Ep 6. Math teaching tips with Barry Garelick and JR Wilson
May 4, 2023
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Experienced math teachers Barry Garelick and JR Wilson share teaching strategies including getting students excited about math, using the 'I do, we do, you do' method, teaching word problems, challenging advanced students, and helping struggling students. They discuss the importance of understanding in math teaching, effective strategies for teaching word problems, building confidence in weaker students, teaching factoring methods, and advice for new teachers.
Explicit instruction in a logical sequence engages students and helps develop procedural mastery, algorithms, problem-solving procedures, and understanding.
Traditional math teaching, with its emphasis on explicit instruction, can be effective and positively impact students' learning and success.
Deep dives
Teaching Math with Traditional Methods and Effective Strategies
The podcast episode delves into the world of math teaching and provides insights from experienced teachers who have written a book called Traditional Math and Effective Strategy. The teachers emphasize the importance of using explicit instruction in a logical sequence to engage students while developing procedural mastery, algorithms, problem-solving procedures, and understanding. They discuss topics that resonate with teachers, such as getting students excited about math, using the I Do We Do You Do method, and the role of understanding in math. Additionally, they offer tips for teaching word problems, keeping advanced students challenged, helping struggling students, and addressing the most important math topics at different grade levels.
Breaking Down the Traditional Math Teaching Approach
The podcast hosts discuss the title of the book, 'Traditional Math and Effective Strategy.' They draw attention to the common disdain often associated with traditional math teaching, which emphasizes explicit instruction. The teachers share their experiences of feeling guilty for deviating from the modern approach that focuses on discovery and student-centered methods. They argue that traditional math teaching, with its emphasis on explicit instruction, can be effective and provide insights into the positive impact it has on students' learning and success. They discuss how the book challenges the prevailing attitudes towards traditional math teaching and offers teachers practical strategies to use in the classroom.
Motivating Students and Effective Teaching Methods
One of the experienced teachers shares their journey of transforming students' initial aversion to math into genuine excitement and enjoyment. They attribute this shift to factors such as setting goals, implementing consistent daily practice sessions of short duration, focusing on one skill at a time, self-checking, record-keeping, and fostering a supportive and challenging environment. The teacher also discusses the 'I do, we do, you do' teaching method, which involves demonstrating problem-solving steps and gradually guiding students towards independent practice. They highlight the importance of connecting prior knowledge to new concepts while maintaining a balance between ensuring understanding and maintaining momentum in teaching.
Balancing Procedures and Understanding in Math Teaching
The podcast delves into the discussion of balancing procedure-based learning and conceptual understanding in math teaching. The teachers provide insights on helping students develop both procedural fluency and conceptual understanding, emphasizing that while some students may grasp concepts before procedures, and vice versa, it is not necessary for all students to have 100% understanding of all math topics. They highlight the importance of connecting prior knowledge to new concepts while being sensitive to students' focus and perspective. The teachers share strategies for explaining math concepts in the language of math, encouraging students to show their work and providing opportunities for self-reflection and growth.
In this episode, Anna Stokke is joined by two experienced teachers, Barry Garelick and JR Wilson. They have recently published a book called Traditional Math: an effective strategy that teachers feel guilty using. Throughout the interview, Barry and JR share strategies and practical advice that they have used in their own classrooms with great success.
They cover topics that will resonate with teachers, including how to get students excited about math, how to effectively use the “I do, we do, you do” method of teaching and the role of understanding in math. They also discuss critical math topics that teachers should focus on, tips for teaching word problems, how to keep advanced students challenged, and how to help struggling students, among other things. This episode will be interesting to teachers, parents and anyone with an interest in math education.
