Chana Arthur Math Reflection

Math Lesson Reflection

I enjoyed teaching my math lesson to my second grade classroom at Lone Oak. My objectives were accomplished because as I checked every students journal, I found that they all completed the chart they drew in their math journal. By completing the chart, every student estimated and then measured two items around the classroom in both centimeters and inches. Every student was able to measure both items in their chart correctly. I feel like because every student was able to measure both items in their chart correctly, my teaching was effective. While teaching, I made sure to explain the instructions carefully because I wanted the students to be able to measure the items they chose independently. Something that I would change is that I would make sure that every student understood how to record his or her information in the chart correctly. I think instead of having them draw the chart in their notebook, I would have the chart printed out for them beforehand because I feel like drawing the chart took up a lot of time, so they had less time to measure. I also think I should have given them a little more structure with what to measure because some were trying to measure really large items. The most effective thing in my lesson was teaching the students how to compare an inch and centimeter to a paperclip, that way if they are without a ruler, they can picture an image of paperclip between their fingers and use that to measure something. This

allows students to use what they learned in the classroom in the real world. Some improvements I would add to this lesson, is somehow incorporating technology. Also I think that as a class, we should measure more than one thing and record more than one thing in their chart. Even though every student was able to do it correctly, I had several questions before I was able to let them independently go measure. I learned that children like to learn mathematics through hands on experiences. They like to be able to be involved with the math rather than just sitting in their desk being lectured about math. I think the students enjoyed being able to get up and move around the room to measure things. I also noticed that with math, the students like to learn things above and beyond what they are being taught. For example, when some of the students were done, they subtracted the difference in the centimeter and inch measurement. I thought that was interesting. Howard Gardner developed the theory of Multiple Intelligences in 1983. The theory of Multiple Intelligences states that every individual has his or her own strength in the different intelligences. With this lesson, I helped reach different types of learners that Howard Gardner explains in his theory by having hands on experiences, discussions and asking questions throughout the lesson.