Blog One: Insights & Implications

I have already learned a lot in this class about how to teach math and how students learn. First off I have learned that giving students time to solve problems themselves is the best way for them to learn. Like my peers in class I too was taught math in the manner of here's the problem, here's how to do it, now practice by doing a worksheet filled with problems. Even though I may have been able to learn math this way, not every student thinks the same way as their neighbor. I have also learned a lot already this semester about the standards. It is now quite clear to me that the state standards are much different from the national standards. It is interesting that the state standards are so vague. I had never realized that to be so until we spent time picking them apart in class last Thursday. What I hope to continue learning in this class is how to connect the standards to my teaching successfully. Successfully to me means that a lesson is one that the students were able to relate to, connect prior knowledge to, and understand.