Constructivist-Oriented Approach ( extracted from Chap.1 and 2)

Not every educator believes in the constructivist-oriented approach to teaching mathematics. Some of their reasons include the following: There is not enough time to let kids discover everything. Basic facts and ideas are better taught through quality explanations. Students should not have to “reinvent the wheel”. How would you respond to these arguments?

One of the definitions to learn Mathematics is to relate the existing ideas with the new ideas. In between of those two ideas, there is existence of our logical connections or relationships that have developed between and among ideas. That logical connection cannot be made when learners do not access the potential relevant ideas when learning new concepts.

Construction of knowledge requires reflective thought; actively thinking about or mentally working on an idea. The process of these reflective thought is essential in making those relation, and time is the element to assure reflective thought is happening.

As teachers, there are two roles, which we can do;

• Innitially, giving examples to students, where assimilation takes place.
• Secondly, giving examples of the students' presence thinking, by showing variations, then moving on to accomodation, in which scaffolding from adults are needed to engage in this process. 

Understanding all of those processes that are taking place in building children's critical thinking, there is a need for students to 'reinvent the wheel', even for basic ideas and facts, with a proportionate time given.

Piaget says: "If we don't give any confusions to the children, the learning is not completed"

EDU 330 - Day 1, Wheelock College, Singapore

Indeed, through the card activity that we did in class today I realized the connection between Math and Language, which was recognizing number words in this case. The three activities which were done in class today were a proof that Math is not merely about numbers or figures. It involves some critical elements in life, which is necessary for basic survival skills; thinking skill, and at times it would bring you to a higher level, metacognition, negotiation skill, and of course communication skill as well. In summary, I would define Mathematic as a vehicle that enables students to transform problems into skills. 

On my way home, some of the past memory were flashing in my mind:

• how I wish my Math teacher back in school could show me some of the 'Mathematical-Magic', and make me fall in love with the subject....

• how I wish back then, my dad did not punish me, when I scored 5 upon 10 for my Math Test...

• how I wish I could understand fully most of the formulas, that I used to struggle in memorizing for my Math Exam...(things would be so much easier, when I memorize things with understanding)