It’s Not Really About the Numbers??? (CGI Math Book Study Part 2)

When I first embarked on this CGI math book study, my plan was to share the problem types and how to teach them. Well, that plan has gone out the window! I’m learning that math isn’t really about the numbers! Math is all about reasoning. Math is figuring out how to solve a problem. Children can have many approaches to solving the same problem. It is their reasoning and understanding of the problem that will guide them in solving the problem.

One very specific thing I’ve learned about solving problems involves action within the problem. I remember in my college courses for my teaching credential, my math professors would tell us that a great strategy to teach the kids was to “act it out.” I immediately thought that was a fabulous idea. I love the arts! I’m a former dance teacher – having the kids act out their math problems is right up my alley! What I didn’t understand at the time was the importance of the action in the problem. That action is what is going to make a student add, subtract, multiply, or divide. This means, that a kindergarten student can do division! If that kindergarten student can reason that the action is to share equal amounts, then that student can do division!

Let’s take a very simple problem as an example:

Student A has 5 pencils. Student B gives Student A 3 more pencils. How many pencils does Student A have now?

Those of you reading this problem already know this is an addition problem. How did you know that you needed to add? It is because of the action in the problem. Student B is giving to Student A, thereby increasing Student A’s collection of objects. What if the numbers were 50 and 30? 500 and 300? If the action is the same, it’s not really about the numbers.

This journey into CGI math has been exciting and challenging. It has stretched my thinking and my approach to teaching math. I can’t wait to share more of my discoveries with you!

Until next time…Happy Teaching!!!

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