Technology in the classroom

I have read through more than one article on the advantages and disadvantages of having computers and technology in the class room, and if so at what age do you put them in there? Do all students have to use it or just some of them? Should it be required to have a certain amount of computer time? My mind still has not been made up on all of those questions.

I do however feel that especially when pertaining to math using computers is very beneficial. As you can see on some of my links there is so much information out there on math subjects. The eManipulatives can help a student that is struggling to understand what the teacher is trying to say and just simply watching what they are doing, students can actually explore the math problems without fear of getting them wrong or embarrassment of not understanding it. Also it is beneficial to the students that are quick learners and retain math easily to move ahead on problems without the need of extra time.

I think that in addition to what the students are learning out of the book and in the classroom; computers will benefit most in how they understand and retain math information.

http://education.nationaljournal.com/2011/07/pondering-digital-learning.php

Links to  some eManipulatives:
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/mw/manip/mn_k.html
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/mthexp/g2/emanip.html
http://www.windsorct.org/wpselemmath/eManipulatives.htm

Fractions: The beginning

Fractions to this day still scare me. I look at them and freak out a little, but once they make a bit of sense to you; you will be getting them done in no time, with no anxiety what-so-ever! The key is is to understand what a fraction is, the types of them, and how they work.

Fractions are defined as a ratio of algebraic quantities similarly expressed.

A common fractions is written as:  
  2  = numerator says how many parts in the fraction
___
  5  =denominator says how many equal parts in the whole object


When an object is divided into a number of equal parts then each part is called a fraction.
REMEMBER: The denominator of a fraction can NEVER be 0. (because you cannot divide by 0!)

Three different types of fractions are:

• Proper Fractions Numerator < Denominator
  Proper fractions have the nominator part smaller than the denominator part,
  for example , or  .
• Improper Fractions Numerator > Denominator or Numerator = Denominator,
  Improper fractions have the nominator part greater or equal to the denominator part,
  for exampleor .
• Mixed Fractions
  Mixed fractions have a whole number plus a fraction, for example 2or 123 .

Algeblocks

As I have stated in my previous post, learning math correctly at a young age is essential to understanding math concepts throughout your life span. One new technique that is starting to sweep the educational nation is the visual use of algeblocks. These blocks provide a visual approach to learning integers and polynomials, figuring out how to combine like terms, add, subtract, multiply and even divide. These are such a great tool for visual learners to actually SEE why their algebraic procedures work.

These blocks can be used for any type of math for all elementary ages.

Early Math Skills

In this past week we have learned how important it is in teaching children simple math skills early. In a great blog. It talks about teaching pre-algebra skills to elementary students. In this specific example she used the famous Mr. Poppers Penguin books and wrote out word problems and showed two different ways to break them down to algebra problems.

I think that teaching these skills at a young age can help kids understand math better as they enter more complicated math classes.
I love this because you can use any example that your class or the student is interested in and show them how to turn a word problem into a math sentence.
Since it is currently baseball season I am going to use a mathematical baseball example of how to put word problems into basic algebra form.

Baseball addition example: In the last game the the Minnesota Twins played against the Chicago White Sox. Micheal Cuddyer had a single and a homerun. Joe Mauer had a double and a triple. Jim Thome had a Home Run, and Casilla, Velencia, and Rivera all rounded out the day with a single.

How many TOTAL hits did the Twins have?

Micheal Cuddyer + Joe Mauer + Jim Thome + Casilla + Velencia + Rivera= Total hits

2+2+1+1+1+1=8 total hits

Here is the link to the other great blog:
http://letsplaymath.wordpress.com/2007/09/02/pre-algebra-problem-solving-2nd-grade/

Multiple ways to multiply

When I was in grade school the way I got through math was to memorize it, get it, then forget it. I was not and am not great at math. Especially basic math. I would study to memorize it do great on the tests and forget it and move on. Once I got to older more complicated math is when it hit me. I DON'T UNDERSTAND!

This section in Math 1510 70, we are learning all the different ways to multiply. TEACHING ways to do it not memorizing it. One way that I started to like very much is:

Lattice Multiplication

I feel that this way of doing multiplication is very beneficial to students who are visual learners. You can see how and why it works without just writing a bunch of numbers down.

Another way to multiply that I found very neat, is called the Russian Peasant Method of Multiplication:

I feel that this is a fairly easy way to multiply on paper because it turns multiplication basically back into addition and subtraction. Which is a basic skill. I feel that if you have time and paper this method works just as well as the lattice method especially if you do not know you times table.