Mathematics is a creative endeavor. It stems from experiences and becomes a crucial part of life and society. Whether entering a career involving mathematics or not, it gives you essential skills you will use in your everyday life. Upon given a problem, one must initially decide what to do, the strategies they can use, if their method will work, execute and go back to the beginning and try again if necessary until the problem is solved. These are the exact steps one must follow in order to solve a problem in mathematics. People go to the gym to keep to exercise and keep their bodies healthy. Mathematics is a way to exercise your brain and keep it healthy. Mathematics is simply one big puzzle, much like life. If a piece does not fit, put it back and try a new one; you are constantly searching for the puzzle pieces that fit in life.
There is a difference between teaching mathematics and teaching mathematics effectively. As a teacher, the use of strategic methods is critical in a classroom. Considering every single student a different learner with different needs, I find it outrageous to simply limit my teaching style to inquiry, cooperative learning, direct instruction, etc. Every student is different, so why think that one teaching style will reach all students? I believe to teach effectively, not just in mathematics, one must constantly be changing their teaching and instruction style from day to day, class to class and second to second. A teacher must be flexible enough to tailor instruction to all students and completely change the plan, with ease, if things are not going smoothly.
Inquiry lessons engage students in making connections and using critical thinking and problem solving. These activities can be used in conjunction with technology to facilitate a deeper understanding of the real-world applications. Inquiry and cooperative learning lessons encourage students to discover relationships and construct concepts on their own and along-side of their peers. Teaching is all about forming the links and getting the information to stick. Incorporating hands on activities, and projects that interest the students will help make those connections and make the links stronger. A teacher must be flexible and creative enough to guide a lesson a different way if necessary. I recognize that every classroom has a diverse group of learners, therefore I utilize differentiated instruction. Technology incorporation plays a big part in my instruction. The world and mathematics is constantly changing and technology offers a hands on approach that makes it easier for students to grasp and remember concepts and processes. The students are constantly changing as well, therefore my lessons will never be the same in efforts to reach all. I don’t believe in lost causes or students being unreachable, it all depends on how much work you are willing to put in as a teacher to tailor lessons and become available, along with student willingness.
Learning Mathematics involves rote learning, the teaching of mathematics results, definitions and concepts by repetition and memorization. Mathematics requires active involvement and constant practice. Students have to discover and self-regulate their own learning process. To learn a concept, students must explore the different levels of proficiency. The five strands of mathematical proficiency include: conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, strategic competence, adaptive reasoning and productive disposition. I believe it to be critical that a lesson displays every strand being that they lead to mastery of concepts. Our math vocabulary shapes what we're capable of thinking about.
Every decision a teacher makes alters the path of a student’s learning process which is why planning and instruction in crucial for the learning of mathematics. Planning a lesson is also like a puzzle. First, I look at the facts: what information and points am I trying to get at and what standards must I meet? Determining a method of instruction is a harder decision for me than most because I want to blend a multitude of methods in efforts to reach every student.
Teaching mathematics requires drive and passion, which I aim to pass onto my students. My goal is to inspire my students and change their view on mathematics, school and life. A positive classroom environment in which students feel comfortable enough to ask any questions is necessary for student success. Motivating students to be to be the best they can be as well as helping them find themselves and going the extra mile for them all help the students succeed in mathematics and in life.
There is a difference between teaching mathematics and teaching mathematics effectively. As a teacher, the use of strategic methods is critical in a classroom. Considering every single student a different learner with different needs, I find it outrageous to simply limit my teaching style to inquiry, cooperative learning, direct instruction, etc. Every student is different, so why think that one teaching style will reach all students? I believe to teach effectively, not just in mathematics, one must constantly be changing their teaching and instruction style from day to day, class to class and second to second. A teacher must be flexible enough to tailor instruction to all students and completely change the plan, with ease, if things are not going smoothly.
Inquiry lessons engage students in making connections and using critical thinking and problem solving. These activities can be used in conjunction with technology to facilitate a deeper understanding of the real-world applications. Inquiry and cooperative learning lessons encourage students to discover relationships and construct concepts on their own and along-side of their peers. Teaching is all about forming the links and getting the information to stick. Incorporating hands on activities, and projects that interest the students will help make those connections and make the links stronger. A teacher must be flexible and creative enough to guide a lesson a different way if necessary. I recognize that every classroom has a diverse group of learners, therefore I utilize differentiated instruction. Technology incorporation plays a big part in my instruction. The world and mathematics is constantly changing and technology offers a hands on approach that makes it easier for students to grasp and remember concepts and processes. The students are constantly changing as well, therefore my lessons will never be the same in efforts to reach all. I don’t believe in lost causes or students being unreachable, it all depends on how much work you are willing to put in as a teacher to tailor lessons and become available, along with student willingness.
Learning Mathematics involves rote learning, the teaching of mathematics results, definitions and concepts by repetition and memorization. Mathematics requires active involvement and constant practice. Students have to discover and self-regulate their own learning process. To learn a concept, students must explore the different levels of proficiency. The five strands of mathematical proficiency include: conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, strategic competence, adaptive reasoning and productive disposition. I believe it to be critical that a lesson displays every strand being that they lead to mastery of concepts. Our math vocabulary shapes what we're capable of thinking about.
Every decision a teacher makes alters the path of a student’s learning process which is why planning and instruction in crucial for the learning of mathematics. Planning a lesson is also like a puzzle. First, I look at the facts: what information and points am I trying to get at and what standards must I meet? Determining a method of instruction is a harder decision for me than most because I want to blend a multitude of methods in efforts to reach every student.
Teaching mathematics requires drive and passion, which I aim to pass onto my students. My goal is to inspire my students and change their view on mathematics, school and life. A positive classroom environment in which students feel comfortable enough to ask any questions is necessary for student success. Motivating students to be to be the best they can be as well as helping them find themselves and going the extra mile for them all help the students succeed in mathematics and in life.