Activities in the first couple weeks need to draw the children in. Even (especially!) those who think they dislike math. We avoid computation, instead looking for activities that involve ambiguity, head-scratching patterns, puzzles and stories.
TEACHING LOGIC FIRST: (~15 minutes)
A puzzle has the ability to pull children into the subject of math. It appeals to a wide range of learners and can generate small feelings of success….
1. Concrete −> Pictorial −> Abstract. This is perhaps Singapore’s greatest contribution to math pedagogy. Based on research that goes back over a hundred years (Dewey, Bruner, Piaget, Vygotsky, Montessori, and others), Singapore validated the strength of this approach by using it to achieve top scores internationally. Continue reading Our Goals in Teaching Math
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“Mental acuity of any kind comes from solving problems yourself, not from being told how to solve them.” ~Paul Lockhart, “A Mathematician’s Lament”
