Improving Access to Mathematics: Strategies for Elementary

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Improving Access to Mathematics Strategies for
Elementary

• Presented by
• Heather Sparks, NBCT2009 Oklahoma Teacher of the
  Year

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What makes math difficult?

• Lack of prior knowledge
• Missing foundational skills
• Limited experiences with doing math
• One right answer approach
• Permission to be bad at math
• Others?

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STRATEGIES1. Constant exposure to
meaningful math
Every day, provide meaningful math investigations
through manipulatives, games, puzzles, and
stories. Content example NIM PIG Color
Tile Riddles Two of Everything
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STRATEGIES2. Allow students to verbalize
their thinking
Every day, expect students to explain
their thinking. Content example Counting
backwards
Follow Me Loose caboose
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STRATEGIES3. Provide for meaningful use
of manipulatives
Manipulatives should be available and
integrated into every math lesson. Content
example Showing half True Blue
Snap cube measurement
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True Blue
Trina wants to win a goldfish at the carnival.
In order for her to win, she needs to pick 2
blue tiles out of the True Blue prize bag,
without looking. If the prize bag contains 3
blue tiles and 3 red tiles, what is the
probability of winning the game? Predict the
number of wins you will get in 40 trials. Then,
conduct the trials and record the outcomes.
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STRATEGIES4. Help students develop
bridge tools
Students should be taught specific strategies
to improve memory and understanding. Content
example Coin Chants Finger Multiplication
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Coin Chants
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STRATEGIES5. Create reference resources
Students should maintain a math journal to
record and store math resources. Content
example Gallon map
Big Inch

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The BIG Inch
0
1
13 16
1 2
1 4
3 4
1 8
5 8
7 8
1 16
3 16
5 16
9 16
11 16
15 16
7 16
3 8
2 2
10 16
14 16
2 4
2 8
6 8
6 16
2 16
4 4
4 8
4 16
12 16
8 8
8 16
16 16
Identity Property
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Comments Questions?
This presentation and other resources are
available at www. hisparks.com