The Importance of Patience in Teaching Problem Solving

We are often such a rush to cover curriculum or acquire grades for reporting purposes that we overlook the importance of patience in teaching problem solving. This article was interesting but the video by Dan Meyer really brought the concept together. We need to show patience in the short term if we are to see improved outcomes in the long term. This underscores the importance of recognizing multiple math strands in a single math activity in order to create time for patience. Have a look.

http://www.middleweb.com/33114/how-to-get-students-to-slow-down-and-think/

Connecting Math for Deeper Understanding

This article highlights the notion that students need to engage in tactile-kinesthetic mathematical learning and prompts me to consider how important it is to embed math across the curriculum. We should see math through the lens of various subject areas such as Drama and Dance, Music, Physical Education, Outdoor Education, etc. in order to further develop and solidify problem solving skills and strategies, as well as alleviate some of the negative attitudes towards math. I feel that the example of students acting out a math problem and subsequent improvement in scores emphasizes the point. Math concepts should not be addressed solely in math class if we are going to create a solid foundation in our learners - it is everywhere and we should treat it as such. Have a look at the article.
https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/03/26/why-kids-need-to-move-touch-and-experience-to-learn/