Summary and Synthesis

This semester we have learned numerous concepts and easy ways to use them in our own classrooms. We've been taught how to teach in a different way. We've learned many tools both hands-on and in groups. I've been really interested in learning about why we do certain things in math, such as flip the fraction when we are dividing. I think these types of concepts are importnat to learn because many students will ask why we do something. I think these concepts have taught me to appreciate math more because in the past no teacher has told me why we do things the way we do them. Most of the time we are just given math equations, a few examples, and then given a bunch of math problems to complete. I've never liked that way and it made me hate math. The way we've been learning how to do math makes me more interested in the material. This semseter has made me more confident in math and I hope my confidence continues to grow by the end of the semester.

Summary and Synthesis

Throughout this semester we have worked a great deal on taking a constructive approach to teaching. We have learned that students will have a deeper understanding of what they are learning in math if we take the time to teach students why or how a formula is used instead of simply telling them to memorize it and use it. Students should be given multiple strategies to solve a problem and realistic problems for which they can relate to. All throughout my primary, middle and high school educational career I had never been told why a formula is used. Teachers would simply tell me to memorize a specific number of formulas and use them to find the correct answer. Students should be given multiple routes or strategies that they can use to solve a problem. Additionally, teachers should include problems that also have multiple solutions instead of a simple right or wrong answer. It is important that teachers do not put down students when they make a mistake. Students need to learn that everyone makes mistakes and making mistakes is how students strengthen their mathematical thinking. From this class, I have taken away a number of instructional strategies for which I can use in my future classroom. For instance, when teaching fractions to students, I would use manipulatives, such as money, to help teach students about fractions, decimals, and percents, because money is something they can relate to. Students will also discover why knowing about fractions, percents, and decimals is important. I hope that by the end of this semester I will feel more confident about teaching math and have less anxiety with my math skills.