Vaughn Chapter 16 & Reys Chapter 15

Vaughn: Chapter 16

Focus Question #4: What are some effective ways to help students become active learners in the classroom?

Some really effective ways that students can become active learners is having opportunities for students to work in pair share or learning groups. I find this way really effective because I myself as a student learn more and get more perspectives when we work as a group. Another way that Vaughn mentions is giving the students guidelines for note taking. It is important to listen to understand instead of listening for every word to write down. Notes will only be effective when you tailor them to yourself. A helpful hint can be to leave extra space so that when you go back there is room to add more information that can be helpful for your own understanding.

Reys : Chapter 15

Focus Question # 1: Why should the elementary mathematics program include geometry?

Before I began reading I tried answering this question with what I thought would be the reason as to why it is important to include geometry in elementary mathematics. My first though was that it helps students connect real life to mathematics. This was one of the reasons that Rey’s textbook mentioned because there are so many three-dimensional objects in the world that children encounter. Rey’s textbook also mentions how geometry opens doors to many cultures because many cultures have different types of architecture and geometric designs that are commonly used in that culture. There are also so many parts to geometry like congruence and similarity that can correlate into other subjects such as science and art when drawing or observing rocks or insects.