parents + web resources = effective critical thinking in elementary mathematics

Parents + Web Resources =

Effective

Critical Thinking in

Elementary Mathematics

Dan Gutterud

Ed 6117 June 2009

Bemidji State University

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

Part 1: What is your focus?

"To have taught well is not to have used a great set of techniques or given the learner some words to give back, but to have caused understanding through words, activities, tools, guided reflection, the learner's efforts, and feedback”(McTighe & Wiggins, 2005).

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Is this a surprise?

Much of what influences students occurs during their hours outside of the school building.

Image from www.sxc.hu

Who influences students during their time away

from school?

Parents.

Image from www.flickr.com

Part 2: GET PARENTS INVOLVED!Image from http://www.sxc.hu

Benefits of Parent Involvement“Research shows that students with involved parents—

regardless of their background or income level—reap a bevy

of benefits, including attending school regularly, enrolling in

more advanced classes, getting better grades, graduating from

high school, and pursuing post-secondary education” (Be

Strategic, 2003).

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

Part 3:Connect with parents and students using technology

“Parents' attitudes toward mathematics have an impact on

children's attitudes. Children whose parents show an interest

in and enthusiasm for mathematics around the home will be

more likely to develop that enthusiasm themselves” (Brosnan

& Hartog).

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

Communication is vital

webpagecalls home

newsletter

blog

e-mail

surveys

conferences

progress reports

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

Blog

From my blog at http://room13all-stars.blogspot.com

Consider a blog as a way to

communicate by posing

questions or relaying

information.

PodcastsPublish podcasts online.

A self assessment question has been published here.

Image from http://dgutterud.podbean.com

What is a wiki?

Page from my wiki at http://room13allstars.pbworks.com

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

Videos on wiki

Image from http://math247.pbworks.com/Mathcasts

VoiceThreadPose a question.

Students respond at

school or home via:

*Text *Voice*Phone *Video

Image from http://voicethread.com

Virtual manipulatives—try ‘em

“Research has shown that concrete manipulatives help students better

understand abstract concepts in math, and comparative studies show virtual

manipulatives to be as effective as concrete ones”(Donovan, 2008).

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Image from http://nlvm.usu.edu

How many families have manipulatives at home? How many have internet access?

Bring parents into the classroom

Image from http://www.flickr.com

Visit my links by going to my wiki athttp://room13allstars.pbworks.com

Image from http://www.sxc.hu

ReferencesBe strategic to boost family involvement. (2003, December). District Administration, Retrieved November 5,

2007, from ContentSelectResearch Navigator database.

Brosnan, P.A. & Hartog, M.D. (n.d.). Doing mathematics with your child. Retrieved June 20, 2009 from

http://www.math.com/parents/articles/domath.html

Donovan, J. (2008, November). Teaching mathematics with virtual manipulatives. Technology & Learning.

Retrieved June 22, 2009 from www.techlearning.com/article/14468

McTighe, J. & Wiggins, G. (2005). Understanding by design (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and

Development.

No child left behind act, section 1118. (2001). Retrieved November 26, 2007 from

http://www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml