New Insights and Their Implications

From both the article and classroom discussions, I have learned that there is a completely different way of teaching math that is not seen in the typical classroom. Mathematics is more than just being told the formula, plugging in random numbers, and finding the answer. Mathematics is being able to discover and understand the problem and investigating different ways the problem can be solved. Through allowing the student to work through the problem on their own, they are able to see the components that make up the problem and understand the solution and how they found it. A way that teachers can develop lessons to ensure that their students are understanding mathematics is by teaching it in a constructivist way. Constructivism in the classroom can be seen by: being child centered, teachers are acting as guides for student learning, students are working with real world problems, communication is open between student and teacher, students are building previous knowledge, and students are actively working through the problems. When students are given a real life problem to solve and the teacher helps guide the student by using open communication, instead of telling, students are able to truly learn the answers on their own. Constructivism is a theory that dates back hundreds of years ago and is now starting to be recognized as a method for teaching mathematics. In fact, the NCTM Mathematical Standards are designed around this theory. After having the discussions, reading the article, and actually seeing what constructivism looks like in the classroom, I hope to be able to provide my future students with the opportunity of actually being able to explore a math problem instead of being trapped to using the textbook and falling into the same routines of so many teachers. I want my future students to be able to completely understand the problems that are presented and know how to solve them.