CSUEB expert says we must change how we teach math

• March 18, 2011 5:10am

Philip Gonsalves told elementary school teachers, "We fundamentally have to change the way we teach math." Gonsalves is coordinator of the Alameda County Collaborative for Learning and Instruction in Mathematics (ACCLAIM), a joint effort of the Alameda County Office of Education (ACOE), Cal State East Bay and Chabot College. He has also been a CSUEB math lecturer for over 25 years.

"Many of the things we say to kids during math lessons only confuse matters and often aren't true," Gonsalves explained to El Cerrito Patch reporter Betty Buginas. "For example, when we multiply 87 x 465, in one step we say 'multiply 8 x 4' when we really mean 80 x 400. Or when we teach students to multiply decimals and start out by telling them to ignore the decimal." He believes this approach does not teach a solid understanding of the value of numbers. Read article.

One of his chief recommendations is that students be taught several methods for attacking the same problem, and give them fewer problems to solve but expect them to show more than one way to solve each one. "Show multiple methods side by side and let the kids pick the way that works best in a particular situation."

ACOE has math resources available online for teachers and students.

KL