Jan 13: Chapters 3 and 4

Reviewing the Elements of Learning/Teaching Mathematics to the Preschool and Kindergarten Brain

Students learn best at the beginning of class and at the end of class. In a 40 minute period, the highest degree of retention is during the first 15 minutes of the class. The next 10 to 15 minutes of the 40 minute class is "downtime", followed by the last 10-15 minutes of the 40 minutes which students have a degree of retention close to the first 15 minutes of the class.

"During a learning episode, we remember best that which comes first, second best that which comes last, and least that which comes just past the middle". (pg 61)

Rehearsal is very important for students to maintain information in their memory.

Working memory connects with the learner's past experiences and needs to answer to question: "Does it have meaning?"

Teachers need to spend time building meaning of concepts.


Through writing activities, teachers help students to learn a math concept more effectively and develop crititcal-thinking and problem solving skills.

Young students learning math should look for patterns.