Reflection On Ch 5-6

Running Head : HOW STUDENTS LEARN

How Students Learn : History , Mathematics , and Science in the classroom

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The book , How students learn : History , Mathematics , and Science in the classroom , discussed the students ' history of learning Mathematics or Math the formal and informal way . The book intends to determine the possible hindrances of learning Math among students and it concluded that negative beliefs or preconceived notions against Math are the major reasons for disrupting one 's motivation in learning math or in gaining proficiency

and fluency in the practice of the subject . Some of these preconceived notions include the notion that (1 ) Math is just learning how to calculate (2 ) Math is all but heeding sets of rules and principles and (3 ) only few , chosen people who are endowed with an extraordinary and expert skill in math can make this proficiency possible

Mathematics was traditionally and still , presently viewed as memorization of incomprehensible sets of rules and formulas that is why the National Research Council creates five major criteria in declaring the presence of real math proficiency (1 ) conceptual understanding (2 procedural fluency (3 ) strategic competence (4 ) adaptive reasoning and (5 ) productive disposition

Two goals that have to be met were discussed in chapter 5 explaining that Math teachers should emphasize that Math is not mere learning how to calculate and to heed formulas and instructions , and that it is useful in daily life . Second , teachers have to bridge the formal and informal ways of acquiring proficiency and fluency in Math problem solving

On the other hand , chapter 6 encompasses the importance of number sense in the early schooling of students . The concept of this number sense is very critical for students to understand numerals as they were able to associate the written numbers to the numbers they have mastered through oral recitation

How Students Learn , Mathematical Understanding : An Introduction

Reflection on Ch 5 - Mathematical Understanding : An Introduction

This chapter from the book , How students learn : History , Mathematics and Science in the classroom , describes how the study and teaching of Mathematics or Math , creates negative preconceived notions among people especially the students , to be specific , due to the fact that students get overwhelmed , fail to connect , understand , and make relevance out of the numerous set of rules and guidelines which they find senseless or meaningless . Upon reading this book , I agree with the authors observation that Math often creates negative impression or preconceived notions among students . For the reason that mathematics is viewed often as heeding sets of rules , principles , guidelines , and theorems by the students most of the time students in my previous class claim that this is their major reason from getting low grades in Math - they just seem to dislike the subject because they are intimidated and overwhelmed with the varieties of procedures , methods , and rules they need to follow in to come up with a correct answer in some Math problems and also they just do not understand the significance of the...