The following statements represent commonly held ideas about mathematics that may hinder the improvement of student achievement. You will probably agree and disagree with some and others you may not be so sure. Read each and select a response that reflects your beliefs. When you are finished click "Print selections" for a printout of your responses.
Name:
1. Being skilled at using algorithms (traditional procedures for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing) is necessary not necessary to be a mathematician.
2. The sooner a person learns the basic facts the better. True False
3. The earlier later children start to learn the traditional algorithms the better.
4. Countries that score lower the same higher in mathematics than the United States spend less time teaching algorithms and start that instruction later.
5. Children and some animals are are not born with the ability to recognize the value of 1, 2, and 3.
6. Students; inaccuracies with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division usually are are not due to procedural errors.
7. Students who use calculators have higher lower math achievement.
8. Rote learning does does not interfere(s) with number and operation sense making.
9. Practice without conceptual understanding will will not enhance learning.
10. Practice without prior experience with other methods will will not enhance understanding.
11. Practice seems to legitimize a single procedure and enhances limits students’ computational fluency.
12. Technology has has not made the need to understand obsolete.
13. Teaching is most often organized linearly and inclusive of selected topics. True False
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Dr. Robert Sweetland's Notes ©