EDU431 Alessandra Siggia

METHODS OF TEACHING
MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE IN THE
PRIMARY/JUNIOR GRADES

Required reading A: Analysis and Reflection.
Title: New Approach to Teaching Math, Science Spurs Gains

CITATION: New Approach to Teaching Math, Science Spurs Gains. (2016, January 23). Retrieved from
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/chat/chat154.shtml

ABSTRACT:
ANALYSIS/REFLECTION:

Instructing teachers to use computational math
and science in their lessons has led to marked
student improvement in two New York districts.
Dr. Osman Yasar, director of the institute that
trains teachers in this approach, explains
why. Included: Tips for using computational
math and science in the classroom.

Prior to reading this article, I do believe teachers

have the ability to entice their students to be
excited about math and science, as they also could
be connected without even knowing it. Dialogue
between education world and Dr. Osman Yasar
from the institute that trains teachers on how to
integrate this computational math and science
approach in their classroom brought me back to my
experiences in elementary school, and then it
clicked, That one teacher whom impacted the way I
think about science, it looks like he was one step
ahead of his clan of teachers, understanding that
students learn at their best when its more hands
on, as Dr. Osman explained in this article, this
instructional approach is one of which prepares
students for their future, and can help them achieve
that level 4 exceptional student, I couldnt agree
more. Drawing back to that one science teacher; he
had us make our own thermos, he implemented
technology, math, science and engineering, the
possibilities were endless, I really was convinced
he knew it all, Bill Nye had nothing on him. So do I
think technology improves student academic
achievements? My answer is yes and no, which
leads to the most important thing I got out of this
article. Yes, because I think giving students the
opportunity to inquire as Yasar talks about is really
important to me, Im an advocate for letting these
kids explore and reflect on their artifacts, they
cannot be limited to instructional teaching, they are
worth so much more than that. This method
explained by Yasar encourages stimulation and
fundamental skills use by students; therefore
students will participate more fully in their
education and assume a sense of ownership of
their understanding. This is key, if a classroom
works together, perhaps working on a project, thus
this is more realistic when regarding life skills,
students can work through processes,
understanding how they got to that final product.
The downfall to my personal beliefs about this

approach is, how about if the teachers are not

trained? How do we know the training is efficient
enough that teachers will really use this approach
properly? Its quite frightening to think I am the
primary resource to a childs learning, especially if
Im not confident in my own knowledge in a certain
area of study, like Yasar explained this is the case
for some teachers, this is when students may
develop that instilled perception of what math,
science and technology really is, hindering their
learning abilities, allowing them to never exceed an
exception, where most knowledge is attained, this
article persuaded me to understand that there are
countless ways to get students to take ownership
of their learning, especially with the use of what I
may soon call my best friend, technology.