MPacheco

Van de Walle's Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics Grades K-3 offered lessons and suggestions troughout chapters 1-4 that I find will benefit my class and their learning in the areas of graphing (p.60), number sense (recognition and relationships) (pp.42-61), and addition/subtraction (pp.99-111).  I agree with Van de Walle and his belief of making sure a child understands the concepts and doesn't just memorize the rules.  Some students will actually learn the rules correctly but have very limited or no understanding of why these rules work.  Children should be able to provide justification and explanations for answers (Chapter 1).  I also found the information on timed tests interesting in that they can cause fear and negative feelings toward math learning (p. 119).  

I will use the information I read in my classroom by incorporating some of the lessons provided, asking more indepth/thought provoking questions and follow the suggestions for effective interviews (pp.34-35).