Weekly Report & Reflection #5:

Weekly Report & Reflection #5:

Reflection:

        During this week, I learned addition and subtraction using like and unlike signs. The continuing theme of this week was number sense and numeration, more specifically integers and exponents, and procedural fluency for integers. I understood most of the lesson regarding integers, however some of the procedural fluency tasks, I had trouble understanding. More specifically, I had trouble mentally representing the difference between two numbers when being prompted on the board to do so. For example; the number 50 and 22 would be displayed on the board, and we would have to quickly calculate the difference between these numbers as -28 from the number 50 or + 28 starting from the 22. Mentally representing these numbers was extremely hard for myself to do. I understood how to

(Heartwell, 2015)

complete this question on paper, however mentally representing these numbers and their differences within my mind took some time. We were then asked to figure out the difference between two integers while using a number line.
            Both Kevon, Zach, and Julia did an excellent job describing integers using many different strategies. The most effective strategy that stood out to me was when Julia organized the integers using a number line. This visual representation of using cards and seeing were we would end up within the cards, when asked to add or subtract a certain number. It was extremely interesting to visually see this process being done, and was also very effective in showing where we end up on a number line (deck of cards).

Things that I learned in this lesson:

1. How to add and subtract integers
2. Use a number line to add and subtract numbers
3. Visually represent integers with manipulative's using groups

Points that I would like to make:

• Visually representing a number line with cards was an extremely effective teaching strategy
• Having a group discussion with the class about problems within the lesson was more effective than asking fellow group members

Overall I learned a lot from this lesson, coming away with  stronger idea of how to effectively add and subtract integers. After the class I found a resource that was really effective with reinforcing what we just learned in class, IXL, Grade 7, Add and subtract integers, https://ca.ixl.com/math/grade-7/add-and-subtract-integers. This website can be used as a quick way to test what the student has learned in class with randomized integer questions.

Weekly Report:
What I learned in the text book just was reinforced by my fellow colleagues within their presentations. Where the text book dominated was explaining where common errors and misconceptions are made. One of the errors that I related with was quickly saying that -9 > -4, viewing that 9 is greater than 4 and not recognizing the (-) sign in front of both numbers. The strategy to overcome this error was to review a number line before making your final statement. Viewing a number line helped me out a lot, recognizing that -9,-8,-7.....-4,-3,-2,-1,0 that -4 is in fact > -9.