wins you will
get in 40 trials. Then, conduct the trials
and record the outcomes.
Love Box Company wants to create a box
that holds 12 cubic inches. Each square
inch of cardboard costs the company
$.005. What are the dimensions of the
least expensive box the company can
create?
Every day, expect students to explain their
thinking.
Content example: Sense & Nonsense
Roller Derby
1. Mr. Bragg says he’s right 100% of the time. Is he bragging? Why?
2. The Garcia family ate out last Saturday. The bill was $46.
Would a 50% tip be too much to leave? Why?
3. Ellen loaned Me’Shell one dollar. She said the interest would be
75% a day. Is this a pretty good deal for Ellen? Why?
4. Daniel missed 10 problems on his science test. Do you think his
percentage is high enough for an A? Why?
5. Rose has a paper route. She gets to keep 25% of whatever money
she collects. Do you think this is a good deal? Why?
Organize 12 beans on your game board by placing them under the
number(s) representing each sum I will most likely roll.
Each time the dice are rolled, if you have a bean under that sum, you
Can remove the bean. The first person to remove all his/her beans
Is the winner.
Manipulatives should be available and
integrated into relevant math lessons.
Content example: Squares & Staircases
Extend & Explain
Students should be taught specific strategies
to improve memory and understanding
Content example: Order of Operations Chant
Integer Song
Order of Operations Cup Chant
Paren- theses
clap
clap
Ex- po- nents
tap
tap
Multi
clap
ply,
grab cup’s bottom,
Add,
clap
tap (the top of the cup)
Divide
pick up and move cup right
Subtract
grab cup with thumb side down
Left
to right,
Bring open mouth of cup to left hand
touch bottom of cup to table
Order’s
Transfer cup to left hand by grabbing the bottom of the cup
on
your side!
Right hand slaps table
Left hand crosses over & puts cup down
(Tune: Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
Same signs, add and keep
Different signs, subtract
Keep the sign of the larger number
Then you’ll be exact!
Students should maintain a math journal to
record and store math resources.
Content example: Academic Vocabulary Flippy
Exponent rule foldable
What patterns do you notice?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
a3 l
a4 l
a5 l
a3 l
a6 l
a2 = a5
a3 = a7
a1 = a6
a5 = a8
a7 = a13
What patterns do you notice?
A. m5
3
=
m
m2
B. m7
4
=
m
3
m
C. m10
6
=
m
m4
D. m6
2
=
m
m4
What patterns do you notice?
24
23
22
21
20
2-1
2-2
2-3
2-4
=16
=8
=4
=2
=
=
=
=
=
This presentation and other
resources are available at
www. hisparks.com