www.education.alberta.ca/math In the classroom … we can help students understand the connectedness of mathematical concepts in a variety of ways. Teachers should recognize that students construct mathematical understanding by connecting new ideas to existing understandings. Essentially, students understand concepts better when they are able to see how their new learning connects to what they already know. How can we encourage students to make these important connections? Contextualization and making connections ... to the experiences of learners are powerful processes in developing mathematical understanding. When mathematical ideas are connected to each other or to real-world phenomena, students begin to view mathematics as useful, relevant and integrated. Learning mathematics within contexts and making connections relevant to learners can validate past experiences and increase student willingness to participate and be actively engaged. Connections in the classroom should be made among: • Mathematics topics – how does this concept relate to mathematics we have already experienced? • Different subjects – how is this mathematical concept used or interpreted in other subject areas, such as science or language arts? • Real-world applications – where do we see mathematical concepts in the real world? Connections [CN] THE MATHEMATICAL PROCESSES 7

How can we encourage students to make these important ... · lassroom f e ng d ng . How can we encourage students to make these important connections? xtualization and making connections

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Page 1: How can we encourage students to make these important ... · lassroom f e ng d ng . How can we encourage students to make these important connections? xtualization and making connections

www.education.alberta.ca/math

In the classroom… we can help students understand the connectedness of mathematical concepts in a variety of ways. Teachers should recognize that students construct mathematical understanding by connecting new ideas to existing understandings. Essentially, students understand concepts better when they are able to see how their new learning connects to what they already know.

How can we encourage students to make these important connections?

Contextualization and making connections... to the experiences of learners are powerful processes in developing mathematical understanding. When mathematical ideas are connected to each other or to real-world phenomena, students begin to view mathematics as useful, relevant and integrated.

Learning mathematics within contexts and making connections relevant to learners can validate past experiences and increase student willingness to participate and be actively engaged.

Connections in the classroom should be made among:• Mathematics topics – how does this concept relate to mathematics we have already experienced?

• Different subjects – how is this mathematical concept used or interpreted in other subject areas, such as science or language arts?

• Real-world applications – where do we see mathematical concepts in the real world?

Connections [CN]THE MATHEMATICAL PROCESSES7

Page 2: How can we encourage students to make these important ... · lassroom f e ng d ng . How can we encourage students to make these important connections? xtualization and making connections

www.education.alberta.ca/math

Outside the classroom… we can help students make mathematical connections to many things. Activities we do in the home and on the job inevitably involve mathematics. When we buy a car, shop, follow recipes, or decorate our homes we are using mathematical principles. When we make decisions about retirement and investments we use mathematics to inform those decisions. Mathematics is literally EVERYWHERE! We can identify the use of mathematics in our everyday lives to students outside the classroom and make connections in an interesting and contextual manner that isn’t always possible in the formal classroom. In this way, students are often able to learn mathematical principles and processes in interesting ways and see its relevance and importance in our world.

All of us, in and out of the classroom, can help students

connect mathematics to their experiences and their world

in ways that bring mathematics to life.

Connections [CN]THE MATHEMATICAL PROCESSES7