Applying Math in the Classroom Book Review by Nicky
A discussion on the book "What's Math Got to Do With It? Helping Children Learn to Love Their Least Favorite Subject-and Why It's Important for America" by Jo Boaler.
# 148839
| 1,476 words
| 2 sources
| MLA
| 2011
| 
Published
on Nov 07, 2011
in
Education
(Teaching Methods)
, Literature
(American)
, Mathematics
(General)
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Description:
The paper discusses how Jo Boaler's book "What's Math Got to Do With It? Helping Children Learn to Love Their Least Favorite Subject-and Why It's Important for America" criticizes the traditional approach to mathematics education which emphasizes abstract methods and approaches to numbers, versus the approach which emphasizes creative reasoning, problem-solving and flexibly applying methods in new situations. The paper explains Boaler's beliefs that too much emphasis is given to the specific standards of content and too little focus is on how to use these tools in an effective fashion. The paper relates Boaler's evidence that students taught math in a nontraditional, problem-solving fashion show higher level mastery of the subject and enjoy math more. The paper concludes that traditional methods only strive to make students fit into a traditional world that is rapidly ceasing to exit.
From the Paper:
"Boaler delineates two approaches to mathematical education--the traditional approach which emphasizes abstract methods and approaches to numbers, versus what she sees as the superior approach which emphasizes creative reasoning, problem-solving and "flexibly applying methods in new situations" (Boaler 7). If a student can manipulate numbers and get good grades on a standardized test, what use is this if he or she does not understand the applicability of numbers to his or her own existence? Boaler's book recounts a number of different observational classroom experiences, and one of the most positive is that of adolescent boys solving a geometric problem involving a skateboard's arc. They laugh, they are excited--this is how math class should be, stresses Boaler. Students should not leave the classroom feeling as if they will never use the math they learn. After all, an English teacher would not feel as if he or she had done a good job teaching, if students only knew how to read the course material, but had not learned to apply those skills to reading outside literature!"Sample of Sources Used:
- "Standards for school mathematics." National Council of Teacher of Mathematics. NCTM. May 12, 2009. http://standards.nctm.org/document/chapter3/index.htm
- Boaler, Jo. What's Math Got to Do With It? Helping Children Learn to Love Their Least Favorite Subject-and Why It's Important for America. New York: Viking, 2008.
Cite this Book Review:
APA Format
Applying Math in the Classroom (2011, November 07)
Retrieved December 03, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/book-review/applying-math-in-the-classroom-148839/
MLA Format
"Applying Math in the Classroom" 07 November 2011.
Web. 03 December. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/book-review/applying-math-in-the-classroom-148839/>