New Insights and Their Implications

These first couple weeks of class, I have learned a lot of new concepts not only about math, but education overall. I knew this math class was going to be different than any other math class I have ever taken and I’m glad it is. I struggled through every math class I have ever taken besides Geometry in High School. I feel intrigued about this new way of teaching math, teaching the mathematical process of thinking and problem understanding rather than focusing on the solution. I am excited to learn more about it so that I may teach my students from a new perspective.
The last few days of class have been focused on standards and their interpretations. Past classes have talked about standards and having to align our curriculum to the standards, but the standards have never been broken down and explained in the way they were in our class. After our class discussions I have realized how important it is to understand the meaning of them, and how important it is for teachers to be involved in the revision process of the standards. We as teachers cannot rely on just state or NCTM standards, a connection between all are needed to be a quality teacher in any content. Looking at the Curriculum Focal Point document and the unpacking language at our state site will better translate and define our standards.