Workshop 1 Following Children's Ideas in Mathematics
Research is showing that students begin their schooling
with some surprising math abilities. Is there a way to
keep this interest alive, and these abilities blossoming,
all the way through 12th grade?
Does it make sense to argue about math? Can kids learn
math by debating and convincing each other? A long-term
study shows that this can be an effective tool for learning.
With the support from the district, teachers take the
first steps towards implementing a more thoughtful approach
to mathematics. What effect will this have on math scores?
Now in high school, the students take a fresh look at
thinking they had done in the early years of the long-term
study. What is the process through which students make
connections between seemingly unrelated ideas in math?
Students or professional mathematicians both go
through the same processes of "doing mathematics"
when confronted with real-life problems. How can teachers
help students uncover the beauty of mathematics?