How can we use inquiry and puzzles in Elementary Mathematics classes to increase student engagement and support flexible thinking?
Why did I choose this topic?
As a Math Education major I was excited to teach Math at an elementary level in my practicum, the students on the other hand were not excited to hear that we would do math everyday – even though they had been following this schedule since September. One of the first things the grade 4 students told me when I began teaching them math was that MATH is Mental Abuse to Humans; this is something that we used to say when I was growing up so I was surprised to hear that there was no new insult for the subject. As I have been teaching math in my practicum I have found that the students have been generally more engaged in their work when they are not just completing worksheets. In my first math unit I had planned a variety of different activities for the students to try out and incorporated puzzles into one of my early finisher activities. I found immediately that many of the students struggled to change their thinking from having one set answer to focusing on the process and thinking of new ways to solve the question. I believe that math is a subject that students can learn to enjoy especially if they learn to be flexible with their thinking and focus on the steps rather than the answer.
This Website
In this website there are resources to implement puzzles into elementary math classes. These are resources that I have found useful for encouraging students' creativity and flexible thinking in math classes as well as researched information on creativity and flexible thinking. The final page of this site includes information from my classroom and how the students responded to these activities in their daily math classes.
My Philosophy of Education
In short, I believe that as educators we are helping students grow to their maximum potential. For students to have the capability for optimal success they need to be provided a positive learning environment in which they can thrive as well as having a teacher who supports them all along the way. Students should feel comfortable in the classroom, feeling accepted by both their peers and teachers. I believe that students should be both encouraged and willing to take risks even if it results in failure the first few times. I also believe that teachers should be learning alongside their students - learning new teaching methods but also learning about themselves and their students. I strongly believe in the importance of making a positive learning environment in the classroom, including inclusive learning, positive relationships and continuously updated knowledge.
*The above teaching philosophy is an excerpt from my personal teaching portfolio.
*The above teaching philosophy is an excerpt from my personal teaching portfolio.
A Little About MeJodi Thompson
I am currently a fifth year B.Sc./B.Ed. Mathematics Education student at the University of Lethbridge. I grew up in Fernie, B.C. and am now completing my final PSIII Practicum at Frank J. Mitchell elementary School in Sparwood, B.C. before graduation at the end of this school year. |