Ms. Jessica Jones, an elementary math teacher at Garfield Park Academy, knows that her students need more than a book and a worksheet to grasp math concepts. They need to move. That is why she brings an active approach to teaching math.
She plans hands-on lessons in which students roll dice to create numbers, add and subtract; use colored paper to cut, paste and organize numbers as they learn fractions and place values; manipulate clock faces to show time; and use play money to make change. Even favorite foods, like an orange or a pizza pie can be “divided up” to learn about fractions and multiplication.
Hands-on learning is important in any classroom, but especially for students at Garfield Park Academy, many of whom struggle with basic math skills. Studies have shown that kinesthetic learning, in which students learn by doing, helps them gain a deeper understanding of the material. Through trial and error, students can learn from their mistakes, and bridge the gap between abstract concepts and everyday life.
Ms. Jessica starts the school week with “Basic Skills Monday,” lesson plans that allow students to practice skills, building fluency and confidence. “It helps the students reset, start the week on a positive note, and prepare for new skills,” she stated.
Using the My Math curriculum, Ms. Jessica creates supplemental materials so all her students have multiple opportunities to develop the skills they need for higher-level math. “It is one thing for them to see what we are learning about from their desk, it is another thing altogether for them to use tools and manipulatives to perform the learning themselves,” she concluded.
