New Insights and Their Implications

I have a great experience because I work at a daycare in Sioux Falls and while taking these methods courses this is helping me to apply and understand what is being taught to us in class. During study time, I get to work with students on their math skills so as we talk in class I am able to think about the students that I am working with and help them apply the strategies. I see them trying to apply what they have learned from teachers and are unable to correctly use what has been taught to them as well. I feel that for experienced teachers, changing their way of teaching must be difficult, however as a new teacher I will be able to help students construct their own understandings as this will only benefit them.

My biggest concern is that students will not be able to correctly construct their understanding. Will my teaching help them or hinder them?

New Insights and Thier Implication

I have a great experience becuase I am doing my SPED intern this semester while taking these methods courses and this helps me apply and understand what is being taught to us in class. In the resource room that I am in I work with a group of students on their math skills so as we talk in class I am able to think about the students that I work with and the strategies they apply to thier math. I see that many times they are taught how to do it (a process) and not given the chance to brainstorm on their own. I do wonder with this group of remedial math students if they would be able to constuct thier own understanding with out any guidance. But I do see them try to apply what they have learned from teachers and are unable to correctly use what has been taught to them. It is hard for experienced teachers to change the way they teach but as a new teacher I will help students construct thier own understanding so that they can benefit on thier own. My concern is, as I stated before that these students will not be able to construct the correct understanding. So am I hurting the students more than I am helping them?

Summary and Synthesis

During the past few days we have been discussing the teahing techniques of Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI). I enjoyed viewing the videos shown in class demonstrating this model of teaching. I agree with asking a question, and allowing students to discover a solution on their own, coming back as a whole group and having the students explain their rationale for their answer. Allowing students to use a variety of manipulatives for their discoveries is helpful. Peer teaching can be helpful for those students in need of additional practice. Many students are taught knowledge and never fully comprehend the why of the problem, manybe the teachers don't fully understand the why, Who knows. Understanding the CGI model and seeing it demonstrated will allow me to let my students to explore and demonstrate on their own.

Summary and Synthesis

In the past few class we have been working on CGI. It is a teaching strategy to helps students learn in a different way. I feel that this is a wonderful way to guide students' learning. I think that by teaching this way students will be more motivated in math class and also have a better attitude when it comes to math. However, I do think that when teaching math, a teacher must also used a instruction strategy at some point. There is such a variety of students in the classroom, and some learn best with CGI where others need more direction. Another reason why you can not just teach in a CGI approach is because the standardized test that are required do not allow students to use anything other than their fingers, so students can not rely on manipulatives. It think that it is important for students to have some CGI in the classroom though because it helps students to understand the WHY of math. When they have discovered this they can move in to the instructional understanding of math so that they can do well on the standardized tests.