New Insights and Their Implications

Throughout these past couple of months I have found a new appreciation for teaching elementary math. I have never experienced a teaching style such as reform based math, until Dr. Reins. I learned that students have to use their higher order thinking skills to solve problems, which comes a lot easier when using manipulatives, such as the ones we've used in class. I've also learned it is more difficult from the teacher's perspective of planning, I feel this is the reason so many teachers use the traditional style of teaching (worksheets, handouts, etc) because it is so much easier. However, this is also why our students aren't meeting national standards. When doing the LPU I learned that I want to teach according to the reform based math strategies, I want my students to have to think and solve the problem themselves, instead of knowing they can get the answer from me. This style of teaching is somewhat frightening and difficult, but I want to learn more about it so my future students and myself can benefit.