Part A: Content Goals for Measurement in Grades 3-5
Most students enter grade 3 with enthusiasm for, and interest in, learning mathematics. In fact, nearly three-quarters of U.S. fourth graders report liking mathematics (NCTM, 143). This can be a very critical time in keeping children interested in what they are learning. If the work turns too monotonous and uninteresting it can have a negative effect on their perceptions of the subject later in life. If students in grades three through five are given mathematic material that is interesting it can help keep their enthusiasm toward the subject. One of the major content areas that is covered at this time is measurement. Measurement is one of the ways that teachers can introduce students to the usefulness and practicality of mathematics. Measurement requires the comparison of an attribute (distance, surface, capacity, mass, time, temperature) between two objects or to a known standard. Measurement also introduces students to the important concepts of precision, approximation, tolerance, error and dimension. Instructional programs from prekindergarten through grade twelve should enable students to understand measurable attributes of objects and the units, systems, and processes of measurement. Also, apply the appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to determine measurements (NCTM, 171). This paper will describe how those ideas are developed in grades three through five.
The first and most basic standard for measurement at this level is being able to understand measurement attributes that we use on a daily basis. Some of these attributes include length, area, weight, volume, and size of an angle. Knowledge of these variables is very important because they are ideas that will be used regularly throughout their lives. When students attain a better understanding of these measurement variables the next objective is to have them decipher the correct way to measure them. Choosing the appropriate unit to measure variables such as length, area, and weight can be just as important as knowing their meaning. For example, knowing that length is the distance between two points is irrelevant if a student tries to measure it with an angle or area. Knowing the proper way to measure a variable is very important. This idea also brings into perspective the standard of measurement that deals with understanding the need for standard units, or a basic way to describe an attribute. This requires students to become familiar with standard units in the customary and metric systems.
... measure. They will not want the hassle of remembering two different measurements throughout their lives. Americans are not very stubborn and are willing enough to change to a simpler system of measurements.
Prekindergarten instructional games and activities can be used to increase the students understanding of number invariance. Using dice games, rectangular arrays, and number puzzles would be an effective method of presenting subitizing to this grade level. In addition to visual pattern, these young students would benefit from auditory and kinesthetic patterns as well.
Numeracy is a mathematical skill that is needed to be a confident teacher. This unit of study has allowed students to build their knowledge in the mathematical areas of competency and disposition towards numeracy in mathematics. The six areas of mathematics under the Australian Curriculum that were the focus of this unit were; algebra, number, geometry, measurements, statistics and probability. Covering these components of the curriculum made it evident where more study and knowledge was needed to build confidence in all areas of mathematics. Studying this unit also challenges students to think about how we use numeracy in our everyday lives. Without the knowledge if numeracy, it can make it very challenging to work out may problems that can arise in our day to day activities. The knowledge of numeracy in mathematics I have has strengthened during the duration of this unit. This has been evident in the mathematics support I do with year 9 students at school, as I now have a confident and clear understanding of algebra, number, geometry, measurements, statistics and probability.
Place value and the base ten number system are two extremely important areas in mathematics. Without an in-depth understanding of these areas students may struggle in later mathematics. Using an effective diagnostic assessment, such as the place value assessment interview, teachers are able to highlight students understanding and misconceptions. By highlighting these areas teachers can form a plan using the many effective tasks and resources available to build a more robust understanding. A one-on-one session with Joe, a Year 5 student, was conducted with the place value assessment interview. From the outlined areas of understanding and misconception a serious of six tutorial lessons were planned. The lessons were designed using
There are numerous types of standardized tests in which educators choose to measure the academic level of students. The first common standardized test, the standardized achievement test, are used to measure how much knowledge students have retained from a particular subject. The results generally assist teachers in designing achievement programs in each subject area, such as reading, math language skills, spelling, or science. (Samuda, 1990) The second common standardized test is known as the Standardized aptitude tests. Instead of focusing on a particular academic subject, the aptitude tests measure a broad range of skills that would ensure success during the school career. The skills include daily activities such as verbal ability, mechanical ability, creativity, cleric...
Steen, Lynn Arthur . "Integrating School Science and Mathematics: Fad or Folly?." St. Olaf College. (1999): n. page. Web. 12 Dec. 2013..
The first thing an educator has to consider is the curriculum students should be taught. Educators must use the common core standards for ELA and Math, as well as the Georgia Performance Standards for Science and Social Studies. They use these standards to plan what is to be learned, how it is to be learned, in what order it is to be learned, and how to determine the strengths and weaknesses of individual students. Classroom teachers
Numeracy involves the functional, social, and cultural dimensions of mathematics. Numeracy is the type of math skills needed to function in everyday life, in the home, workplace, and community (Withnall 1995). Although not always recognized as such, math is used in many everyday situations-cooking, shopping, crafts, financial transactions, traveling, using VCRs and microwave ovens, interpreting information in the media, taking medications. Different people need different sets of math skills, and their numeracy needs change in response to changes in life circumstances, such as buying a car or house or learning a new hobby (Gal 1993; Withnall 1995). Like literacy, numeracy "is not a fixed entity to be earned and possessed once and for all" (Steen 1990, p. 214), nor a skill one either has or doesn't have. Instead, people's skills are situated along a continuum of different purposes for and levels of accomplishment with numbers.
Sherley, B., Clark, M. & Higgins, J. (2008) School readiness: what do teachers expect of children in mathematics on school entry?, in Goos, M., Brown, R. & Makar, K. (eds.) Mathematics education research: navigating: proceedings of the 31st annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australia, Brisbane, Qld: MERGA INC., pp.461-465.
Silver, E. A. (1998). Improving Mathematics in Middle School: Lessons from TIMSS and Related Research, US Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328.
Shakespeare's Measure for Measure can be seen as an early account of sexual harassment. While the issue of women's rights had hardly been explored at the time the play was first performed, Measure for Measure touches on issues of sexuality, independence, and the objectification of women. Despite these serious issues, the play is considered a comedy, and the story it tells is filled with amusing characters as well as broad sociological questions.
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...S. and Stepelman, J. (2010). Teaching Secondary Mathematics: Techniques and Enrichment Units. 8th Ed. Merrill Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, NJ.
Students will identify the correct how to find the area of circles. We are going to do this first by deriving the formula for the area of a circle ourselves. Students use these operations to solve problems. Students extend their previous understandings of finding the area of a shape: This learning goal meets the Common Core Standard CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.G.A.3. The students are going to learn find the area of only the doughnut, excluding the hole in the middle. For the formative assessments during the teaching of this unit, I will keep an observation log, where I note any student progress, whether it be positive or negative. I believe it will be important to record observations any time a student has difficulty with a particular task. For example, if a student has trouble solving the problems with the formulas. to purchase an item, I should write down particular actions, attitudes, and behaviors that stand out, as well as the specific issue. Any time the students are doing independent work, I will monitor the learning activities and record observations.
Throughout out this semester, I’ve had the opportunity to gain a better understanding when it comes to teaching Mathematics in the classroom. During the course of this semester, EDEL 440 has showed my classmates and myself the appropriate ways mathematics can be taught in an elementary classroom and how the students in the classroom may retrieve the information. During my years of school, mathematics has been my favorite subject. Over the years, math has challenged me on so many different levels. Having the opportunity to see the appropriate ways math should be taught in an Elementary classroom has giving me a