Manipulative reflection

1.) How do you hold every student accountable?

Students must understand that the use of manipulatives is for their pure benefit. Having concrete examples in front of them is something that could prove to be very beneficial for some students to learn from. Holding every student accountable is something that must be done day in and day out while teaching with manipulatives. Students need to know that everyone in the group must be contributing in one way, shape, or form. Take for example today in class when Dr. Grant called on me and told me that I better be helping Debrell out with the writing portion of the class activity. I believe that Dr. Grant had done this on purpose to make sure that I was being held accountable for the work that was being produced throughout the class activity. In the younger grades it would be a little bit different though. I would make it a priority that each student realized the importance of using manipulatives in the classroom activities. Manipulatives give each student to express a concrete example of what they are trying to explain to anyone that wants to listen and learn.

2.) Why do they say “hands on, minds on” instead of just “hands on?”

Hands on minds on talks about the use of manipulatives and how the students are not only working with the tools with their hands, but they are also thinking through what they are trying to create. When I think of hands on activities, I think of a teacher showing a model and the students having to reconstruct that model with their own tools. Hands on minds on incorporates the students own thinking and gives them a chance to think more critically about what they are trying to create or explain. When I was younger I absolutely loved the opportunity when I was given something to manipulate (play with). In school I would look forward to the free time when the teacher would allow me to work freely with the tools provided throughout the classroom. I was able to do what I wanted and in the end I was able to explain my reasoning for coming up with what I made. When I think of hands on minds on I think back to the days when I was able to work freely and make up my own assumptions. Students that are given the opportunity to express themselves and come up with their own ideas and expressions will one day be very creative.

3.) How are the process standards incorporated into the use of manipulatives?

The in class activity that we completed in class today was a prime example as to how the process standards are incorporated into the use of manipulatives. We were each given a partner and had to complete an exercise that incorporated the use of pretty much all of the process standards. Students are going to need to use communication to talk amongst one another and come up with the correct approaches to soling the problems in front of them. Connections are made in ever aspect of the use in manipulatves as the students must be able to connect what content standard the aspect connects too. Also, students should be able to connect how the use of manipulatives relates to their real life situations. Reasoning and proof will be used often also as the students must show their proof as to how they came about their reasoning. The process standards will always be a huge part of mathematical situations, the hard part is figuring out how and when to use them appropriately.