Summary and Synthesis

Due to my recent experiences with math, I came into this class with a pretty good feeling about math. I would much rather to math homework than write papers, however, the way we've been learning about math in class for the last couple weeks is different from the way I grew up learning math. In high school, we did math worksheets and problems out of the book just like we talk about not doing with children now. Dr. Reins has really opened my eyes to the new strategies of problem solving and how new teachers need to reform the way math is taught in the classroom. I'm looking forward to the challenge of teaching math in this new light. However, I'm the type of person who has always been good at math but have always had a hard time explaining my answers to my classmates. I'm thankful that Dr. Reins is taking a new approach with us before we go out into the classroom. It's important for students to use the problem solving tools that we've been talking about so they can use the concepts of math in real life. It's important for children to see how math can fit into their everyday life. It's also helpful that he is introducing more than just the state standards in the classroom. In most of our other classes, we just have to align with state standards which in a few years will be of no help if I decide to teach somewhere other than South Dakota. After comparing SD Standards to The Common Core Standards, I can see why it's important to look at both sets. The Common Core standards are much more precise and easy to follow. They use specific terms instead of analyze, understand, identify, etc. I'm looking forward to learning new methods of teaching math throughout the semester.