Danica McKellar says, "Math is like going to the gym for your brain. It sharpens your mind." I want my 4th-graders to master not just the content they need to be ready for 5th grade math, but also the critical thinking skills that will set up for success in high school, college, and beyond.
I teach math to two sections of fourth graders at a Title-1 school; which seeks to educate a diverse, multi-cultural group of students, and create a learning environment that is loving, nurturing, and challenging.
Many of my students face a host of challenges outside of the classroom. However, they are also creative, thoughtful, curious, and funny. Several are performing above grade level in math, and are eager to be challenged. Many already have a love of learning, and my goal is to foster this love in all of them.
My Project
My students are on the cusp of some big changes in math education. We are asking them to tackle more challenging, open-ended problems, while at the same time learning familiar computation skills like multi-digit multiplication and long division. All of the high-stakes tests they take are on the computer, and yet many of the curricular resources provided by my district are paper-based. Furthermore, I know that my learners will need to be well-versed in technology skills including typing, conducting web-based research, and using computer programs to model and solve problems, in order to be successful once they leave my classroom for middle school, high school and beyond.
A class set of laptop computers will enhance my math instruction, while at the same time building my students' 21st-century technology skills.
It will allow all my students consistent access to high-quality online math programs such as ST Math (a program that teaches math skills through interactive games) and Zearn (an online program that goes hand-in-hand with our math curriculum, Eureka Math). Having a class set of computers also enables me to effectively use online programs for math assignments, quizzes, and unit tests. This gives my students critical opportunities to practice typing out their math explanations and using virtual math tools and manipulatives as they explore math concepts.
Just as importantly, a class set of computers would help me better meet my students' individual learning needs. Some of my students have mastered basic 4th-grade skills and need opportunities for more challenging problem-solving experiences, while others need rich, individualized opportunities to review prerequisite skills from previous grades. Even as we technically have access to online programs that can support more differentiated learning, we don't currently have enough working technology to take full advantage of these opportunities.
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