In class we raised the idea that good problems/tasks should be relevant to the lives of students. What has your experiences regarding the mathematics tasks that you experienced as a student? What about a as a teacher? Do you see relevance as a valid focus for the midddle grades mathematics teacher?
Tasks I experienced as a student have not been relevant. No effort was made to make them relevant. You either got or you didn't, you were interested or you weren't. I'm not a math teacher but i see relevance as a valid focus for math teachers because it could mean all the difference especilly with struggling students. When tasks are relevant syudents begin to realize "ok, so this is why this is important.." or "now this makes sense to me" Students can relate becasue the scenario is familiar and they can focus on the real question. Maybe mountains can become molehills.
2 comments:
I had very similar experiences when I was in school. Math was taught a certain way and you just did the work. There was no effort to make it relevant. You had to just be motivated to do it from within. I also agree that relevance is so important in math, and especially with struggling learners.
Struggling students seems need more motivation than within. Maybe it they see the information as useful they will want to learn the concept
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