Mathsational

Last summer I wrote about using error analysis as one of my favorite ways to practice math skills.  Since then I've found a few more resources and created a few more that I'd like to share.  In general, error analysis activities involve purposefully making common mistakes, then having students try to find them.  Here is a link to the original post if you'd like to see it.  In that post I shared an example for the segment addition postulate and midpoint as well as a second example for multiplying polynomials . Here are some other examples that I found.  I did not create these. Grade 2: Adding and Subtracting up to 3 digits. Grade 8: Solve Linear Equations. Algebra 1: Graphing Linear Inequalities in two Variables

Practice Structures - Error Analysis Error analysis is one of my favorite practice structures because of the conversations.  My students typically find it very difficult.  They sometimes think that problems that have been done correctly are incorrect if steps are skipped in the written solution.  Other times they think incorrect solutions are correct because I try to make common mistakes.  One of the most interesting things that happens is that kids end up appreciating the work done by their teachers while correcting quizzes.  They almost always express that the toughest part is trying to figure out why the fictional person make a certain mistake in the work. In the past, I have typed up my error analysis problems.  However, I have switched to handwriting the work.  It seems more authentic and for some reason it is easier for the students to differentiate between the question and the solution.  I use Doceri to create the document.  It is ...