New Insights and Their Implications

These past few weeks in class we have been introduced to methods of how to teach students about addition and subtraction and multiplication and division. Dr. Reins has recently introduced the Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) to us. Although this method is fairly new to us, the basis of the approach is to use concrete materials, such as fraction bars, pattern blocks, or other manipulatives, to help students see or "act" out the problems. I think this method is a wonderful way for students to get a visual of what is happening during an addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division process. The CGI approach is a great way for students to figure things out on their own also. They have manipulatives to use to demonstrate 4 + 2 or 7 x 4. All students have different ways of thinking, and by giving them blocks, a time line, or fraction bars, they are able to show their process of thinking. This can be beneficial to the teacher so that he/she can see how their students learn best. Another point I would like to make about CGI is that the teacher should have all the students model how they arrived at a solution and their way of thinking. The teacher should be there to guide and instruct the students, and also encourage them.