The Learning Principle

The learning principle explained how students need to learn mathematics through understanding. Today many students are not learning mathematics because they don’t understand it; they are just memorizing the facts and numbers. Students who understand mathematics are able to use it in other subjects and can apply it in different places by the connections that they have made from prior knowledge and new knowledge.

The article also talks about using math in every day life. Children are interested in math concepts when they are younger. They like patterns and shapes and even learn these concepts before they have entered school. Teachers need to take hands on experiences and make math exciting for children to learn and understand. The article states that social interaction can be used to promote the recognition of connections among ideas and the reorganization of knowledge (NCTM, 2004). I agree with this article because I do not think that making kids memorize facts necessarily means that they understand them. I feel that this goes along with what we talked about in class. How teachers still use timed-tests even though research has proved that they are not effective.