Building Multiplication Fluency Through Ratios, Rates and Proportional Relationships
A Classroom Problem Based Lesson Sneak Peek
As mathematics teachers, we are well aware that learning mathematics is developmental in nature; that one idea builds on another and the deeper our understanding of prior concepts and skills, the more smoothly the next phase in the learning journey will be.
However, we are often a bit too rigid to this thinking and it can lead us to believe that learning a skill further down the “developmental road” is not possible until students have mastered an understanding of prior concepts and skills.
In today’s video, we’re going to show how we can begin our learning journey with ratios, rates and proportional relationships as a means to build our fluency and flexibility with multiplication and division strategies instead of waiting for mastery before heading deeper into working with proportionality.
In particular, you’ll learn:
- How we can leverage context and mathematical models as a means to introduce ratios and rates while building fluency and flexibility with multiplication and division; and,
- Where you can go to use a full problem based math lesson related to this context of “Planting Flowers” for extending division to ratios, rates and proportional relationships.
Resources Related To The Video
- Check out the Planting Flowers [Ratios and Rates] Problem Based Math Unit
- Learn more about the Progression of Multiplication and Progression of Division.
- Visit Make Math Moments Problem Based Math Lessons page for other useful problem based units
- Learn about our 3-Part Framework for designing engaging lessons that promote the development of resilient problem solvers.
- Up your pedagogical and content knowledge game by joining our Make Math Moments Teacher Academy!
Want to Run Problem Based Lessons Without a Hitch In Your Classroom?
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LESSONS TO MAKE MATH MOMENTS
Each lesson consists of:
Each Make Math Moments Problem Based Lesson consists of a Teacher Guide to lead you step-by-step through the planning process to ensure your lesson runs without a hitch!
Each Teacher Guide consists of:
- Intentionality of the lesson;
- A step-by-step walk through of each phase of the lesson;
- Visuals, animations, and videos unpacking big ideas, strategies, and models we intend to emerge during the lesson;
- Sample student approaches to assist in anticipating what your students might do;
- Resources and downloads including Keynote, Powerpoint, Media Files, and Teacher Guide printable PDF; and,
- Much more!
Each Make Math Moments Problem Based Lesson begins with a story, visual, video, or other method to Spark Curiosity through context.
Students will often Notice and Wonder before making an estimate to draw them in and invest in the problem.
After student voice has been heard and acknowledged, we will set students off on a Productive Struggle via a prompt related to the Spark context.
These prompts are given each lesson with the following conditions:
- No calculators are to be used; and,
- Students are to focus on how they can convince their math community that their solution is valid.
Students are left to engage in a productive struggle as the facilitator circulates to observe and engage in conversation as a means of assessing formatively.
The facilitator is instructed through the Teacher Guide on what specific strategies and models could be used to make connections and consolidate the learning from the lesson.
Often times, animations and walk through videos are provided in the Teacher Guide to assist with planning and delivering the consolidation.
A review image, video, or animation is provided as a conclusion to the task from the lesson.
While this might feel like a natural ending to the context students have been exploring, it is just the beginning as we look to leverage this context via extensions and additional lessons to dig deeper.
At the end of each lesson, consolidation prompts and/or extensions are crafted for students to purposefully practice and demonstrate their current understanding.
Facilitators are encouraged to collect these consolidation prompts as a means to engage in the assessment process and inform next moves for instruction.
In multi-day units of study, Math Talks are crafted to help build on the thinking from the previous day and build towards the next step in the developmental progression of the concept(s) we are exploring.
Each Math Talk is constructed as a string of related problems that build with intentionality to emerge specific big ideas, strategies, and mathematical models.
Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons and Day 1 Teacher Guides are openly available for you to leverage and use with your students without becoming a Make Math Moments Academy Member.
Use our OPEN ACCESS multi-day problem based units!
Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons and Day 1 Teacher Guides are openly available for you to leverage and use with your students without becoming a Make Math Moments Academy Member.
Partitive Division Resulting in a Fraction
Equivalence and Algebraic Substitution
Represent Categorical Data & Explore Mean
Downloadable resources including blackline masters, handouts, printable Tips Sheets, slide shows, and media files do require a Make Math Moments Academy Membership.
Use our OPEN ACCESS multi-day problem based units!