Personal Learning Path 3

For the next blog post, I am going to change topics from area, perimeter, and volume to long division. I wanted to work on a blog post on long division for two reasons. First, because this is one of the first topics I remember learning about in school and feeling very overwhelmed. Secondly, because of calculators on my phone and computer, I haven't actually practiced long division in years and need to refresh before teaching it myself! The lesson aligns with CCSS.Math.Content.6.NS.B.2 Fluently divide multi-digit numbers using the standard algorithm.

The resource I am sharing is from PBS learning. I especially like this resource because it is a thorough and adaptable lesson. The resource is divided into three parts, first is an introduction to the topic that explains the concept of long division in a logical way.

Next the lesson provides a video for students to watch that shows them exactly how long division is calculated, along with discussion topics.

Finally, there is a game that students play working in groups. They use dice to generate division problems to practice.

Reflection

I really like this resource for several reasons. It explains long division in a way that I found to be very straightforward. I liked how the video shows students easy tricks for making sense of all of the different steps and actually explains why they should be doing something instead of just instructing. I find that in many subjects, but especially math, the focus in instruction is on how and not on why. I think explaining to students why something must be done in a specific way can only aid in their comprehension. I also really liked this resource because it is broken down in a way that is very adaptable for teachers. Instructors can pick which parts of the lesson they need to use. If they have already given a lesson on long division, they can skip to the video to review or even use just the game to provide students an opportunity to practice their skills.

Comments

Personal Learning Path 10

For this week’s blog post I wanted to do something a little different. Instead of sharing a game or online resource to use when teaching, I wanted to share something that emphasizes the importance of teaching math and how kids can learn to love math. This resource is a Ted talk by Dan Finkel, entitled, “5 ways to share math with kids” https://youtu.be/ytVneQUA5-c In his talk, Finkel explains that he understands that math can be “the best of times and the worst of times” and that while some students love the thrill of discovers, others feel overwhelmed and discouraged. He goes on to outline five principles to teaching math, which are: 1. Start with a question 2. Have time to struggle 3. You are not the answer key 4. Say yes to students ideas 5. Play. Without giving too much away (you should watch the video!), the speaker wants teacher to allow student time to question, struggle, and argue about ideas so that they see math not as a right or wrong question, but as a way t...

Personal Learning Path 6

Fractions For the next few blog posts I want to focus on fractions. Fractions are a large topic with different rules when it comes to adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing (I also wanted to cover this optic because this week’s async work made me realize how much I’d forgotten!). The resource I found is an interactive practice from PBS- schoolyourself.org for 5th grade math. https://schoolyourself.org/page/embed?partner=pbslm&id=algebra/fractions CSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.NF.A.1 Add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators (including mixed numbers) by replacing given fractions with equivalent fractions in such a way as to produce an equivalent sum or difference of fractions with like denominators. For example, 2/3 + 5/4 = 8/12 + 15/12 = 23/12. (In general, a/b + c/d = (ad + bc)/bd.) Reflection The interactive model prompts students to solve fraction questions. One of my favorite things about this model is that it provides links for students to r...

Personal Learning Path Post 11

For this post I wanted to focus on a resource that could allow students to do two things: get outside (especially if it is being implemented during this beautiful summer weather) and to have some active time where they are not expected to sit still at a desk. The more time I spend teaching, the more I recognize how important it is for students to be able to move and physically interact with what they are learning. This idea is from Fun Math Games: Plot Graph Scavenger Hunt - Edventures with Kids (kcedventures.com) This activity aligns with the standards: NY-5.G.1 Use a pair of perpendicular number lines, called axes, to define a coordinate system, with the intersection of the lines (the origin) arranged to coincide with the 0 on each line and a given point in the plane located by using an ordered pair of numbers, called its coordinates. Understand that the first number indicates how far to travel from the origin in the direction of one axis, and the second numbe...

Personal Learning Path Blog - Molly Terry

Search This Blog