Reflection Questions Week One

1. What does the term "early childhood mathematics" mean to you?
I believe that early childhood mathematics is the most important mathematics that children have. It sets the foundation for all of their math knowledge for their academic future. This is the time that students learn the most and that their brains are the most absorbent. Setting the foundation for math includes teaching the students their numbers, what each number represents, and how to add and subtract their numbers.

2. What key points did you take from chapter one that inform your understanding of how to teach mathematics for young children?
-p. 4- Three Factors that Influence Learning
-student reflective learning
- social interaction with other students in the classroom
-use of models or tools for learning.
I like this because it teaches me what factors are important to implement in my students learning every day.
-p.7-9- These few pages talk about Models, and how important they are in teaching math. All students need to see things visually and be able to manipulate objects and models help accomplish this task.
-p.14-19 describe problem based approaches to teaching. Each of these pages discuss a different part of the problem solving approach. Before, During, and After. These pages are very important to teach me HOW to approach problems with the children, and what steps to take before assigning the problem, as well as after.
-p.20-21-I loved how these pages answered frequently asked questions. It was helpful to know how to assess different strategies and types of responses I'll get from the students.