New Insights & Their Implications

I have never really thought about developing specific types of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems, but I now see why this is necessary. Although we confront problems with more abstract thinking, students who are just learning math really do perform specific strategies based on the problem type. Being able to create each problem type will help me challenge my students to take risks and try new strategies.

Throughout the class, we have learned a lot about developing a relational understanding in mathematics. Although I have learned the relational understanding of fractions and other concepts in this class, I feel that I only have an instrumental understanding of many math concepts we have not discussed. I may know exactly what to do when confronted with a math problem, but have no idea why. I plan to develop in my students a relational understanding of mathematics so they don't end up confused about why they are performing operations like me.