Why?! In my experience, students are being taught
the how to solve a problem using the standard algorithms, but not the why and a
variety of methods for arriving to a solution.
For many math concepts there are many ways to arrive at the correct
answer. As a student myself, I feel that
teachers are reluctant to teach different methods because they were not taught
that way and might feel nervous teaching something they are not familiar with.
Math is a thinking process not just
memorization. Students look at math as a
bunch of formulas to memorize instead of making sense of it. Students should be allowed the freedom to
solve problems in their own ways as long as it will work consistently. Allowing students to share their thinking and
methods could be beneficial to other students and even yourself as a
teacher. I myself have walked away from
lessons with students being amazed by their thinking and variety of approaches
they take to solve the same problem.
Students are lacking the ability to
think through and problem solve. They are
also lacking confidence in their abilities in math and thinking process. Students look at math as meaningless and they
are not seeing how it relates to them and life.
Teachers should guide students through the process of becoming thinkers,
make math interesting, and relate it to everyday life. There is so much out there!
It is always fun to hook
students in by incorporating fun songs, chants, raps, and riddles to get the
whole brain engaged. Here is an
entertaining rap to introduce steps for math problem solving.
Sizzle
(For Math Problem Solving)
Hey 5th graders, (Hey
What)
Hey 5th graders, (Hey What)
Let me show you, show you,
How to Sizzle, Sizzle
How to Sizzle Sizzle
First you read it read it
(First you read it read it)
Then you plan it plan it
(Then you plan it plan it)
Then you solve it solve it
(Then you solve it solve
it)
Then you Sizzle, Sizzle
Then you Sizzle, Sizzle
Ssssssssssssssssssssss!