Division Problem 2

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Division Problem 2
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Students AHA Moment
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Multiplication Problem

• Students were asked to use Cuisenaire rods to
  show 1 3/4 1/2
• Model 1 Take half of 1 and half of 3/4
• Model 2 Make a model of 1 3/4 and find a rod
  that is half that length

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Multiplication -- Model 1
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Multiplication -- Model 2
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Summary of Results

• Some students found the Cuisenaire rods useful
• They used rods to visualize problems
• They used rods to determine the reasonableness of
  their answers
• They used rods to make sense of algorithms
• Other students resisted using them
• They preferred to practice computational fluency
• They were not interested in making sense of the
  algorithms
• They resisted using tools designed for children

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Conclusions

• Cuisenaire rods can be helpful in some cases
• We found them to be useful in assessing student
  comprehension
• Models helped expose student thinking
• The rods can help some students make sense of the
  standard algorithms
• It takes time and patience to achieve results
• Overcoming some students resistance can be an
  issue