Marvelous Math with Mrs. Rose

Math Enrichment, or extending our students’ thinking in mathematics, comes in many forms.  It happens in the classroom; at home; while working on projects in other subject areas; and even on the computer.

One of my favorite sources of Math Enrichment is using technology, especially virtually manipulatives, on the computer.  Parents–please visit some of links I’ve included in “Wonderful Websites” on the banner of my blog.  Worthwhile opportunites to extend our children’s thinking in number sense, algebraic expressions, geometry and measurement, data and probability, etc., are available from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) websites, found at:

 http://illuminations.nctm.org/

I really like this site because you can search by content area, grade level, math standard, etc., etc.  Student can work with virtual manipulatives online and parents can read about standards, problem solving, sample lessons, you name it!

Please check this site out  as well as others listed on my blog banner for some family Math fun!

Thanks to the 3rd and 4th grade teachers who attended our  after-school E-Workshop yesterday on Mathematical Problem Solving!

Here’s what the research on Problem Solving tell us, according to National Council of Teachers Of Mathematics (NCTM):

1. Students must solve many problems in order to improve their problem solving ability.
2. Problem solving ability develops slowly over a prolonged period of time.
3. In order to benefit from instruction, students believe their teacher thinks that problem solving is important.
4. Most students benefit greatly from systematically planned problem-solving instruction.

Problem solving is a major emphasis in our mathematics program in Madison elementary schools and we value the opportunity and the ability to problem solve.  We problem solve not just for math, but for life!!!

To get your younger students thinking, pose the following problem:

I have quarters, dimes, and nickels in my pocket.  If I take three coins out of my pocket, how much could the three coins be worth?

The really nice aspect of this problem is that there are multiple answers.  To challenge students, ask them to find all possible combinations.  For older students, ask them how they know when they have found all combinations!

Have fun problem solving and please feel free to share your thoughts . . .