Journal of the Mathematics Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association
Volume 29 Issue 1, March 1991
36 – 40
M & M & Ms: An Alternative Context for Teaching Mean, Median and Mode
A. Craig Loewen
Too much mathematics instruction occurs by means of traditional modes of direct instruction. That is, as teachers we regularly expect our students to sit quietly and absorb our explanations of mathematical procedures and algorithms, and then apply and practice their new learnings by solving word problems. Several items are missing from this scenario: student discussion and talk, involvement and reflection, and (most important) motivation and enjoyment. Cognitive psychology tells us that language and learning are integrally linked.
