Week 8 Math Reflection

©Breakey, D. 2015. Toothpick Fish.

©Breakey, D. 2015. Toothpick Cube.

This week I learned a lot of new techniques to teach mathematics. I found the presentations on geometry and spacial sense extremely useful and even learned about a few new tools to use in the classroom! It's clear that we are learning from one another because the activities that our peers have been handing out have been getting better and better. More manipulatives have been introduced and we've been able to complete some creative activities in order to learn a specific unit. 

This week we used tooth picks and modelling clay to create shapes and understand angles. In the photo above you can see we were asked to make a fish out of tooth picks. The task was to move only 3 toothpicks and make the fish face the other direction. I found this task difficult and I was unable to solve it. My partner and I tried some problem solving strategies such as considering what we already knew about shapes and we attempted trial and error with no success. It wasn't until it was demonstrated for us that we understood how to complete the activity. This exercise reminded us what it's like to be on the other end of teaching and it has given me more empathy for the students I will be instructing. I can relate to their struggles and I am reminded that some students learn differently and may require a variety of avenues to understand what is being taught. 

The second activity was about representing 2D and 3D shapes using tooth picks and clay. It was excellent to interact with the unit by actually creating shapes and manipulating them. Not only was it fun but it also allowed me to work with what we just learned and ask questions as I attempted to create 3D shapes. Using manipulatives, particularly in this unit, is a really good strategy for teaching because students will come with prior knowledge about shapes and giving them activities where they interact with material can be really effective. 

Finally, we worked with tangrams to create new shapes. We were given 7 pieces and asked to create a square. I learned an important lesson for teaching during this activity. First, we were given the 7 shapes and asked to create more complex pictures. Then, our professor asked us to first attempt to make a square using all 7 shapes. Most of us struggled to make all the shapes fit into a square. This demonstrated how critical it is to follow a step by step process and not jump ahead to the point where your students no longer understand. It was important that we all first learned how to make a square before we could move on to more advanced shapes. I know this is a mistake I could be guilty of and this relates back to understanding your students and the level they are at. If it is the first time introducing an activity then it is a good idea to start basic and work your way up to higher levels of complexity. 

This week was extremely valuable to me from a teaching point of view. I saw some excellent examples of how to be interactive and engaging using well planned activities. Next week I will be presenting on a unit in measurement and I am going to apply what I've learning watching my peers thus far and apply it to my own presentation! Wish me luck!

©Breakey, D. 2015. Tangram Square.