Writing can be a used to take all the jumbled information, steps, and thoughts and structure them in such

a way that leads to mathematical proof or fact.

Writing about the process and steps required to solve a certain problem can help students understand that there is a certain order to math; and help them develop their deductive reasoning.

We should give students the time to write about all the math happening in the world around them, and just let them contemplate and 'think about math'. That leads to thinking critically about problems, and to be good deductive reasoners. It provides them the chance to come up with solutions which lead to other ideas. To be honest, not all people will love math; but all people are mathematicians. We all think critically every day, and often have problems we need to solve. This requires us to do things like deductive reasoning, without even knowing. So writing in school should be done in the hopes that students will make the connection that the problem solving going on in the classroom is going to be helpful in problem solving in the real world.

Reflection

Focus

Solar Syste m

Algebra I Quadratic Equations Focus/Theme: Reflective Writing What was great? Think outside the box. What would you do differently? Expand lesson more into a mini-project.

1st Strategy Teacher: Velvet McReynolds 7th grade 2nd Strategy Teacher: Velvet McReynolds 7th grade

Looking at Samples
BENEFITS Current Mathematics in our generation. Exposing students to more areas of math, things that might interest students. Gives students examples to model their own mathematical arguments and reasoning. Provides more opportunities for students to think about math which can lead to new interesting ideas.

Math Riddles: 1) Pick a number between 1 and 9 2) Subtract 5 3) Multiply by 3 4) Square the number (2x2, 3x3, etc) 5) Add the digits of that number together, for example, if you number is 83, you would add 8 and 3 and get 11. 6) If the resulting number is less than 5, add five, otherwise subtract 4 7) Multiply by 2 8) Subtract 6 9) Assign a letter to your number. A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4, E=5, etc 10) Pick a country that begins with your letter 11) Pick an animal that begins with the second letter from your country 12) think of the color of that animal....
Answer A grey elephant from Denmark

Mathemagics http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4vqr3_ROIk 3:05-4:20 Free Space