First day in the classroom!

Today was my first day in my grade 4 class!  I was pleasantly surprised to observe my associate teacher using blocks for her math lesson.  Her technique was very similar to the one used by Professor Antosz.  She would write a number on the board and asked students to come to the front of the class to show how the number would be arranged in blocks.  The part of the lesson that I found interesting was her use of the blocks to show the numbers as well.  For example, on the board, there would be a number such as 7,631, under each number a student would draw the shape of the blocks used that would correlate.  This was also used to assess the students at the end of the lesson.  It was great to see the interaction and involvement of all the students in the lesson.  It seemed as though the blocks were toys to them.  Math was now a game to be played instead of a tedious memorization of facts.  That was my biggest lesson of the day.  Math was fun!!  If students can carry on this excitement throught the grades, the subject will not be so intimidating as I and many other people find it!