In mathematics, learners often confuse the meaning of the greater than symbol (>) and less than (<) symbol. Last week in my math class, one fifth grade student was no exception. At our school, students use the memory trick to think of the sign as an alligators mouth. The way to draw the symbol is easier because the alligator wants to eat the bigger number. Another trick we use it to think of the point as the smaller end (which points to the smaller number) and to think of the other side as the larger end (which is on the same side as the larger number). This particular student knew both of these tricks, but was still struggling. That is when we came up with what is now called the “bird trick” (Thanks Kara!).
Photo by tibchris.
