Learning Activity 1-B-1
Reflection - What Does Number Sense Mean to Me?
[Assignments]
30 points
Write a reflection of your own personal history with the development of your own number sense. Recall your earliest memories of exposure to mathematical concepts. Did you have a positive experience? Why or why not? Do you consider yourself to have very good, average or poor number sense?
Submit your reflection (no more than two pages long) in a Word or text document to Assignment “B-1: What Does Number Sense Mean to Me?”
Learning Activity 1-B-2
Personal Folder for Online Resources
[Ongoing Activity]
You are encouraged to keep a browser favorites folder for online resources for teaching Algebra. Later in this course you can highlight or write about some of these resources in your blog.
Learning Activity 1-B-3
Teaching Meaning vs. Method
[Forum]
14 points (9 points + 5 for reply)
As part of class discussion, discuss the differences of teaching the meaning of mathematical operations before teaching methods.
Answer the following questions on a word or text document and post to the Forums under “Activity 1-B-3: Teaching Meaning vs. Method.”
Questions:
- Reflect back on your own education in Mathematics. Were you taught the method or mechanics of how to do problems or were you taught meaning?
- How do you think we can present both to students effectively?
Respond to at least two classmates' postings.
Learning Activity 1-B-4
Number Sense and Standards
[Message]
5 points
Research your state or district standards. Do they define Number Sense achievements for middle school students? What are they? Send your facilitator a brief e-mail indicating if you found them and what they are?