Darby Brenkman ETE 339

Manipulative Activities  When students are using manipulatives, it is important that teachers question them in ways to monitor their understanding. Teachers questions should guide students from manipulative to abstract thinking. Teachers can assess students understanding and growth through students answers to these questions. They can also assess the students ability to move away from the manipulatives after a certain period of time. When students are working in groups, students may be given roles to make sure each student is accountable for their learning. Students should rotate roles, so that each student gets to experience and practice with each role. When students are working in groups, teachers may individually question students or allow students to build off of each others answers.  Students problem solving skills are improving when using manipulatives, because you are giving them something to physically move around and work with. Anything you can make visible will help

Classroom Changes to Deepen Math Learning In the past ten years, the way mathematics is taught in schools has changed drastically. When I was in school, teachers taught the most basic way to solve a problem. Many times this included a standard algorithm or formula. I was expected to memorize facts, but was not always taught the rationale behind them.  In today's classrooms, we focus on teaching the meaning behind mathematics rather than asking students to memorize facts and equations. Many times we use manipulatives to teach the concepts of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. These manipulatives give a visual and concrete description of what is going on in each of these types of problems.  In today's classrooms, we encourage students to be problem solvers. This can mean that students are discovering math concepts on their own by making connections to things that they already know. Making connections in mathematics is a major push in classrooms now.

Learning Center Reflection Creating my Learning Center I created my learning centers for a first grade classroom. I did this, because my novice teaching placement was in a first grade classroom and my student teaching placement will also be in a first grade classroom. I thought creating my centers for this grade would be the most beneficial for me. I focused on the topic of place value. I chose this topic based off of my learning segment topic. I did my best to create three interactive activities that students would enjoy. In first grade, math should be fun! I created a place value chart practice, a manipulative representation, and a place value game. I think creating these learning centers was a great assignment, because it is something I can use in my placements and possibly in my future classroom. Other Learning Centers Participating in the learning centers of other was a great opportunity. Other students were extremely creative. I got many ideas o