This week, in school, I have been giving a math test to each student. It is an interesting test that is supposed to tell us how students will perform in math in the coming years. It requires students to think beyond what they have been taught and use strategies to solve various types of problems. Most of the questions are difficult for the students but with some thought, many of them come up with the correct answer. The test can be administered by aides or by the teacher. Since I currently have a "Teacher-Candidate" (as BYU-I calls them) I have been able to give the test. It is one on one and takes about 15 minutes per student. I have learned so much by watching them test.
Two particular questions have stumped most of the students. (Since it is a state test I would NEVER use the actual problems, so the numbers have been changed to protect the identity of the original numbers.) So one problem went like this: "Are both sides equal?" and the problem looked like this 44+35=43+36. Most of the students said, "No!" One student said, "Mrs. Grant, I don't even know what the heck the word equals means!" I just laughed and laughed. Another problem was "What should I add to the blank so that each side has the same amount?" It looked like this 23+4=___+5. One of the students thought about the problem FOREVER. Then she answered "Well it has to be 27 and that 5 is just WEIRD!" Again I laughed and laughed. I love these kids.
Teaching about the equal sign is so important. We'll start that when I begin teaching again.
Life is Good - especially in this 2nd grade room.
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