On Tuesday morning, February 8, we hosted a second session with Dr. Jennifer Chang Wathall. Jennifer focused on mathematics learning for the 21 century and unpacked three myths.
Jennnifer shared these resources along with our ISB Parent padlet from the session. This session was not recorded.
Myth #1: Memorization is key to successful math learning
Using data from PISA (Program for International Student Assessment), Jennifer shared a study that the lowest achieving students used memorization as their top strategy and these students felt that mathematics was a set of methods to remember and approached mathematics by trying to memorize steps.
Alternatively, the highest achieving students view mathematics as a set of connected, conceptual ideas and understandings
Myth #2: Concept-Based Mathematics is only about big ideas and does not have the challenge and rigor
Concept-Based mathematics involves both facts and skills along with conceptual understanding.
Myth #3: The myth of the mathematically gifted child….and they should be grouped together
