Personal Concerns and Next Steps

One of the biggest concerns that I have as of now in the class is how I'm going to switch from how I was taught math, to how I should teach math. All of my experiences in math involved the teacher showing us how to solve the type of problem and then setting us loose on worksheets or assigned problems from the book. So for me (and I'm sure almost everyone else in the class) math has just seemed like a grind, figure out how to do the next twenty problems and then shut your mind off and do them. So because of this, as I was growing up math just seemed like a punishment and something I gained no deeper understanding of. So how can I go from being the student of math I was, to being the teacher of math I want to be? The obvious ones are go to class, pay attention in class, and do the readings. Another way would be to start looking now and compiling a large number of problems that are good at teaching problem solving. That way when the time comes and I'm in a classroom I will be able to call on these problems to give to the students instead of falling back on what my old teachers did and give out worksheet after worksheet and let them grind through it.

BLOG #1: personal concerns & next steps

Math intimidates me to no end. I cannot pin-point the origination of my math insecurities to any particular event, but have felt this way for as long as my memory serves me. As a student, I have always struggled with the subject-- when reading mathematical text I am forced to re-read chapters (sometimes 2+ times) for comprehension, mathematical problems frustrate me and memorizing equations gives me a tummy ache. Because of the listed reasons and many more, I am scared to be an elementary teacher, and have set my sights on middle school--I can honestly say that I want to teach middle school because in middle school teachers have one specific subject. I am THAT scared of dealing with the subject on a daily basis and teaching young students math.
My main personal concern is that I wouldn't be able to teach the students properly, thus creating more people with math phobia's, therefore ruining their academic careers and futures as bankers, scientists and coupon collectors.
I have come to understand that I need to get over this. For instance, during class I try my hardest to stay on task-- listening to lecture and taking part in the discussions and activities (this is gut wrenching for me, just so you know). I have looked through the text and read the assigned chapters in hopes of having a better understanding of the topic and teaching the topic. I have looked through my mom's teacher's text (5th grade mcmillian) to attempt to find comfort and a flow. These are the steps I have taken in the past 3 weeks. I believe I am on the right path, and with continued effort I should find myself more comfortable with the subject of math and the idea of teaching it.

Summary and Synthesis

Math has always been one of my favorite subjects, but mostly because it was something that I easily learned. Each year when new information was added to what we learned from last year, I was ready to accept it. But going without math for a while has made me rusty, and then taking this class where we are learning a totally new idea from what we have known is also a little scary. So far I have yet to fully feel comfortable in class with this new idea. I understand what we are doing and why, but to me that isn't the way I learn best, so I have yet to get excited for each classs. By not teaching the tradition math teaching, I think more students will have a better time with math. I will have to work to get myself out of the traditional mindset in order to really understand what we have been learning about with problem solving, and working to teach students ways for them to find the answer, not just my answer.

Summary

I have never been big on math because I didn't have any outstanding math teachers in high school. Since I've been in college I've opened up to the subject a little bit because I realized how exciting and rewarding it is when you finally figure out a challenging math problem. I can't say I was extremely excited to take this class but each time we have class I see how beneficial this class is going to be to me as an educator. Most math classes I have taken focus on how to do the math, not how to show a student how to do the math. I feel like I am already learning how to teach math, rather then just how to do it myself. I feel like I am going to learn a lot of essentials for teaching throughout this class this semester and I'm looking forward to feeling very confident in my ability to teach math at the end of the semester.

Summary

Having to take another math class was frustrating to say the least. I am a person who loves and enjoys math, but do not feel as though I had learned what I was supposed to learn from my previous math courses. I had no idea what to expect from this math class, but am starting to realize why we are required to take it. We are learning about an entirely new approach to teaching math. It amazes me that after all these years, we are just now starting to teach upcoming teachers this new approach. Instead of holding our students hands while giving them every answer to every problem, we are going to allow the students to find answers and make connections on their own. This new approach is a sort of self-discovery approach in which children will hopefully learn and apply new material more successfully in the classroom as well as real world situations. I find it frustrating when we are not given the answers to problems in class, but that is due to past experiences of being hand-fed answers to math problems. Although this course will be challenging, I know that in order to make a change in our education system, we must learn this material now so that we can begin to teach future students in a more successful way.

I must admit I haven't been thrilled about not receiving all the answers to the problems and at times i've disliked not having someone hold my hand and walk me through things, but i'm beginging to understand the importance of teaching math this way. It's been tough but after seeing those statistics during one of our first class periods I understand just how important it is for us to start doing things differently. It's obvious that the old way of teaching math isn't working for us and for my future students and myself i'm going to work hard to understand how to better teach mathematics.
Math has never been my favorite subject (as i'm sure some of you agree) so i wasn't looking forward to taking this class, however, after getting started I see that i'm already learning a valuable new way to better teach a subject i previously felt extremely uncomfortable with. I
still don't think I'm anywhere near being ready to teach my own math class but i'm confident that this class will help prepare me for when i do.

Summary and Synthesis

When I learned that I had to take another Math class, I, quite honestly, was not excited. I was expecting to walk into the classroom on the first day and watch our teacher show us examples of math problems, while we students sit there and try to understand what the teacher is actually doing. However, in ELED 330 I have learned how to present math to my future students. Dr. Reins has modeled to us how to teach math in a problem solving manner. Problem solving is key in mathematics; and in our class we have discussed how there is a process to problem solving. By teaching our students this process and by modeling it, our future students will soon be able to solve their own problems, and this doesn't just include math problems. As a teacher, we learn what types of students we have and we give them strategies to use that best fit the individual student. In Math Methods, we are challenged to figure out problems by using the strategy that we find most appropriate, and by following George Palya's four step guide to problem solving. I enjoy this class and look forward to learning more.

New Insights and Their Implications

So far this is a very challenging course. I have never been a fan of math, and I am trying my hardest to learn math in this new approach. I am not very good at thinking outside of the box. There are times in class where I am completely lost and struggeling to make sense of the lecture and projects. I can see the importance of this class by observing Dr. Reins. I understand how important it is for students to be able to think for themselves and engage in the learning process in which they can create solutions by themselves, by using the material and information given. I can see now, that the teacher needs to help them think, but not walk them through the problem step by step and give them the answer. I have learned so much new material, in this short amount of time. In reading the book, there is so much information, that it can be overwhelming at times. But, it is material that we need to know. I know that this class is going to be tought; I just need to gain as much of the material as I possilby can. So I can be a successful teacher for my students.

Summarize and Synthesis

Math is the one subject where I have the least bit of confidence in teaching. Since the class has started I can tell my confidence level is rising just a little bit. It was very helpful to know that I am not the only one who is not completely comfortable in teaching math yet.
There is so much to learn about teaching Math. One issue we talked about in class that effected me was how the South Dakota Math standards are written out. The other day when we completed the activity with standards, I was shocked at how unclear they were. As a teacher I would find it to be difficult to write and carry out a lesson plan following those particular standards. I am happy to learn there are other standards out there that South Dakota is looking at to adopt.