Re: need advice for gr 5 math class
Posted by: Burt on 11/07/09
On 11/06/09, DSF/NJ wrote:
>
> Singapore math is VERY big on visual representations of all
> problems. I actually went to two workshops on this, recently.
> For example, a vendor has 16 balloons and he sells 7. How many
> are left? 1st graders would be encouraged to draw all of the
> balloons and cross off 7.
> As students advance, and numbers become greater, they are
> encouraged NOT to draw each of the elements of the problem but to
> represent them with a 'tape' or 'bar' that is simply labeled with
> the amount it represents.
> I still think that making a visual is the strongest strategy that
> a student has in his arsenal of problem-solving weapons.
>
I agree that the block models help students see the math
relationships and make it easier for them to solve problems
logically.
To learn how Singapore Math does problem solving, try these sites:
thesingaporemaths.com/index.html
www.thinkingblocks.com/TryIt.html
