DMI and Field

I always knew that there were different ways and methods to do traditional algorithims, but due to my education I always thought the traditional algorithm was the best. I felt that this was the algorithm which needed to be taught in school. When reading chapter 4 in the DMI book one teacher, Lynn, states, “I think a very important difference this year was that by the time these ten children were exposed to the traditional algorithm, they had successfully constructed their own understandings of addition with regrouping.” I found this very interesting when thinking about my own experience with algorithms. Even though I have not seen algorithms being used in my field placement due to the fact that they are kindergarteners, I feel that this statement makes a lot of sense when thinking about mathematics. Without having an understanding of what you are doing or why you are doing it the children will just believe it is nonsense. Therefore, it is important that they create their own understandings about mathematics before being pushed to use the traditional algorithm.

Throughout the time I have spent in my field placement I have begun to see them use word problems with the kindergarten classroom. These word problem really help them think about the mathematics, but they traditionally are done as activities right before the end of the day. I feel that it might be helpful for some students to have manipulative to use and not just their fingers. Lynn states, “A significant difference this year was that I included lots of word problems along with rods-trading through the whole year.” The children need to be given different modes of solving problems and be allowed to use the modes throughout the whole year. Scaffolding can be used to help these children gain a better understanding and be able to do harder math problems as the year progresses.

Overall, I find the DMI book very interesting. I enjoy going into my classroom and talking to my CT about what we are learning in class and what it states about kindergarteners in the books we are reading. She usually does an activity with the students to allow me to see that the students really can do word problems, etc. This has really allowed me to see how the information we are learning in class can be applied to the classroom and that the children really can perform certain tasks when they are put into context.