In a perfect math classroom, no student would ever have to use the guess and check method but let’s be honest…it’s not a perfect world. Guess and check is the fallback method of most students who can’t figure out a problem.
When teaching guess and check it is important to stress that it is a very last resort as it can be extremely time consuming. Here is how to give a bit of direction to reduce the time restrictive nature of the guess and check method.
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The first thing I want to say is that what I am about to explain is not scientifically valid (which I tell my students when I work with then) it is an excellent way to help students understand the concepts behind adding and subtracting integers.
So here is how it works... Plotting points on a Cartesian plane becomes more and more important as students get to higher levels but the practice involved in learning this skill can be very dry and boring. So i decided I would make it into a game that is commonly known by junior high students.
It came to my attention that Battle Ship was very similar to a cartesian plane and it would easily adapt to a cartesian plane. Through trial and error, I found the following formula worked well for students in my grade 8 and 9 classes. Studies have proven again and again that students learn best when they are interacting with the material that they are learning. Not all of the material is open to the possibilities but here is a tried and true method for teaching/practicing multiplying integers.
The Number Line Dance. Studies have proven again and again that students learn best when they are interacting with the material that they are learning. Not all of the material is open to the possibilities but here is a tried and true method for teaching and practicing adding and subtracting integers.
The classroom can be an overwhelming place with twenty plus students all wanting your attention and needing different things. When I am working in a classroom, I constantly looking for ways to be more efficient and provide as many resources as possible to my students. Here are some of the creative ways that I made my classroom more efficient and in turn, more productive.
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Miss Math TutorI have taught math for 5 years and am always looking for and developing fun, innovative ways to create meaningful learning for my students. |