Back to Basics:
The purpose of this blog
As a student who has not taken a math class since 1996 the best place for me to start my path is with the basics. Math has never been a very strong subject for me, it is almost a foreign language to me. Growing up most of my math teachers were frustrated with me, what was simple and clear cut to them was not to me. It did not make any sense. I would try and I would get a headache. Math was a language I did not understand, except when it had a practical real life application. Solve for x means nothing to me.
The purpose of my learning path will be to find the meaning and gain understanding. I have no doubt that if I am teaching in a classroom which requires me to teach math, I will master the math for that class. But, in order to do that I need to learn some fundamental math practices and theories. With that said, I will use this space for this purpose. I will look at math in two different ways:
1. By grade level. What does do you need to know in grades 1-6.
2. As it relates to art and other subjects.
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Hi Amanda, you're off to a great start just with realizing that teaching math is more than mastering the operations for a particular lesson. Just by you knowing the depth of a mathematical idea will translate into a well developed math lesson for you. I like math, but wouldn't say that I am good at it. I can follow a procedure and find an answer, but I'm like you, solve for x means nothing to me if I don't have something to connect it to. I think connecting math to other subjects is a great idea. Also, by recognizing that math is like a foreign language, you'll approach learning it in a different way. You'll know that you have to understand the language first before you can do the work. I think all of this will help you become a great math teacher! By working out the issues you have with math, you'll be able to empathize with your students and provide clear lessons that are easy to relate to. Good luck! Jill
ReplyDeleteThank you for such reflective feedback Jill-Marlee
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