Beige Green Illustrated Classroom Newsletter
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School
Old Dominion University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
301
Subject
Mathematics
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
Pages
6
Uploaded by HighnessClover18162
Ms. Vernon’s
Ms. Vernon’s
Classroom
Classroom
Newsletter
Newsletter
DEAR PARENTS,
Teaching staff at Stuart Elementary are
working hard to improve academic
success, and your students have done an
excellent job thus far! We are actively
reestablishing numerous routines and
standards in order to reduce any
challenges that hinder our children's
learning, and we value your continued
support in this regard. Soon, our class will be introduced to the
use of calculators. We will discuss how to
use a calculator, the benefits of using
calculators, and why we use them. I am
writing this letter to address the current
debate on using calculators in the
classrooms, the pros and cons of teaching
this method, and to suggest a few activities
to try with your student!
November 4th, 2023
November 4th, 2023
The Current Debate
When calculators were initially accessible,
there were fears that this new technology
would not be completely understood or used
effectively by instructors, and that the impacts
on students would be unclear (Baum-Sehon,
2020). Future studies on how students were
influenced and curricular improvements were
proposed. Some instructors suggested that if
children learned to use a calculator prior to
totally learning basic mathematical concepts,
they might lose their understanding of
elementary mathematics. Other educators, on
the other hand, saw calculators as a way to
boost student enthusiasm through using
additional "real-life" circumstances (Banks,
2011).
What is the current
debate? What is the NCTM?
The National Council of
Teachers of
Mathematics is an
organization and a voice
for mathematics
education that promotes
teacher and curriculum
development using
current research
(National Council of
Teachers Mathematics,
n.d.).
The NCTM’s Stance on
Calculators
Calculators in the primary grades supplement rather than
replace other computation methods in developing student
comprehension. In our information and technology
centered culture, calculator use can enhance more
complex thinking and reasoning, which are required for
problem resolution. Their usage can also help instructors
and students improve student comprehension and fluency
with mathematical operations, algorithms, and numerical
connections, as well as boost student enthusiasm. Students
can benefit from strategic calculator use in recognizing
and expanding arithmetic, algebraic, and geometric
patterns and relationships (National Council of Teachers
Mathematics, n.d.).
Pros and Cons
Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
Cons
Cons
Technological Knowledge -
Calculators are something that your
children will use throughout their lives
to make a budget, perform their
taxes, and complete various other
tasks (Calculators in math class: Pros
and cons, 2018). Enjoyment - Math is a difficult
topic that is not for everyone.
Calculators contribute to the
enjoyment (Calculators in math
class: Pros and cons, 2018).
Accuracy - Calculators are quick
and precise, making them an
excellent supplement for students
(Calculators in math class: Pros and
cons, 2018).
Complacency - If children develop the
habit of using just a calculator to
perform all of their mathematical work,
they will never properly develop their
math abilities, which will inevitably come
back to haunt them on standardized
tests and throughout their lives
(Calculators in math class: Pros and
cons, 2018).
Cheating - If educators let students use
calculators on tests class, they may save
formulas, rules, and other notes on their
calculators and use them to cheat on
the test (Calculators in math class: Pros
and cons, 2018).
Cost - While a basic calculator costs less
than $10, graphing calculators and other
more complex equipment cost around
$100. Not to mention, the cost of
consistently replacing batteries
(Calculators in math class: Pros and
cons, 2018).
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Originally I was skeptical about having students begin using
calculators so early in elementary school, but after conducting
research, I believe it is in our children’s best interest to begin using
calculators at an early age. Of course, like with any technique, how
educators and students utilize calculators matters. Thinking about
when, where, and why why you should utilize a calculator is an
essential skill that teachers may incorporate into lessons to help
students make informed judgments when choosing an acceptable
technique (Baum-Sehon, 2020). Children's mathematical thinking
techniques and number awareness might thus benefit from the usage
of calculators. The research demonstrates that using calculators in
primary school is useful when students are taught to use them
alongside other approaches, and calculators allow children to
approach mathematics problems in unconventional ways. They're
especially beneficial for assisting students in testing and refining their
ideas (Dabell, 2023).
Ms. Vernon’s
Ms. Vernon’s
Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Example Activities
Example Activities
In Our Classroom
....
In Our Classroom
....
In our classroom, I will have students practice using their calculators on a regular basis. We will first
begin by learning how to solve the math problem ourselves with no calculator. Once students
demonstrate mastery of the skill without using a calculator, we will try using our calculators to solve
the problem. We will be using our calculators to solve problems and check our answers. I want my
students to understand that while having a calculator is convenient, it is important that we learn how
to solve math problems independently because, in the real world, a calculator may not always be
available (Dabell, 2023). Try it at Home
Try it at Home
Addition Jenga!
Addition Jenga!
Learning how to add and subtract is one of
the most important skills we will learn this
year. During class students will be given a
color by number worksheet. In order for the
student to know the correct number that
corresponds to a specific color, students will
have to solve an addition or subtraction
problem. Students will be allowed to practice
using their calculators to solve these
problems. To enhance our addition and subtraction skills,
students will practice by playing addition uno.
Students will first be assigned a partner.
Numbers 0-9 will be pulled from the deck and
split into two piles. In the middle of the two piles
will be a plus or a minus sign. One student will
begin by adding the first two numbers on each
pile on their own. Student two will have a
calculator and will be asked to check their
partners answer via calculator. Students will
take turns being the solver and the checker. This activity requires a little preparation,
an activity perfect for a rainy day! Begin by taking the jenga blocks and
taping, or writing, an addition or
subtraction problem using numbers 0-
20.
Build the jenga tower and simply take
turns pulling out a block. After a block has been pulled, the player
must correctly solve the math problem. Opponents must check their answer
using a calculator!
(Lynette, 2019).
Banks, S. A. (2011, June 28). A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF ATTITUDES TOWARD THE USE OF
CALCULATORS IN JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL MATH CLASSROOMS IN THE UNITED
STATES SINCE 1975. chromeextension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext
/ED525547.pdf
References
References
Calculator Use in Elementary Grades. Calculator use in elementary grades - National
Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (n.d.). https://www.nctm.org/Standards-and-
Positions/Position-Statements/Calculator-Use-in-Elementary-Grades/ Calculators in math class: Pros and cons. Resilient Educator. (2018, October 19).
https://resilienteducator.com/classroom-resources/pros-and-cons-of-allowing-
kids-to-use-calculators-in-math-class/
Dabell, J. (2023, January 25). Are Calculators in the Math Classroom a Bad Thing?.
Maths. https://mathsnoproblem.com/blog/teaching-practice/calculators-in-the-
classroom Lynette, R. (2019, November 22). Free jenga multiplication and addition games. Minds in
Bloom. https://minds-in-bloom.com/free-jenga-multiplication-and-addition/ Baum-Sehon, K. (2020, February 18). Using calculators to deepen students’ engagement
with math. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/using-calculators-deepen-
students-engagement-math/
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