Switzer, J. M. (2010). Bridging the math gap. Mathematical Teaching in the Middle School, 15 (7), 400-405.
Through this article Switzer is describing the different algorithms used in elementary school in preparing children for middle school (junior high). Yet, the main idea throughout this paper is the importance of teaching the middle school and high school teachers these different algorithms used in the classrooms at earlier ages. Switzer says that in order for teachers to be effective, they need to be able to build on a child's prior knowledge. Therefore in knowing the algorithms used, they can see where the children are coming from. Also, the teacher will be able to see the connection the algorithms learned have to ones they will learn later on. This will help the teacher know how exactly to teach future algorithms. Therefore, through the different algorithms Switzer described in his journal, teachers will overall be able to help children make the connection to previous knowledge.
Teaching middle school and high school teachers different algorithms used in elementary school classrooms is a very good idea and will over all help school systems, mathematics programs and teachers. In showing teachers what is being taught in younger-aged classrooms, teachers will be able to make connections to the teaching of future algorithms. One example of this is when teachers were taught about the partial products algorithm taught in schools. Skewer then talks about the connection the teachers made to the distributive property. Another important reason for teaching teachers these algorithms used is that it will make it easier for children later in school. By teachers understanding what is being taught to the children before they come into their own classrooms, they will know what they need to build on in order to teach them other algorithms. This will help the children learn easier by building off their prior knowledge. Also, it is important to connect the different schools in their teaching because, like stated earlier, children will have their prior knowledge build upon. But this will then help the children build their confidence as they are able to make connections to ideas/algorithms they already know. From my own experience, I always found it easier to learn when a teacher in mathematics taught me knew ideas, procedures, algorithms, etc. by showing me how they connected to things I had already learned. Thus, the teacher knew what I had learned before coming into their classroom. Therefore, by showing the teachers the algorithms being used in elementary school, teachers will be able to build on prior knowledge, help the kids raise their self-esteem, and also be able to see the connection to future algorithms being taught.
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Of the two paragraphs you wrote, I thought the critique paragraph was the strongest. I really liked your topic sentence, and you created a very solid argument for why you the author's main idea. Although this paragraph was a bit redundant toward the end, I thought it nonetheless thought it was a strong argument in favor of the main idea of the article.
ReplyDeleteI felt like I got a sense for the main idea of the article from your first paragraph, but I thought the overall paragraph could have been strengthened by more detail. I would have liked to know more about the different algorithms students were learning in elementary school, and I would have particularly liked to know more about the partial products algorithm and its connection to the distributive property. This would have helped me better understand how the author was thinking about having middle school teachers build on students' prior knowledge. I thought that you could have included this information in paragraph 1, instead of paragraph 2, to strengthen your summary of the article. Then you could refer to it later in paragraph 2 to support your stance toward the main point of the article.
I understood your first paragraph really well. It seemed like you understand the main point from the article you read. It was clear that you were focusing on what the author thought rather than what you thought, which is really good! The only thing I felt was confusing was the topic sentence. I felt like the first three sentences could have been combined to make the main topic sentence. Great job though!
ReplyDeleteFrom your fist paragraph I understood the main idea of the article but feel like there might have been more to the article other than what was summarized. For example, the types of algorithms being taught, the importance of the child's prior knowledge, how teachers can extend an explanation to students on how these algorithms connect to ones they will learn later and maybe if there were any example classrooms, teachers or students discussed in teh article. Good job though.
ReplyDeleteI feel like you clearly explained the article. Even without reading it I agree that teachers should know some of the algorithms from earlier grades. I do think, however, that it may not be completely useful because there are many different methods for students to learn certain concepts.
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