CGI Mathematics A Research based Approach

CGI Mathematics

A Research based Approach

Here is what I've learned so far...
First, it's not a curriculum.  It's more an approach to teaching math. 
Guiding Principle
Make sure kids explain their thinking.  Give them time to explain how they got their answer.  They may not have gotten there how you think.

Things to think about!
How can we create ways to allow kids to participate? Allow for all different modalities and preferred methods for tackling math.  We want all kids (and adults) to feel competent in math.  Let students put the work together as they wish.  Say you tell them to take out 12 blocks... they can organize in a line, groups, a mix up- let them do it as they wish.  If you stop them, it can gum up the works!

Build on strengths instead of focusing on weaknesses.  Stop returning papers with all the wrong answers circled.  Let's look at what they did right instead.   That is a big aha for me!  Build on what they understand!

Overarching idea
We want kids to become great problem solvers!  To be successful at applying mathematical skills at real world problems.

Big Findings:
Explain your thinking orally or in writing
Explaining your thinking to others helps you and the other person too!

It integrates well with Eureka Math too, which is great since we are implementing that this year.

Need help getting started?

Here are a few of the CGI math resources I've made to use in my classroom- fourth and fifth grades.

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CGI math training: Number Talks

What I learned at my CGI math training:  Number Talks

I recently attended a week long CGI math training held by the UCLA math project.  We started with number talks.

What are number talks?

Number talks help students work out math mentally.  It helps build number sense. Kids build a better sense of basic number operations.

We started with a problem on the board. 

First, notice that there is no equal sign.  Instead of equal, we need to start saying things such as “the same as”.

Second, give the kids wait time.  They need to think about it. 

Third, use hand signals to tell you where they are.  Closed fist means I’m thinking.  One finger means I have a solution.  Index and thumb means I have more than one solution.

Now what?

First, have kids pair share.  As they share with each other, walk around and take note of what their strategy was.

Then, choose kids to share out strategically.  You’re looking for different approaches to solving the problem.  Chart it as they share out.

Here is an example of what it would look like charted....

As you can see, the solutions are labeled with the kids names to give them ownership.  And there are three examples here but you only do one problem at a time with the kids.

Things for you to think about as a teacher:

-What mathematical ideas emerged as the students engaged in mental math?

-What opportunities does mental math give teachers and students?

-How are these ideas related to your own CGI journey as an educator?

If you need some activities that are ready to go, check out the CGI products in my TPT store!  My products are read-only Powerpoints for fourth and fifth grades!  Well wishes to you on your own CGI journey!  It'll be great!