Summary of the class

This class has been a whirlwind for me. It has been filled with determination, frustration, and success. It has challenged me to think outside the realm of what I have been taught and pushed me to be a better learner than I felt I have been in the past. In past classes, we have been taught materials based on the State Standards. I have never been told about the Common Core Standards until this class. The idea of the Common Core and the information I have learned about altering math instruction to fit those standards is something I will take with me into the classroom. If I had to pick, I would say that those standards are the most important aspects of this class that I will take with me. That doesn't mean there wasn't other aspects that will help me as well. The idea of working in groups is something that I have always preferred in a classroom, and this class has reinforced that idea. Using manipulatives is an idea that can help students understand in-depth concepts but I have also learned that it is important to create a "bridge" between the concrete work and the symbolic work (worksheets). Traditionally, I have been taught math based on worksheets and flashcards. This class has opened my eyes to the possibilities of better strategies and the need to step up the education that I want to give my students.