ELED 5301-090

In this module you will explore students' errors related to addition and subtraction.

The objectives for this module are for you to:
1) Examine instructional strategies related to addition and subtraction.
2) Analyze student error patterns in addition and subtraction and determine ways to modify instruction.

Preparation for the semester

Create an account on Posterous. This is the website where you will post some assignments. Your web address will be http://username.posterous.com

Create an account on PB Works.

On Posterous, you will use this as your online journal during the semester. After creating an account you can post to your website two ways.
a) go to http://posterous.com and post by web
b) post by sending an e-mail from your registered e-mail account to the address username@posterous.com - mine is drpolly@posterous.com
*Posting by e-mail means that you can post from a SMART phone!

Task 1:
Complete the Building Trains Task (Word document).

You will need this website to help you.

In Part 1 you are building trains that are as long as a combined white and orange train. Remember white is 1 and orange is 10, so you are finding combinations of 11- using Cuisenaire rods and then actual numbers.

In Part 2 you are finding combinations from 3 numbers. This will be submitted via Moodle.

Task 2:
Read BOTH of the following articles: Ten is the Magic Number and Basic Facts.

Write a reflection on your Posterous site addressing at least two of the questions for each article:

Ten is the Magic Number
1) What strategies do the students use the build off their understanding of ten and/or place value?
2) What are three points from this article that were "interesting" to you...explain why they were interesting.
3) Why is it important for students to develop a sense of making a ten prior to working with two-digit numbers?

Basic Facts
1) Does this chapter "align" with your ideas about learning the basic facts?
2) What does van de Walle (the author) emphasize about basic facts?
3) In your opinion, how important is knowing the basic facts to students' success in elementary school mathematics? Middle school mathematics?

Task 3:

Examine the addition and subtraction errors sheet.

In each row, there is the same type of error. Errors that are hard to figure out may be just a basic fact error.

For each row, identify the error and two ways to address it- one with manipulatives, one that is paper/pencil based. You should

You will see problems like this on the mid-term exam and we will go over answers in the next module. If you are unsure of them that is o.k. Don't spend longer than an hour on this task right now!

Work due at the end of this module

Task 1: Turn in via Moodle

Task 2: Post on your posterous.com site.

Task 3: Errors sheet- Complete and hang onto it. Answers coming in a week!