This weeks readings by Daniel & Zemelman (D&Z) and Bean, Baldwin & Readence (BBR), gave some truly practical techniques that I can apply in a mathematics content area. Looking first at D & Z, they discussed techniques that can be used to help the struggling reader. There were four strategies they mentioned, relationships, model reading, build engagement, and promote self monitoring, which can be tailored to my content area. Building supportive relationships in your classroom is a give in. That is the number one thing that is agreed upon across the board and should begin the first day of class and nurtured throughout the year. Thinking more specifically about reading mathematics, the latter 3 techniques are quite beneficial. Word problems seem to always be troublesome for students. If I model my thinking while I go through the problem, students get to hear and see the strategies I implement while pulling out and applying important information. In using the self-monitoring technique, I think the sticky notes are a great idea. While giving a lesson, I would have students place a sticky tab in their notes, anywhere they think they don't understand something, then I would have them get into their groups after the lesson to help each other alleviate confusion.
I had a difficult time finding strategies that would be beneficial in a mathematical context in the BBR readings. A lot of the strategies they used would be great in something such as English, Science, or World History. Did anybody find any techniques that they would find useful from the BBR readings?
Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteI like your sticky note idea! That's a good formative assessment to use in class and promotes self-monitoring. And I agree that building supportive relationships is important from beginning to end of the school year. I think this is especially true with math, a subject that many people experience difficulty with.
As for the BBR reading, like you, I often find the content in there difficult to implement with most math lessons. The only technique that I can see used in math is probably the Phony Reading one. Math teachers can write a new math discovery using false equations/concepts that is being taught in class and see if the students can catch the error(s). An example that made me think of is one we had in Ellen's class (dividing by zero error in solving for equations).
Thanks Xiao! The phony reading would definitely work in a math context
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