February 18, 2010

Date: February 18, 2010
Hours Tutored: 1
Grade Level: 5
Age: 9/10
Gender: M/F

The goal of the session was to continue the Oral Math Facts Program after having previously observed each student’s progress. N found most of answers by initially counting (usually by 5s or2s) and then using memory and reasoning after viewing familiar problems. He seemed less annoyed by the program today and simply worked diligently on each set of problems. P relied on her memorization (and guessing, I think) to answer most of the problems. She was extremely distracted and, at times, rather uncooperative. She constantly asked if we were yet finished, and when we had to continue working on problems, she became increasingly sullen, withdrawn, and inaudible. To help the students learn the material, the main strategy was repetition, but verbal correction was also used. The environment, as usual, had almost no effect on N’s work, but it was extremely distracting to P, who clearly wanted to socialize and sit with the other students rather than engage in the program. Why and how? I do not think any aspects of multiculturalism were particularly relevant today.