After reading the syllabus and the readings for this week, I developed some learning goals for this semester. I was really interested in the article that discussed how to gradually create a learning community for math. One of my goals is to learn how to create a safe environment such as the one in the article. I want my students to feel that they can take a "risk" in the classroom to express new ideas. I also want to learn more about how to get parents involved in their child's learning, if possible, pertaining to math. Another goal that I think is important is learning about different strategies to teach the many methods of solving a math problem. In the article where the teacher used the unifix cubes, I learned a strategy for teaching addition and subtraction that is hands on and engaging. Although it is impossible to learn every strategy for teaching every type of problem, I feel that individual examples in case studies add up and can help me to develop my own strategies for in the classroom.
A last learning goal, is that I want to be able to see math problems from many different perspectives. Before taking Math 201, I only solved math problems in one way that was comfortable to me. I want to be able to look at a math problem and imagine the many ways students can solve it. I want to be skilled in looking for patterns in solutions and seeing if that method will work every time.
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I agree with your comment about wanting to learn more hands on learning strategies. Personally I feel that when an activity is done in multiple ways the child will have a deeper understanding of the content. I really like what we have read in TE 402 and see through the videos in our math section about using word problems as a way to help structure math class. Children can therefore discuss the different ways they came up with the answer and learn how to discuss affectively with their peers. I feel that one of the hardest things is to create an environment where children feel like they can take “risks”. Many times children are self-conscious and do not want to be “wrong”. Anne, I would like to know how you feel about the teacher who would write up all the answers children gave on the board and then as a class having the students discuss each answer. I personally feel that this takes a lot of time and patience, but that in the end children learn how to think mathematically and not just how to do mathematics.
ReplyDeleteLastly, I would like to say that one of the hardest things about being a teacher is that you have to think like all the 20+ children in your class. Even though you might think of something one way you still need to think about it in many other ways in order to best understand your student’s mathematical thinking. I think this may be one of the hardest tasks for teacher. I applaud you for your willingness to do what you need to do for your children. I assume this can be frustrating and a lot of work at times, but in the end worthwhile because of the growth you see in the children throughout the year.
We need to remember we are impacting the lives of the children in our classroom and adjust our learning goals from there.