Concerns and Next Steps

Wow! Each day of class I learned something new and different that gave me a whole new perspective on teaching mathmatics. Through class discussion, hands-on activities and trying things out, I have gained new knowledge and an understanding of how to solve problems and why we solve the problems this way. I feel like I have moved from a procedural understanding to a conceptual understanding of problem solving. This shift in knowledge has made me more aware of and given me a deeper understanding of why things are done the way they are in math. Rather than just doing the steps because thats what we were taught, I undestand why the steps are what they are and why we follow the steps to arrive at an answer. I also learned that there are multiple ways to do a problem. This class helped me try things out and work them out on my own and STRUGGLE, rather than having the teacher just give me the answer. Having a conceptual understanding of the "hows" and "whys" in mathematics, I feel that I will be able to better teach students in the near future. From the new techniques, strategies and how-abouts discussed and learned from this class, I hope to give students a deeper and greater undestanding of mathematics through this new approach to teaching. As a future teacher, my "next step" is to shift student's knowledge of mathematics from a procedural understanding to a conceptual undestanding. This of coruse will be accomplished by applying the techniques, strategies and way of teaching math that I have learned in this class to my own future math instruction. My one and biggest concern is that I won't be able to steer away from the traditional way of teaching matehmatics to teaching this new approach we have learned in class. I fear this because this is what teachers are trained to teach and only know how to teach because thats the way the textbooks outline it. I am concerned that I won't be able to shift students understanding of mathematics from prodcedural understanding to a conceptual understanding. However, after being introduced to CGI classrooms, I feel that this would be a great place for me to start to make this change happen. I hope that from the new knoweldge and insight I have learned from this class, I can change and make a difference in mathematics instruction and students understanding of math.