Man-Manip-Manipulate!

Today we spent our day working through math problems using different manipulates. At first, I, like many, was reluctant to see how they could possibly strength my understanding of math facts and rules, on problems that I have long since "mastered"...or so I thought.

By using the various beans and algebraic blocks I was able to represent my thinking in a way that thoroughly strengthened my understanding AND my ability to teach or explain the idea to others. However, I will not try to explain these mathematical concepts in the same way I learned them long ago...No no no, what purely simple strategy to keep with math... to start with concrete examples and explanations THEN move to the abstract ideas, concepts, theories, and rules that math is so full of. The over used expression, "But where will I ever use this rule?" does not hold the same power as before...Still yes, I'll give it to us all...I'm not sure where the heck you'd be forced to use a quadratic equation...but now I can at least show you with real objects what exactly it is and/or what it at least represents. Awwww it feels good to have a picture for it...not just a rule.


I used to accept that math was full of rules, facts, and theories that you simply follow, just because...they are what they are...you are either right or wrong. In fact I used to like it for that reason... I loved that it was like a book of rules that I could follow...but I found myself at dead ends when I couldn't grasp concepts fully in calculus. Instead, I just plugged and chugged along...jumping through the hoops, thinking it would eventually make sense. With the understanding of math that I'm growing now, I look back shocked that I used to like thinking math were that way. My growing understandings of math are now seemingly endless, and I look forward to the knew ways of thinking that I will learn from other teachers, students, and people! Seeing different solutions as equals and learning from them all to strengthen my own tools to solve.


...So in all...
I learned to use manipulatives for quadratic and algebraic expressions!
This a great tool to use in class when teaching students math in a concrete to abstract method.
I'm wondering how to dig concrete examples deeper with higher level math. I won't be teaching higher level math but just out of wonder....how do manipulatives connect to calculus?
How do uphold our expectations of participation in class, but move onto another student if one student is struggling with an answer??

My awareness is growing!

So I guess I haven't been looking for literacy in as many ways and places that are possible. With the help of our discussions in class and pushing myself to step out of my box, I have been able to notice more literacy and communication that I was totally missing before! It's always so enlightening to realize what you've been overlooking...

So what I've been noticing throughout my world and classroom is how strong the connection between communication and literature is. This has been more fascinating that I originally thought. We briefly talked about this last week in class, but the deeper conversations we had on Tuesday after our kindergarten visit pushed my thinking even farther. Communicating can happen in a multitude of ways: communication via language...literature via language. It's all connected.

Looking around at the communication I see broadens my understanding of literacy. I took this thinking back to my Dyad classroom and realized that I had previously been so narrow-minded. There is Language, Communication, LITERATURE throughout the entire classroom. I just wasn't seeing it in the "neat and tidy library" form that I was so used to. However, as messy as this new classroom may seem, it's actually extremely accessible and inviting in some ways. The information and posters that cover the walls are not bold as you might expect but small print that invites and beckons you to come closer, read and learn from it. Then I noticed the many artifacts around the room, they do not have any words on them, but they provoke questions that you are able to research by turning to the endless pile of dictionaries and textbooks laying around. My interests were intrigued with these forms of communication and expression of the teacher's and class's interests, they all called me to look for more information.

I did enjoy some browsing in the classroom, then I found myself in a tiny room that was "the library". Why hadn't she shown me this little room before!? These books were all hand provided for the students from the teacher. It was a tiny room but absolutely filled to brim with books of all sorts! The teacher has only been there a few years and is loaning her personal books to these students. It sounds like a sacrifice, but a noble one. After organizing the mini-library I just found myself wanting to dive into a novel of some sort. Unfortunately I had to go back to my textbooks and articles... in fact, I need to go there now...