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<DIV>In a message dated 9/18/2007 8:01:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
djrosen@comcast.net writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>. At the
end of the paper you write about the importance of a <BR>“productive
disposition” that is, learners having beliefs in their <BR>ability to do
numeracy and in its usefulness to them, and having <BR>positive feelings
about numeracy. Is this, the affective part of this <BR>component, more
important than the other components? Does it need to <BR>be
addressed first, or is it addressed through a teaching and <BR>learning
process that weaves together all components equally? Can <BR>this
weaving process take place for learners who have very negative
<BR>feelings about their ability to do numeracy?<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>I have been lurking reading all the wonderful responses but do want to
weigh in on this one. I believe the productive disposition to be very
important. Brain research has concluded that most learning passes through
the emotional part of the brain first. If a student is stressed or scared, the
system shuts down. However to overcome the "fear factor", I believe
addressing the other subcomponents especially conceptual understanding help to
lessen the fear. Many students that I have surveyed say they don't like
math or fear math because they never understood it. Developing conceptual
understanding either through use of manipulatives, journal writing, discovery
labs, etc. helps students feel engaged and less fearful of a subject they
previously had felt doomed to stumble through.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Pam Meader</DIV>
<DIV>Math Chair, Portland Adult Education</DIV>
<DIV>Portland, Maine</DIV>
<DIV>Past President Adult Numeracy Network</DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">See what's new at <A title="http://www.aol.com?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001170" href="http://www.aol.com?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001170" target="_blank">AOL.com</A> and <A title="http://www.aol.com/mksplash.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001169" href="http://www.aol.com/mksplash.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001169" target="_blank">Make AOL Your Homepage</A>.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>