The Evolution of Math

From an emphasis on the '3Rs' to a way in which we can view the world around us in a logical manner, math has greatly evolved over the years.  As a result, our instruction of math has had to make significant changes to address the ever-changing nature of the "math beast."

Here are a couple of noteworthy changes:

"Then"	"Now"
Focus on basic computation	Emphasis on critical thinking/problem solving
“Drill and Kill method”	Use of manipulatives
Memorizing rules and succinct way of solving problems	Experiential learning
Being successful meant that you were a good robot	Focus on thinking and understanding concepts
Predominantly individual tasks (little to no discussion/group work)	Specialized math courses (economics, engineering, physics)
Math taught in isolation	Math is interwoven into all subjects

What new understandings have emerged?

• Everyone can learn and be successful math
• Students may have different strategies to solve the same problem
• There are many ways of teaching math.  Here are a few used in the DSBN:
• Fosnot
• Strings
• Gallery Walks
• Group Work
• Teachers need to keep learning and attending workshops/PD events to remain effective math teachers and keep up with latest pedagogy