In teaching young children mathematics, it is important to have a firm understanding of the concepts and procedures. It is important for educators to understand number and operations, algebra, geometry measurement, and data analysis and probability in order to teach any concept. Without a full understanding of the basic concepts, it will be difficult to help students reach a full understanding of the concepts. Educators need to make sure they are engaging in problem solving, reasoning and proof, communication, connections, and representation.  This means that as a teacher, you should be able to fully communicate and engage with students in order to instill a mathematical concept. 

This lesson has been created to practice the calculation of mean, median, and mode, while connecting it to a meaningful and engaging activity. Students are asked to create their own data using a science related activity to practice their basic math skills while working in groups. This lesson is easily connected to creating tables and graphs, and may be integrated into the science curriculum through the topic of surface tension. Students are expected to discuss the data they have collected, and create connections to the real world while building fluency in their math skills. 

This lesson is meaningful to the ACEI Standard 2.3 because it actively pursues the concepts pushed by the common core standards for mathematics at the fifth and sixth grade level. Through this lesson, students are developing fluency and deeper understanding of mathematics in the real world.

It is important for educators of all grade levels to recognize that every student has the capability to learn and understand mathematical concepts. How students obtain this knowledge and understand may however be highly individualize towards their own needs. It is important for educators to have the ability to teach a concept in a variety of ways that will engage students of all learning styles. Below, you will find my own personal philosophy on mathematics education available for download.

Below you will find an image of a math station called "Fun with Rhymes". This station is meant for two or three students to work independantly while solving multiplication, division, and fraction related word problems.