Liping Ma book

[Guest]

The Teaching Gap is another mind-changing book that compares how mathematics are taught in Japan, Germany, and the US.

 

For those who would like a look at the mechanics of the kind of teaching Ma is talking about, take a look at some of Marilyn Burns's books, particularly those on algebraic thinking -- but any will do. Someof the characteristics of this type of teaching are exploring one problem in great detail, finding different ways to approach it, and comparing how those methods work in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and logic, then extending the problem-solving methods -- not algorithms necessarily -- to other problems. Burns does not use textbooks or workbooks, but moves back and forth between manipulatives (ready-made and ones kids made themselves), activities, picture books, data tables, and written math according to the kind of problem she's having kids consider. Her approach has a lot in common with the Japanese pedagogies described in The Teaching Gap. Using her books with my daughter produced my first ever mathematical understanding that went deeper than which formula to use (and I went all the way through calculus with A's, knew how to do it but not why it all worked or even why it was important or interesting).

[crazyforlatin]

 

If you go read the book, you will never look at "how do I get my child to memorize math facts?" threads the same way. Oh dear, oh dear.

 

Bill

 

That was me a few weeks ago (I even posted this question on the board), but reading through the threads, I had to order Ma's book, which should arrive tomorrow. And these threads have really opened up my eyes on how I should teach DD. To be honest, I didn't even know there was a difference in teaching to "understand" and memorizing math facts :blush:. DD is 5 so hopefully I can reverse the damage I've inflicted upon her.