In elementary school math, students learn how to change a mixed fraction to an improper fraction. Here is a tip or trick that teachers may use in their instruction: The visual diagram cues the student to multiply: 5 x 1 = 5. Then the student adds: 5 + 2 = 7. This series of steps… Read More »
Merrie, a fourth grader, is confronted with the following question: If Henry ate 1/3 of 3 pizzas, how much did he eat? Merrie draws this picture to help her solve the problem: Merrie’s drawing shows 3 pizzas divided into thirds. She shades 1/3 of 1 of the pizzas. Why does Merrie think of the problem… Read More »
m, me, mem, memo, memor, memori, memoriz, memoriza, memorizat, memorizati, memorizatio, memorization Would you think this is an effective or efficient way to learn to spell “memorization”? Several years ago, I saw a report by a psychologist from a highly reputable children’s hospital that suggested that a child should memorize the first letter, then… Read More »