New Insights and Their Implications

This class has been quite an eye-opener so far. I thought this class was going to be fairly simple because math has always been one of my better subjects but I have come to find that this class is more than math concepts. Instead of simply finding an answer and moving on, I've learned to take a step back and think about the why's and how's. For instance, the activity we did with the shapes seemed very simple, until we discussed it in class. I never noticed a pattern with our data at all until the class discussion. Even then, it wasn't about finding the pattern, it was why and how this pattern existed that was important. It's not always about the right answers but the methods and strategies used to get that answer. Also, I've learned that the content standards used for mathematics in South Dakota are not very well written. The discussion we had the other day about state and national standards was pretty interesting. I never really thought about standards in that much detail - always took them for what they were. I have really learned to consider both standards in order to give my students a more thorough education.

The past few weeks in the class has been something I have not experienced before. I usually do very well in classes, I normally understand concepts and complete them to the best of my ability. I have never have a major struggle with any school work, until this class. I am used to just looking for the answer and then once I get the answer I could truly care less about how I got the answer, as long as I got the credit for the right work and right answer. This class has turned that all upside down for me, which I feel is something that all students should experience. The way you teach math is the way that math should be taught, I am actually building on my knowledge instead of just "floating" through the class with the correct finished product. In the past few weeks I have really been testing my knowledge with a different way of thinking, even though it is extremely frustrating that it does not just come to me, I feel that I will benefit from this class. While sitting in class I try to think of ways to teach like you, as in to really get my students thinking, not just saying "here is the answer."

New Insights and Their Implications

Through this class I have a better understanding of the standards, state and national. I had thought I did understand them and what they ment, but after this week I am shocked as to how much I do not know. When we looked at the activity and tried to find standards that would fit with the activity, I thought I had done alright. As a class, we looked at other standards and talked about them. This was wonderful, as I got to hear what other studetns were thinking when they chose the ones they did. With the implications standards being what they are, I am supprised that they are so vague in their attempt to let the teacher know what to teach. I now know that I need to look at the national standards with the state standards to produce quality lessons that my studetns can learn from. What I need to do now is to take this new found information and apply it to all my classes.