ivestigations

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Home : 2002 : March : 23

ivestigations
By fiona

I love this program.It is esentially,(in my opinion and experience) Marilyn Burns and Math Their Way put in one package with activites changed to yeild the same result. I even like to use Investigations as a foundation
ad "tweak " their activites with those found in the latter two programs if I think thaye are a more creative way of prwesenting info. However,(again, my opinion) Investigations cannot stand alone. I especially like it for introduction to concepts and pictorial/kinesthetic learning of math. The children learn concepts and criticla thinking not just facts and can apply them at much higher

levels than the basal may require . I have foud this to be especially true in teaching multiplication. This program also allows for differentiation, as more adept students will naturally create more complex stories, riddles, designs. You should plan on keeping anecdotal notes on children when using this, becaue assessment in its traditional form is weak. Children and parents expect this type of feedback, and quite frankly, with state- mandated testing need exposure to it. I use the traditional math text to supplement Investigations (rather than the other way around) when teahcing now concepts-I teach third grade and intorduce multiplication and division) bu use the traditional text more heavily for concepts that are reviewed or added on to- for example, subtraciton with regrouping. Thsi program takes time to read, absorb and itegrate with standard math curriculum. I think it is well worth it.