Well defined unit plans enable teachers the ability to move students towards conceptual understanding of mathematics. Conceptual understanding refers to an
integrated and functional grasp of mathematical ideas. Students with
conceptual understanding know more than isolated facts and methods. They
understand why a mathematical idea is important and the kinds of
contexts in which is it useful. They have organized their knowledge into
a coherent whole, which enables them to learn new ideas by connecting
those ideas to what they already know.
Conceptual understanding also supports retention. Because facts and
methods learned with understanding are connected, they are easier to
remember and use, and they can be reconstructed when forgotten
If students understand a method, they are unlikely to remember it
incorrectly. They monitor what they remember and try to figure out
whether it makes sense. They may attempt to explain the method to
themselves and correct it if necessary.
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